Antrim Ladies Senior Football Final
Venue : Pairc Padraig Sarseil
St. Paul’s 12-21 St. Gall’s 0-3
Naomh Pól ladies executed a clinical performance to dispose of neighbours Naomh Gall to lift their eighth consecutive Antrim Senior championship title on Saturday evening with a score of 12.21 to 0.03
It has been a while since Naomh Pól and Naomh Gall have met in a senior county final as this has in recent years been a Naomh Pól and Naomh Eargnait dominated affair. However, the Belfast side overcame Moneyglass in the semi-final a fortnight ago with an equally impressive performance.
Naomh Pól from throw in dominated the game with Lara Dahunsi making a penetrating run through the Naomh Gall defence to find Kirsty McGuinness. The first score of the match came from a free awarded for a foul on McGuinness who converted the score. Naomh Pól were quick to regain possession from the kick-out with Dahunsi claiming the second point that was immediately followed by a series of goals and points from McGuinness, Caitlin McGuinness, Dahunsi and Naoishe Burns. Eimear Gallagher replied with a point for Naomh Gall. Gallagher was to score 2 out of their 3 points with Sara Lou McLaughlin earning the other. Naomh Gall were unable to record any further scores such was the intensity of Naomh Pól’s defending and attacking play. Half time score Naomh Pól 4-08 to Naomh Gall 0-03
Impressive teamwork, support play and scoring creativity throughout the game from Naomh Pól gave them their eighth championship title and ninth in 10 years. Incidentally, it was Naomh Gall in 2010 that took the crown from them. Credit to the Milltown girls who continued to battle throughout the second half.
Naomh Pól now face the winners of County Cavan and for the first time in several years have a home game in Ulster championship. The game scheduled for 28th September hopefully will give some time for experienced players Mairead Cooper and Saoirse Tennyson to rehab following the knee injuries that excluded them from club championship. It is exactly 10 years since Naomh Pól made an impression in Ulster club lifting the intermediate title in 2009 and narrowly falling short in the All Ireland semi- final to Brian Boru Tipperary.
Naomh Pol : Aisling Healy; Rebekah Hemsworth; Emma Kelly; Laura O’Neill; Caoimhe Stewart; Ciara Brown; Maria Hanna; Stacey McCann; Aine Tubridy (0-01); Lara Dahunsi (1-07); Caitlin McGuinness (3.04); Niamh Enright (1-0); Naoishe Burns (2.05) Kirsty McGuinness 5.04 (2f); Kerry McConville
Naomh Gall scorers
Eimear Gallagher (0.02; 1f); Sara Lou McLaughlin (0.01)
Referee ; Anthony Carleton Naomh Brid
PICS BY BERT TROWLEN
