Both Athenry and Davitts advanced to the Bus Eireann Co Senior Camogie Final last Saturday after two sporting semi finals played at St Brendans GAA grounds Loughrea. While Davitts did not have it all their own way for periods of their clash with Pearses, Athenry once settled made light work of a weak Killimor side.

Killimor who lined out without County Player Ann Marie Hayes struggled early on and failed to register a score before the 28th minute of the 1st half. One of the duals of the game was to be Therese Maher and Co Junior Mairead Geoghegan and while the Killimor girl had the better of the exchange in the opening ten minutes, from there on the Galway Captain had full control. The former Shamrocks player was the focal point of the Athenry attack, and after some early wayward shooting, hit the target on fifteen minutes and again on 22, the second a short range free.

Athenry's first goal came directly after, when full forward Sarah Donohue capitalised on Helen Campbell's efforts in the Killimor goal to defend an incoming high ball. Her block landed to Donohue who finished a simple ground shot to goal. This was Athenry's 1st of three, with Therese Maher finishing a fine individual run, and Donohue again rattling the net for her second. Jessica Gill and Catherine Glynn had control at midfield and pointed in succession of each other with Sarah Donohue again involved in the action.

Susan Keane did add a pointed free close to half time, which Athenry quickly answered with a final point from the industrious full forward Donohue.

The second half took similar shape with Therese Maher leading the way pointing early on as Athenry introduced Darelle Coen to their defence. In an effort to make some headway, Killimor introduced the injured Ann Marie Hayes on 37 minutes. Nevertheless Killimor were lucky not to concede a fourth goal as defensive errors broke down in front of goal and the incoming shot eventually spun wide off the woodwork. Donohue, who Killimor failed to master, pointed again on 40 minutes after a strong Noreen Coen run and it was the influential Maher who set up Mary Keogh for two tasty points to stretch their margin even further. Fiona Page was introduced for wing back Jenny Poniard but the competition was well and truly over at this point. Noreen Coen set up the last Athenry score, splitting the Killimor defence, drawing the eventual foul which Sarah Donohue tapped over with ease.

Killimor did try hard for long periods particularly in the opening quarter, while in the second half they went in search of goals. Athenry's keeper Stephanie Gannon pulled off an excellent save midway through that second period and a Susan Keane effort rebounded off the woodwork, a deceptive free hit from the sideline. Killimor did manage to add two scores from Susan Keane (0-1) and centre back Mairead Geoghegan (0-1) in the second half, but failed to make any serious impression on the game.

Athenry had several notable performances none more so than Captain Regina Glynn who put in a faultless hour, Catherine Glynn and Jessica Gill who dominated much of the midfield action, while upfront Sarah Donohue and the industrious Therese Maher powered home an emphatic win. Brenda Hanney who switched to midfield at half time tried hard to rejuvenate her team however the task was simply too much in what was an uphill battle for this young Killimor side. In what was their first county semi final since advancing to Senior Status, no doubt they will have gained from the experience.

In the second clash, Davitts made no mistake in putting Pearses away, knowing only too well the dangers of a close encounter with this experienced side. Outscoring their old rivals by 2-9 to 1-4 in the 1st half, it was not until Pearses reshuffled their hand and introduced Tracey Laheen that the Pearses team settled into any notable rhythm of play.

However, by that stage much of the damage had been done, conceding 2-4 with Olivia Forde putting two past Sharon Glynn in the Pearses goal. Sharp shooter Lourda Kavanagh had two early points with Kelly and Murphy both pointing from play. Aine Hillary opened the scoring for Pearses on seven minutes after winger Orla Kilkenny was taken out in a heavy Murphy challenge. Kilkenny went on to point on twenty minutes however Davitts were quick to respond to every Pearses advance. Pointed frees from Kavanagh (0-2f), and Kelly (0-1) Murphy (0-2) and Forde (0-1) added four unanswered points mounting considerable pressure on the Pearses defence.

Shauna Ward did manage to keep her team in touch with a brace of points in the latter part of the half after good work by Aine Hillary and Tracey Laheen in the centre of defence. Trailing by 2-5 at this point, Pearses called on the services of goalie Sharon Glynn to try her hand at a 25 metre free. Known for her ability to pot such opportunites, Davitts layered their goalmouth. Despite Davitts efforts, Glynn blasted home her first of two, sparking a possible comeback in the second period.

Indeed in an effort to boost the Pearses attack, it wasn’t long until Glynn reverted to her normal full forward role and with a tally of 1-2 in the second period a Pearses comeback was not outside the realms of possibility. The goal, again a placed ball, was a sublime shot giving Michelle Tynan no opportunity to save. Co Minor Niamh Kilkenny worked hard to get Pearses second goal of the half after Kavanagh had pointed to leave just four between the sides. However it was Davitts who upped the ante , as Kavanagh went on to convert two frees and the Kelly contingent, Caroline (0-2), Catriona (1-0) and Mary (1-1) tallied 2-3 between them. Pearses simply had no answer. Corner forward Mary Kelly had to settle for a point as her second goal effort rebounded over the bar after a fine save by Caroline Cunniffe in the Pearses Goal. While Davitts ran out easy winners, the damage was done early in the first half giving them the cushion to keep Pearses at arms length.

Davitts did impress in the ease at which they generated scoring opportunites with Caroline Kelly, Deirdre Murphy and Ailbhe Kelly leading the way. Pearses to their credit worked hard to keep with the Davitts ladies, with Aine Hillary and Lorraine Lally battling diligently for the hour. Shauna Ward did well in the 1st half in attack while Sharon Glynn's 2-2 kept the Pearses girls in touch for much of the game.

Meanwhile the Intermediate semi finals where Castlegar played Craughwell and Davitts faced Killimordaly, both ended drawn games, with replays to take place on Sept 17th.

The Bus Eireann County Finals are scheduled to take place weekend of Sept 24th venue and time to be announced.