Bridie McMenamin Ulster Shield
Aghaderg 0-4 Ahoghill 2-12
Photographs courtesy of Aghaderg
Ahoghill travelled to Aghaderg outside Banbridge for the Bridie McMenamin Quarter -final on Saturday and despite the absence of Noreen Graham, who flew to Africa hours after winning the Antrim Junior Championship to help build homes, they were never troubled by the Down champions.
Ahoghill started strongly and were awarded an early free. Caitriona Graham found her sister Aine, wearing the No14 jersey for the day and she found Maura Downey who pointed within 60 seconds.
Aghaderg tried to respond but centre half back Eadoin McGarry workedthe sliotar out of the ruck with Caitriona Graham suffering a late swing across the arm and given a free for her trouble.
She came out with the breaking ball again firing another ball into the danger zone but Aghaderg’s Meabh McQuaid cleared Graham’s effort only to be intercepted by the ever dangerous Maura Downey who fired to the net to put her side in control.
Aghaderg’s opened their account when Sinead Brackenbury won an Ahoghill sideline, taken by defender Sinead McKenna. Brackenbury was awarded a free which was taken by Caitlin Armstrong who opened the Aghaderg scoring with a point.
Ahoghill were starting to find their rhythm however and Caitriona Graham continued to tidy up in midfield and after being awarded another free took little time in pointing again.
The hosts battled hard to produce another opportunity but Eadoin McGarry and Paula Gribbin were giving nothing away in defence and instigated another counter-attack to find Aine Graham who popped over a point from play to move the visitors 1.03 to 0-1 ahead after 10 minutes.
The Down champions continued to battle but Nicola Doherty made a timely interception before finding Bronagh Graffin whose shot was saved by Aghaderg keeper, Ciara McGovern. The Ahoghill presuure was starting to tell however and McGlone, who had pushed up into attack was fouled and Caitriona Graham split the posts again with the resulting free.
Both sides continued to fight for every ball and Aghaderg capitalised as the accurate Armstrong put over a point from play in the 14th minute. They won the Ahoghill puck out but Maura Downey, who was everywhere, was back to clear the danger.
Angela Townsend, the Ahoghill keeper pulled off a save as Sinead Brackenbury threatened and as the visitors broke again they were awarded another free with Caitriona Graham on target again. Aghaderg continued to create opportunities with Angela Townsend making another save and full- back Mairead McCloskey eventually clearing the danger.
Maura Downey continued to cause problems with her strong running and looked in for a score but was adjudged to have over carried. However Paula Gribbin intercepted the resulting free and gave it back to Downey who’s shot was saved. The rebound fell kindly for Ciara McGuigan who shot to the net in the 22nd minute.
The Cloney girls were flying and followed up with 2 more points immediately as Caitriona Graham added one from play before placing Maura Downey for another point a minute later to move her side 2.06 to 0.02 ahead after 23 minutes .
Aghaderg finished the half on the offensive and the impressive Armstrong, who always posed a threat on the ball, got her 3rd point followed soon after by a 4th from a free to give her side a glimmer of hope for the second half.
After the break the Aghaderg keeper had the sun to contend with as well as Maura Downey and Ciara Graham and seconds later the latter pointed from a free.
Aghaderg were giving it everything as Sarah Malone, won the breaking ball and delivered to her forwards but Ahoghill full back McCloskey was there to avert the danger and won a free for her troubles.
Aghaderg were enjoying a lot of possession and Townsend pulled off two saves to deny the dangerous Malone who continued to look dangerous. Eadoin McGarry clearance found Maura Downey who was fouled and converted the resulting free.
The St. Mary’s pressure was starting to tell as Aghaderg gave away another free which Caitriona Graham pointed with ease. Ahoghill made their first substitution at this stage with Caitlin McLaughlin coming on for Tracey Hardy.
Ahoghill finished as they had started and another well worked move involving Paula Gribbin, Aine Graham saw Maura Downey fire over a fine point from play. Ciara Graham added another from a free to bring the visitors tally to 2-10 and there was no way back for the Down girls at this stage although they continued to give it everything.
Their best efforts continued to be repelled by a tight Ahoghill defence and they continued to threaten on the break with Ciara Graham placing her sister Aine who got her 2nd point of the day.
Paula Gribbin and Maura Downey were running riot and a foul on Downey was converted by excellent free-taker Caitriona Graham to move her side out of sight with seven minutes remaining.
A minute later Downey put over another while Ahoghill manager Dermot Graham took the opportunity to give game time to his bench, bringing on Fionnuala McKeever for Paula Gribbin and Derbhaile Graffin for Ciara McGuigan.
Maura Downey had been virtually unplayable and she pointed again to bring her personal tally to 1-05 as the Cloney side continued to dominate. Aghaderg were awarded several frees in the closing stages but despite valiant efforts they couldn’t hit the target.
In the final minutes Ahoghill emptied their bench with Caitlin OHagan coming on for Anne Marie O’Neill and then Nuala O’Connell for Bronagh Graffin but it had little effect on their performance and it is the Cloney girls who advance to the semi-final and in this form will be hard to beat.
