NWP Bridie McMenamin Shield final :
Dunloy (Antrim) 1-7 Naomh Treasa (Tyrone) 1-7
When Eilis Kearns pointed in the 25th minute of the second half of this low-scoring NWP Bridie McMenamin Shield final in Tattyreagh on Sunday, Dunloy looked as if they could hold out for a third successive Ulster club title at this level for Antrim champions. At that point they held a 1-7 to 0-5 lead and the only scoring threat seemed to be Roisin McErlean who was being well held by Jessica Rush.
However there was just enough time for the Dungannon full-forward to rescue her side. She tapped over frees in the 56th and 59th minutes either side of a superb save by Dunloy ‘keeper Liza McAllister. Then as the game slipped into injury time McErlean gathered possession about 45 metres out and ran forward. Her parting shot came off the crossbar, hit McAllister on the back of her helmet and dropped over the line for the equaliser that sends the teams to a replay next Saturday afternoon. McErlean was her side’s only scorer, but there were good shifts put in by Laura Barker and the McNultys in defence, Mary Cassidy at midfield and Aoife Morgan at half-forward.
Yet Dunloy will feel that this game slipped from their control. All over the pitch, Dunloy smothered the ball not allowing their opponents time to open play out and get their top forward on the sliotar in space. Their defence never really appeared in bother – even when the late surge came. And their middle eight worked hard enough to give that defence enough breathing space particularly during the second half against the strong breeze. The Antrim champions got a great start when the midfield pair of Eilis Kearns and Claire McGukian combined for the latter to lob over the Dungannon goalie and into the corner of the net after just six minutes.
Although McErlean responded with two Dungannon points, Orlagh O’Neill frees kept the score-board ticking over until the north Antrim side led by 1-5 to 0-2 at the break. Two points from McErlean on the re-start narrowed the deficit, but Dunloy kept their shape and seemed to have weathered the early storm when Dearbhail Magill pointed after a clever short free from Orlagh O’Neill.
McErlean pointed a free on the three-quarter mark, but Dungannon were held scoreless for the next ten minutes until Kearns’s fine point left a five points’ gap. It looked over, it should have been over, but luck wasn’t on the side of the Antrim champions and Dungannon survived in injury time to fight another day.
Dunloy : Liza McAllister, Lisa McConville, Jessica Rush, Siofra O’Mullan, Fiona Hills, Sorcha Conlan, Noelle Martin, Derbhail Magill 0-1, Claire McGuckian 1-0, Erin Traynor, Eilis Kearns 0-1, Orlagh O’Neill 0-3 frees, Lisa McGuckian, Dearbhail Elliott 0-1, Caoimhe Quinn 0-1
Subs : Aimee Ingram for L McGuckian (50)
Naomh Treasa : Eimear Colton, Marian Barker, Laura barker, Aisling McLaughlin, Cara Little, Cora McNulty, Aine McNulty, Mary Cassidy, Catherine Casey, Aoife Morgan, Louise Casey, Corrinna Donnelly, Pauline Barker, Roisin McErlean 1-7, 0-5 frees, Cliodhna Colton.
Subs : N Morgan for C Donnelly (56)
Referee : Philip McDonald (Cavan)
