Bridie McMenamin Shield – Ulster Camogie
Ahoghill 9-13 Kill (Cavan) 2-7
ALTHOUGH Cavan champions Kill opened the scoring in this Bridie McMenamin Shield semi-final in Ahoghill with a fine point from Siobhan McKenna, the home side responded immediately with goals from Paula Gribbin and Noreen Graham and Ahoghill went on to reach their first Ulster final since 1969.
Indeed Graham, who missed the quarterfinals because she was in Africa on a volunteer scheme, was to prove a real problem for the Cavan side accumulating four goals and four points in the opening half alone and added a further 2-1 during the second half.
Her cousin Caitrîona hand passed another goal for Ahoghill who led by 6-6 to 1-5 at the break, Kill lifting their game in the final five minutes with a goal from Siobhán McKenna and a couple of points from free-taker Ciara Bannon.
The Cavan side had their best spell during the ten minutes after the break and closed the gap with a goal from Megan Shields and a couple of frees from Bannon.
However their scoring dried up after Noreen Graham got Ahoghill into gear again with their seventh goal in the 42nd minute.
She added her sixth major five minutes later with substitute Bronagh Graffin hitting the net with her first touch and Ahoghill were comfortably through to the final on Saturday week.
Ahoghill : Angela Townsend, Nicola Doherty, Mairead McCloskey, Sinead McKenna, Emma McGlone, Eadaoin McGarry, Caitlin McLaughlin, Caitriona Graham 1-3, 0-2 frees, Fiona Blaney capt, Paula Gribbin 1-0, Aine Graham, Maura Downey 0-5, Anne Marie O’Neill, Noreen Graham 6-5, Ciara McGuigan
Subs : Bronagh Graffin 1-0, for AM O’Neill, Marian Graham for C McLaughlin, Fionnuala McKeever for P Gribbin, Nuala O’Connell for C McGuigan, Dearbhaile Graffin for S McKenna
Kill: T McQuillan, K Fitzpatrick capt., A Fitzpatrick, K Boyle, L Fitzpatrick, L O’Reilly, K McQuillan, K McIntyre, C Boyle, M Shields 1-0, S O’Flynn, C Bannon 0-4, 0-3 frees, S McKenna 1-2, A McKitterick 0-1, L McMenamin
Referee : Malachy McToal (Derry)
