Antrim Ladies Gaelic Football Intermediate Championship
St Brigid’s 5-12 Glenavy 3-7
St Brigid’s won the Antrim Ladies Intermediate Football Championship when they beat Glenavy in Saturday afternoon’s final at Slemish Park, Ballymena. The south Belfast girls were always in control, leading from the opening second, and though Glenavy battled hard to stay in touch the scoring power of their dynamic forward division always gave them an edge. Glenavy fought to the end but hard though they tried they could not reproduce the form of their semi-final win over Con Magees and on the day the power and pace of St Brigid’s was just too much.
The excellent Anna Finnegan pointed St Brigid’s ahead inside a minute and when Whonita Hagan grabbed a goal a minute later they had an early grip on the game. Glenavy got back into the match in the fourth minute when a high ball from a Fionnuala Connor free bounced in around the St Bridgid’s goalmouth and centre forward Grainne McLaughlin appeared to get a touch to send it to the net. Anna Finnegan put her team two clear again with a well taken point and though Glenavy’s Ellen Morgan cut it back to one again St Brigid’s were getting on top and points from Finnegan, Ciara Durien and Abi Carlton were followed by a goal from Carleton put them in command.
A point from an Ellen Morgan free and fantastic goal from full forward Fionnuala Connor breathed new life into the Glenavy challenge and cut their deficit back to just two points, but St Brigid’s struck a telling blow just before the break when Whonita Hagan got in for her team’s third goal to send them in at the break five points to the good.
Glenavy’s Fionnuala Connor scores the first of her two goals. Pic by John McIlwaine
When St Brigid’s started the second half with quick points from Connie Hawkes and Abi Carleton it was a long way back for Glenavy. Ellen Morgan and Eva Cafolla pointed to keep them in touch but three from Anna Finnegan and one from substitute Catherine Owens kept St Brigid’s in firm control. Glenavy substitute Orlagh McClinton gave her team a glimmer of hope with two excellent points as the game entered injury time but two goals in a minute from Anna Finnegan and Catherine Owens put the game beyond any doubt. To their credit Glenavy kept battling to the end and Fionnuala Connor struck a late consolation goal but the cup was on its way to Musgrave Park by this stage as impressive St Brigid’s prospered.
Fixtures secretary Shauna Rafferty presents the Intemediate Championship cup to St Brigid’s captain Coleen Quinn after her team’s win over Glenavy. Pic by John McIlwaine
ST BRIGID’S
Julie Curran, Claire Donnelly, Cree McAleer, Orfhlaigh McCaughey, Aisling Carson, Sarah McGuckian, Hannah McKevitt, Maeve Blaney, Ashling Henderson, Whonita Hagan, Connie Hawkes, Ciara Durien, Abi Carleton, Anna Finnegan, Ciaran Moane.
Subs – Tara Graham, Emma Feran, Kristina Cunningham, Enya Boyce, Sorcha McGarvey, Seanna Meehan, Rebecca Doyle, Eimear Matthews, Catherine Owens, Bryoni Daly, Carol McDonagh, Maireda Walsh, Caitriona McBurney, Colleen Quinn (capt)
GLENAVY
Fiona Rogan, Beth Hamill, Mary McStravick, Elise Cafolla, Natasha O’Neill, Cathy Scannell, Bronagh Forester, Orla Fay, Eva Caffola, Bronagh Cunningham, Grainne mclaughlin, Chloe Doone, Megan McGarry, Fionnuala Connor, Ellen Morgan.
Subs – Chloe Cassidy, Naomh Steele, cara Mckevitt, orlagh McClinton, Ciara McKinstry, Edel McMullan, Courtney Murray, Orla McCambridge, Ciara McCorry.
Referee – Brendan Crossan.