Ulster Ladies U14 Festival of Football
6th April 2019
Report by Billy Thompson
Photo by Elaine Kelly.
The sun was shining on the last league day of the U14 Festival of Football. Colaiste Feirste was the venue with the 3 top teams, Antrim, Armagh & Cavan, matched together to play the final round of Football.
First up Cavan v Armagh a tight affair which could have went either way but Cavan edged it.
Cavan 1-8 Armagh 1-7.
The second match of the day saw the Saffrons up against Armagh. First score went to Armagh with a well taken early goal. From the resulting kick-out the Antrim girls seemed to settle and the midfield trio of Gabby Monaghan, Aileen McDonnell & Aoife Kelly really got a grip on the game. Some confident and assured passing saw the ball fall into the hands of Orleigha McGuinness, Niamh McKinley & Bronagh McGuinness time after time with the girls peppering the Armagh goal with shots. With all the front-line chipping in, a fine goal from Alex Johnson saw Antrim on top 4-4 to 1-0. As the half time whistle sounded.
With a Match against league leaders Cavan on the horizon changes were inevitable and at half time they were made. Armagh came out of the blocks fighting scoring a couple of unanswered points but again the Antrim girls settled with Ashling Mulholland & Luisne Adams getting on the score sheet, a late goal and point wasn’t enough to see an Armagh come back.
Antrim 4-8 Armagh 2-4
Antrim scorers: Bronagh McGuinness 1-2, Niamh Mckinley 2-1, Ciara Maguire 0-1, Orleigha McGuinness 0-1, Alex Johnson 1-0, Ashling Mulholland 0-1 Luisne Adams 0-2)
Next up was Unbeaten Cavan. The break between games seemed to have helped them as they were able to score a couple of points unanswered, unfazed the Antrim girls hit back with theAntrim girls again picking up where they had left off popping over point after point. Then the Saffrons really started clicking, upping their game with 3 well taken goals from Ciara Maguire putting the Antrim girls in a commanding position 3-6 0-6 ahead at half-time.
Antrim started the second half the way they had finished the first firing on all cylinders with points and goals from Caoimhe McErlain, Alex Burns & Clodagh McPeake adding to the tally. Cavan couldn’t find an answer to the midfield dominance of the Antrim girls and a couple of fine saves from Emily McCoy near the end capped a fine defensive performance.
Antrim take the points & finish this phase of the campaign top of the league.
Antrim 6-13 Cavan 0-9
Antrim scorers: Orleigha McGuinness 0-3, Bronagh McGuinness 0-4, Aileen McDonnell 0-1, Ciara Maguire 4-0, Caoimhe McErlain 1-3, Clodagh McPeake 0-1, Alex Burns 1-0, Ashling Mulholland 0-1)
