Bridie McMenamin Shield final
Lavey (Derry) v Ahoghill (Antrim)
St. Mary’s Ahoghill are only one step away from Ulster glory but the Cloney girls face a stiff challenge in tomorrow’s final when they travel to Lavey. The Derry girls have home advantage following the toss of a coin for venue and this will certainly aid their cause but should not impact too greatly on the outcome.
Dermot Graham’s side have impressed on their journey to tomorrow’s decider and should go into tomorrow’s final full of confidence following a string of impressive results on their Antrim and Ulster journey.
They began their Antrim campaign with a preliminary round win over Ballycastle’s second string at Cloney and the North Antrim girls had no answer to a rampant Ahoghill side who ran up a massive score to advance to the semi-final.
They appeared to face a much stiffer test when drawn against Bridie McMenamin specialists, Loughgiel in the quarter-final but again the Ahoghill side stepped up to the mark, scoring an impressive 4-11 against the Shamrocks.
A hat-trick from Ahoghill’s prolific scorer, Noreen Graham and a personal tally of 3-2 paved the way for an emphatic victory over holders Loughgiel in this Antrim Junior camogie championship quarter-final at Fr. Healy Park.
Paula Gribbin got the other goal with Catriona Graham 0-4, Maura Downey 0-3, Aine Graham 0-1 and Anne Marie O’Neill the Ahoghill scorers.
Armoy had little answer to this slick moving Ahoghill side in the semi-final as they advanced to meet Kicklham’s Creggan in a final that many felt would be their biggest test of the season. It didn’t pan out that way however as the Graham cousins were the key to Ahoghill taking the Antrim Junior championship crown for the first time in a quarter of a century in Portglenone.
Noreen weighed in with four goals and four points, while Caitriona fired over nine frees from all distances. But in reality Creggan were always playing catch up after Áine Graham opened the scoring for Ahoghill after 35 seconds.
It was on to a first Ulster campaign and a win over Aghaderg of Down with the St. Mary’s girls always in control and running out 2-12 to 0-4 to set up a semi-final with Gill of Cavan. This time Ahoghill were afforded home advantage and when Gill opened the scoring through a Siobhan McKenna point the visitors must have fancied their chances.
Back came the Cloney side with a goal from Paula Gribbin and Noreen Graham, who had missed the semi-final, followed with four first half goals and added two in the second as Ahoghill amassed 9 goals for the second time in this year’s championship campaign.
Ahoghill have been excellent this year with Angela Townsend in goals, Mairead McCloskey, Eadaoin McGarry and Emma McGlone the foundations of a mean defence who give little away. Catriona Graham and team captain, Fiona Blaney form a hard working mid-field while Maura Downey, Paula Downey and the rampant Noreen Graham can all be match winners on their day in attack.
WHAT OF LAVEY
Tomorrow’s opponents Lavey are likely to provide Dermot Graham’s side with a much stiffer challenge than they have met so far this year and with what is likely to be a big home support the Gulladuff girls will fancy their chances.
They certainly looked impressive in their semi-final win over Culloville of Armagh. Shauneen McCann was the player to scupper any hopes that Culloville had of becoming the first Armagh team to make the final, the Lavey half-forward getting through for two goals in the opening nine minutes.
Culloville responded with a goal from Pauline Faughey but Lavey went on to lead by 2-4 to 1-1 at the break with McCann a constant threat up front while their defence, well led by Laura Scullion, was sound and always alert to the danger posed by their opponents.
Úna McCloy grabbed a third Lavey goal to move her side 3-5 to 1-1 ahead and Kerrie Shivers also found the net for the Derry champions who held off a late surge from Culloville to reach the final.
The Derry champions finished with an impressive 4-6 and will provide the Antrim girls with a tough test tomorrow but if the Grahams, Paula Gribbin and Maura Downey can find their scoring touch then I would expect there to be celebrations in Cloney come tomorrow evening.