Mayo LGFA: Moy Davitt book intermediate final spot at MacHale Rovers' expense

Yesterday afternoon saw MacHale Rovers welcome Moy Davitts to Ardagh, where an old rivalry was reignited with a place in this year’s Mayo LGFA intermediate final up for grabs.

MacHale Rovers took the lead after three minutes as Kayla Doherty converted a free to raise a white flag.

Kate Byrne fired over an equaliser in the 10th minute as she applied the finish to a patient Moy Davitts move.

Doherty replied up the opposite end with a point on the spin for Rovers to give them the lead again, but this would be the last time they led on the day.

Natasha Gaughan proved a handful to manage in the Moy Davitts inside line and chipped in with a triplet of singles in six minutes.

The first came from a free, the second a point on the turn, and the third following another patient move for the visitors.

Sinead Walsh opened her account for MacHale Rovers by converting a free, but this was quickly cancelled out by Byrne up the opposite end.

The Moy Davitts centre-forward added her second with a curling effort from her left boot to leave Davitts ahead by a couple at half-time.

The hosts levelled the contest within five minutes of the restart, Doherty adding her third from a free kick and Eilis Keane pointing from play.

Moy Davitts responded with another unanswered three points to edge out ahead once again.

Gaughan added her fourth, Tracey Hall punished an intercepted kick-out and Kasey Ruane applied the finish to her fine solo run.

Doherty was at hand again for Rovers to narrow her side’s deficit with her fourth score. Soon after, the hosts had a chance to raise the first green flag of the afternoon.

Walsh ran at the heart of the Moy Davitts defence and fisted the ball to the back post where Emma Sheridan came close to finishing the move to the back of the net.

Rovers kept fighting and Walsh added her second of the day from a free kick to leave one between the sides with 12 minutes left to play.

Sandra Haul doubled the visitors' lead with a fine individual point, but this was quickly followed by a couple of singles from Walsh as she converted two free kicks in as many minutes to leave the contest level.

Moy Davitts regained their three-point cushion with four to go as Ruane found the back of the net from close range.

This time Rovers had no answer. Doherty rounded off her tally of five points for the day with a point from play to leave Moy Davitts the victors by two.

MacHale Rovers: C. Reilly Benson; D. Doyle, M. Keane, B. McAndrew; A. Doherty, A. Gallagher, G. Murray; S. Walsh (0-4f), E. Murray; C. Hegarty, K. Doherty (0-5, 2f), E. Keane (0-1); N. Hegarty, S. Gough, C. Walsh.

Subs used: E. Sheridan, H. McHugh, R. Jordan.

Moy Davitts: E. Galligan; S. Loughney, B. Roche, R. Conlon; E. Dootson, A. McGahon, A. Gaughan; T. Hall (0-1), S. Carney; D. Towey, K. Byrne (0-2), O. McHale; S. Hall (0-1), N. Gaughan (0-4, 1f), Kasey Ruane (1-1).

Sub used: R. Gostick.