{"id":890,"date":"2021-09-11T08:09:21","date_gmt":"2021-09-11T08:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aflireland.ie\/?p=890"},"modified":"2022-06-29T08:43:47","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T08:43:47","slug":"afl-ireland-premiership-round-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aflireland.ie\/index.php\/2021\/09\/11\/afl-ireland-premiership-round-4\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL Ireland Premiership- Round 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the excitement of the Festival of Football, the AFL Ireland Premiership got back under way on the last Saturday of August. Fresh from their tournament win, the Belfast Redbacks travelled to take on the Leeside Lions in Cork, while the rejuvenated Galway Magpies played host to the South Dublin Swans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the AFL\nIreland Women\u2019s Premiership, The Cork Vikings and Ulster Kookaburras met for a repeat\nof their opening round clash. Meanwhile the Round 3 game between the Vikings and\nthe South Dublin Swans was rescheduled for the 4th<\/sup> of September in Tramore\nValley Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galway Magpies\nv South Dublin Swans <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Swans were back on the road, this time The Swamp in Claddagh was the venue for their Round 4 clash with the Galway Magpies. The Magpies would have gained encouragement from their first win of the season during the Festival of Football, and it just so happened to have come against the same opposition. For the Dublin outfit, they knew a win would cement a place in the Preliminary Final at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Galway Magpies <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Swans needed\nno more encouragement than the promise of Finals Footy. Ben Coughlan, playing in\na more advanced role, set the tone for the afternoon early on. Presenting well on\nthe lead, he managed a couple of early impressive contested marks, with matching\naccuracy in front of goal. Shaun Murphy was at his usual best early on, kicking\n2 majors, including a goal from the boundary for the Magpies. With their pacey,\nhard working midfield, the Swans took control and added further goals through the\nimpressive Frank O\u2019Donnell and Connor Dunne. Seamus McSorley marked his first competitive\nstart for Swans with a goal and also played his part in the Swans stubborn defence\nfor part of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maggies produced their beat footy in the second quarter. Once more Shaun \u2018Smurf’ Murphy got on the scoresheet, along with Mark Kavanagh, as they matched their Dublin counterparts in the goal kicking stakes, each booting 3 for the second term. The Swans however, edged further  in front even if it was through their inaccuracies in front of the big sticks. Noah Copping snapped a clever goal in the dying stages for the Swans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
South Dublin Swans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A tactical shift\nin defence in the third, allowed the Swans to capitalise in the forwards. Connor\nMcGrorty & Shane Faulkner did a great job in Marshalling the Magpies forward\nline, allowing only 1 goal against them through Darren Dennehy. Levi Kalms from\nthe boundary and a trademark running goal from Connor Dunne responded for the Swans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the final\nterm, early Galway goals from Murphy and Sean Madden highlighted their fighting\nspirit. The use of the interchange bench has been impressive from the Dublin side\nthis season and they used that to great effect in the 4th<\/sup> quarter. Capitalising\non a tired Galway defence, Stephen O\u2019Sullivan kicked 3 final term goals, the first\na fantastic team goal through impressive handling through the midfield with Frank\nO’Donnell finally releasing to the small forward for a simple finish. Ben Coughlan\ngrabbed his third of the day, again through intelligent leading and unerring accuracy\noff the boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end the\nSouth Dublin Swans remained top of the ladder after their most complete team performance\nof the season.  They even managed a few sociable\ndrinks in the Claddagh sunshine with their Galway counterparts afterwards <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Score:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galway Magpies\n8 \u2013 4 \u2013 52<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South\nDublin Swans 17 \u2013 15 \u2013117<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cork\nVikings v Ulster Kookaburras <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The top 2 teams\ndid battle once more, this time the Vikings taking home advantage. After taking\nthe Festival of Football title, the Cork women would have been confident of avenging\ntheir opening round defeat at the hands of the Kooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once more, Amanda Brosnan was dominant for the Cork outfit. The Kerry woman was flawless in the middle and booted a goal to match her performance. The Vikings set the pace in the first quarter, racking up 6 goals 5, 41 points. The Ulster side remained within touching distance scoring 3 goals 1, 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Cork vikings in their New Kit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Annie Walsh\nwas once more on form for the Vikings. With an eye on the top scorers award she\nbagged 5 more goals to add to her tally on the day. The Vikings edged further in\nfront with 3 more goals in quarter 2 to their opponents 1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final 2 quarters were a near carbon copy in terms of scores. The Cork Vikings outscoring their Ulster rivals by 5 goals to 2 in each of the final 2 terms. Eva Cafolla was fantastic for the Ulster Kookaburras. She remained on the scoring trail kicking 3 goals on the day, along with 2 from Elaine Maguire which ensured some pride for the hardworking Kooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ulster Kookaburras<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shannon Stevenson\nwasn\u2019t to be left out. She added 4 goals to her season\u2019s total, while Marie Keating\nand Rebecca Corbett grabbed hat tricks a piece. The returning Caroline Condon also\ngot on the scoresheet with a goal of her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An emphatic\nvictory for the ever improving Vikings was capped by memorable performances from\ntheir captain Maria Quirke and Amanda Brosnan in midfield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It sets up a\nmouthwatering finish to the season as these 2 teams will surely do battle to the\nvery end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Score:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cork Vikings\n19 \u2013 12 \u2013 126<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ulster\nKookaburras 8 \u2013 9 \u2013 57<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leeside Lions\nv Belfast Redbacks <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A repeat of\nthe opening round game, the Belfast Redbacks made the arduous journey south to Cork\nto take on the unbeaten Lions. The Redbacks themselves were impressive on the Festival\nof Football 2 weeks earlier. The cruised to the final and finally overcame the Leesiders\nin the final to claim the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Premiership points on the line this time round, the Redbacks needed to keep pace with the top 2 sides to enhance their chances of a home Prelim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Leeside Lions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This simple terms, this game was a cracker. Both sides cancelled each other out in pretty much every department, which is testament to the quality players on show. Kevin Jones and Dean Skinner battled hard in the midfield for their respective sides, while both forward lines fought hard against hardworking defences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Belfast Redbacks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Darren O\u2019Dwyer\nfor the Lions was once more at his accurate best. The talisman kicked 3 goals in\nwhat was a  relatively low scoring game in\ncomparison to previous rounds. The Redbacks boasted a sharp shooter of their own,\nKyle Devine wasn\u2019t to be outdone and he kicked 3 majors of his own to share top\nscorer on the day with O’Dwyer. The Tyrone man ensures goals and has been a more\nthan welcome addition back into the Redbacks squad since Round 2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the backline\nfor the Lions, James O\u2019Callaghan had a fantastic game. Along with his defensive\nteam mates, they managed to keep the free scoring Redbacks to 8 goals on the day,\nwhich is an impressive start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lions forward\nline kept ticking over in Round 4. Padraic O\u2019Connell and James O’Shea added 2 goals\na piece to the scoreline. Gerard Walls and Sean Paul Henry were solid for the Redbacks\nand managed to quench the Lions forwards thirst for goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a see saw\nencounter it was the Leesiders who finally came out on top, outscoring the Redbacks\nby just 10 points. Both teams can take great encouragement from their battling performances\nand who knows, we may get another meeting between the 2 as we edge closer to finals\nfooty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Score:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leeside Lions\n9 \u2013 12 \u2013 66<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belfast Redbacks\n7 \u2013 14 \u2013 56<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cork\nVikings v South Dublin Swans <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In this rescheduled\nRound 3 encounter, the Cork Vikongs showed why they were favourites for this seasons\nAFL Ireland Womens Premiership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing in Tramore\nValley Park, the freescoring Vikings were relentless. The first quarter was maybe\ntheir least impressive as their behinds outweighed their goals by 3:1, with 9 minor\nscores on total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was a sight setting exercise, as the Cork outfit soon found their feet. Amanda Brosnan once more starred in a fantastic performance by the whole Vikings side. Seeing plenty of the footy, Brosnan managed a game high 7 goals. The Swans to their credit dug deep and Angie Crispe reflected the spirit of the newly formed side through hard work and determination in the middle of the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Cork Vikings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The more experienced\nVikings were in no mood to be generous however. They limited their opponents to\njust 3 points in total. The Swans certainly weren\u2019t helped through the early injury\nto their own main goalscorer, Sorcha Nolan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cork Women grew in confidence as the game progressed. Annie Walsh added 4 to her tally while Caroline Condon, Maria Quirke and CJ Murphy each claimed 2 majors a piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
South Dublin Swans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was a whitewash\nfor the Cork Vikings in truth. The South Dublin Swans can be encouraged by the fight\nshown by their players and will get better as they gain more experience with each\ngame day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Score:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cork Vikings\n19 \u2013 24 \u2013 138<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South\nDublin Swans 0 \u2013 3 \u2013 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The action comes\nthick and fast once more as this weekend the Round 5 takes place. The Cork teams\nwill travel to face the South Dublin Swans while the Magpies will play host to the\nBelfast Redbacks and Ulster Kookaburras in Galway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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