TG4 Ulster Junior Championship semi-final
Antrim 2-18-1-05 Derry
By Kevin Herron from Killyclogher
Antrim ladies bounced back from last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Fermanagh to set-up a return date and a fourth meeting between the sides this year – after defeating Derry 2-18-1-05 in the TG4 Ulster Junior semi-final at Killyclogher this evening.
Without a win over the Oak Leaf county in two years – Antrim fell behind to a goal from Katy Holly inside the first ten minutes, but Lara Dahunsi netted twice inside of three minutes to the give the Saffrons the upper hand at the break.
Sean O’Kane’s charges kicked on in the second period with Cathy Carey providing the majority of her sides fourteen scores as Antrim dethroned the current Junior holders.
Antrim made two changes from the side that were thumped 2-13-0-09 by Fermanagh at the Athletic Grounds six days previous.
Cathy Carey returned to boost the half forward line – whilst Emma Kelly came into a defensive reshuffle.
Emma Doherty opened the scoring courtesy of a converted free inside the first sixty seconds and at the other end Maeve McCurdy split the posts to draw the sides level.
The opening goal arrived after eight minutes and fell to the Oak Leafers– Katy Holly found space in behind the Saffrons defence and slotted low past Anna McCann to give her side a 1-01-0-01 lead.
Cathy Carey replied instantly at the other end and Antrim should have been level at the end of the first ten minutes, but for some wayward shooting in the attacking third.
The Saffrons hit the front for the first time inside of thirteen minutes. Maeve McCurdy burst forward and the St Galls forward smartly picked out Lara Dahunsi with a popped pass and Dahunsi rifled past Kathryn Connery and into the net to make it 1-02-1-01.
Captain Saoirse Tennyson almost combined with her St Pauls club-mate for a second two minutes later, however Dahunsi shot inches wide of the post.
But the 18-year old did claim her second goal a minute later after Cathy Carey picked out the full-forwards run and Dahunsi netted for the second time to give her side a 2-02-1-01 advantage.
Antrim were in the ascendancy and back to back points from Aislinn McFarland and in-form Dahunsi followed.
Without a score since her eighth minute goal; Katy Holly replied before the break as a low scoring half saw the Saffrons lead by five (2-04-1-02).
Emma Doherty reduced the deficit within five minutes of the restart and doubled her account for the evening in the process – but Caitlin Taggart conjured up a magnificent score and Niamh Enright claimed her first of the evening.
Lara Dahunsi added to her 2-01 from the first-half with a fisted point from Maira Hanna’s pass and four more scores in a dominant five minute period saw the Saffrons hold a 2-11-1-03 lead going into the final quarter.
Caitlin Taggart curled over her second point of the half, followed by a converted Cathy Carey free – Maeve McCurdy and Aislinn McFarland added further points the aftermath.
Derry were merely playing for pride and hit back through Ciara Moore, though three successive points from Dahunsi, Cathy Carey (free) and substitute Nicole Jones made it 2-14-1-04.
Derry had the chance to net their second goal from the spot after referee Declan Callaghan took advice from his umpires that there had been an infringement in the area.
Ciara Moore took responsibility for the chance of a consolation goal but her effort was pushed over the bar by Anna McCann – referee Callaghan ordered a retake though, insisting that McCann had strayed off her line.
In any instance a similar outcome followed as Moore lashed her penalty over the bar – rather than under it.
Niamh Enright replied and substitute Nicole Jones may have added a third goal for her side in the final five minutes.
Enright switched the ball across to Mairead Cooper who unselfishly popped the ball into the path of Jones – but Jones shot straight at Kathryn Connery in the Derry goals.
Antrim finished the game with three further scores – Cathy Carey helping her to two; one from a free and the other from play with Mairead Cooper getting her name of the scoresheet in between.
Referee Declan Callaghan got card happy in the closing stages as Antrim duo Aislinn McFarland and Lara Dahunsi followed Derry forward Katy Holly in receiving sin-bins.
It had very little effect on the outcome as Antrim ran out 18-point winners to claim a place in the Ulster Final at Clones in two weeks time (June 30th) and a fourth meeting with Fermanagh.
Antrim: A McCann, N Killen, E Kelly, K Farren, O Corr, C Brown, M Hanna, A McFarland (0-02), S Tennyson, C Taggart (0-02), C Carey (0-05, 0-03f), N Enright (0-02), M Cooper (0-01), L Dahunsi (2-03), M McCurdy (0-02). Subs: N Jones (0-01) for M McCurdy (47 mins), C Stewart for O Corr (49 mins), S Haughey for N Killen (58 mins), G Shannon for N Enright (58 mins).
Derry: K Connery, H Mullan, C Glass, N Browne, G Conway, O McEvoy, A Frizelle, D Kivlehan, A McGough, R Curran, C Moore (0-02, 0-01f), Enya Doherty, Emma Doherty (0-02, 0-01f), D Donnelly, K Holly (1-01). Subs: A Laverty for H Mullan (22 mins), N Nugent for A McGough (55 mins), T McIlroy for C Glass (58 mins).
Referee: Declan Callaghan (Donegal)
