McErlain the Naomh Treasa hero as Dunloy pipped at the post

NWP Bridie McMenamin Shield final :

Dunloy players and manager Paudie Shivers try to take it all in after their one point defeat in Friday evening’s replay at Jordanstown. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Naomh Treasa (Tyrone) 0-7 Dunloy (Antrim) 0-6
Roisin McErlean must have created some kind of record when she pointed Dungannon’s Naomh Treasa to their first NWP Bridie McMenamin Shield title in a replay under the UUJ lights on Friday night. She had scored all 1-7 including a last minute goal in their drawn final with Dunloy Cuchulainn’s in Tattyreagh a fortnight ago and then posted all their scores in this replay. Despite her accuracy, this was a real team effort from the Tyrone champions and defender Cara Little picked up the Player of the Match award.
That award could easily have gone to either of the two goalkeepers, Eimear Colton or Dunloy’s Liza McAllister, who were responsible for keeping their teams in contention right until the end. Indeed both teams stepped up a gear from the drawn game to provide super entertainment for the siezeable crowd that attended
The game followed a similar pattern to the drawn final with Dunloy holding a lead after the opening quarter during which the sides shared four points.
Dearbhail Magill Elliott then pointed twice to open up a 0-5 to 0-3 lead, but Roisin McErlean pulled one back before the break. DYLN7778
McErlean pointed on the re-start, but didn’t bring the sides level at 0-5 each until the 44th minute.
Five minutes later Eilis Kearns tapped over a free to give Dunloy the lead again, but it lasted less than 60 seconds with McErlean pointing from play and then giving her side the lead with a 51st minute free.
Both sides had chances in the remaining ten minutes of play and both goalies had to be sharp. But Naomh Treasa held out to end Antrim clubs’ successful run in the competition.
Naomh Treasa : Eimear Colton, Marian Barker, Laura Barker, Aisling McLaughlin, Cara Little, Cora McNulty, Aine McNulty, Niamh Morgan, Mary Cassidy, Aoife Morgan, Catherine Casey, Louise Casey, Pauline Barker, Roisin McErlean 0-7, 0-5 frees, Cliodhna Colton.
Subs : Corrinna Donnelly for N Morgan (HT)
Dunloy : Liza McAllister, Lisa McConville, Jessica Rush, Siofra O’Mullan, Fiona Hills, Sorcha Conlan, Noelle Martin, Derbhail Magill, Claire McGuckian, Erin Traynor, Eilis Kearns 0-4, 0-3 frees, Orlagh O’Neill, Lisa McGuckian, Dearbhail Elliott 0-2, Caoimhe Quinn
Subs : Michaela Ingram for O O’Neill (50)
Referee : EP Cassidy (Derry)