TWO sublime goals, one in each half, from Skerries Rachel O'Flaherty were the critical scores that gave the Harps girls the chance to defend their Senior B Championship title in next Saturday's final.

This semi-final clash against last year's beaten finalists St. Brigids lived up to expectation and turned out to be a classic. The Blanchardstown girls travelled to Skerries with the 2010 League title already secure, but determined to battle for the opportunity to win this championship having had so many near misses in the past six years. They started the game at a furious pace and their pressure in the opening five minutes resulted in a goal from wing forward Emma Sweeney. But as proven in their tight win last week these Skerries girls have great spirit. They responded with the next two scores, a brace of points from play by the Durkan sisters Orlaith and Ciara.

O'Flaherty's first goal came on the quarter hour when she gained possession from a long ball from impressive midfielder Jennifer Healy, rounded full back Fiona Clifford and drove a great ball into the Brigids net. The home team dominated the second quarter and added three more points to a single reply from the visitors to leave them with a 1-5 to 1-1 interval lead.

In the second minute of the second period corner forward Robyn Kehoe won a great ball in her corner and drove a head high ball across the thirteen metre line. Full forward O'Flaherty pulled on the ball first time in the air to score a goal that any Camogie player or hurler would have been proud of. However it was the Brigids girls who raised their game even further after this score. They were not going to let their dream of championship glory die without a fight. A hat trick of points in a five minute spell raised the tempo of the game to new heights. They now enjoyed a period of domination and despite valiant defence from the Skerries rearguard they added a goal and three more points to just a single response from the Harps' Niamh Murphy. The sides were now level with ten minutes left to play and the momentum was with the side from Blanchardstown. But roared on by a massive home crowd the Skerries players rallied. Great work from centre back Jean Murphy, despite a dislocated thumb, and midfielders Ciara Copeland and and Healy gave them a much needed foothold in the middle third. Speedy wing forward Orlaith Durkan added a great point on the run.

With five minutes left O'Flaherty added a lovely point from play and on the stroke of normal time young substitute Tara O'Flaherty showed amazing composure to outsmart the defence and strike a sweet point. There was still six minutes of injury time for the home support to endure.

Their gutsy team defended their three point lead with typical strong defence. Substitute goalkeeper Ashling Spillane illustrated nerves of steel in taking possession from two goal efforts and effecting good clearances. Brigids Sweeney added a point but the Harps defending denied them the goal they needed to snatch victory.

Great joy greeted the final whistle as the Harps victory gives them the opportunity to retain their title in next Saturday's final against St Vincents.

A great team spirit was again the catalyst for this hard fought victory and if Clodagh Bolger and Roisin Leneghan in defence, Healy and captain Copeland in the middle, and the Durkan sisters and O'Flaherty in attack can reproduce their form their hopes of another title could be fulfilled.

Skerries: Rachel O'Flaherty 2-1, Ciara Durkan, Orlaith Durkan, Emer Murphy ( 0-1 45', 0-1f) 0-2 each, Niamh Murphy, Tara O'Flaherty 0-1 each. SKERRIES HARPS: Clodagh Bolger, Roisin Leneghan, Valerie Van Veen, Yvonne Hannon, Evelyn Gartland, Jean Murphy, Kathy Gilmore, Jennifer Healy, Ciara Copeland, Ciara Durkan, Emer Murphy, Orlaith Durkan, Niamh Murphy, Rachel O'Flaherty, Robyn Kehoe. Subs: Michelle O'Neill for Hannon ( inj) 3 mins, Ashling Spillane for Van Veen 45mins, Tara O'Flaherty for Robyn Kehoe 50 mins.