Disappointment for battling St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s Magherafelt 2-6 Colaiste Oiriall Monaghan 3-10

PPS U20 Ladies final

There was disappointment for the girl’s from St. Mary’s Magherafelt and their Moneyglass contingent when they were beaten in the Ulster College’s PPS U20B final in Clones on Thursday. A game originally scheduled for Garvaghy had to be switched owing to snow on the Garvaghy pitch but in windy condition both sides served up an entertaining final.

St. Mary’s enjoyed the benefits of the wind in the opening half and might well have been further ahead at the break when they led 1-5 to 1-3 with Aoife Kelly producing a strong run and an astute delivery and the excellent Keenan getting the touch in a race with the keeper to finish to the net for their opening goal.

The strong running Scotstown girl, Corrigan got the Colaiste Oiriall goal to give her side the lead but St. Mary’s continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges and Maria O’Neill led the way with a series of excellent points as the South Derry girls led by two at the interval.

They looked to have it all to do as they faced a strong breeze in the second half but a superb goal from Maria O’Neill on the restart put a bit of daylight between the sides.

Money glass girls, Aoife Kelly and Maria O’Neill in action for St. Mary’s in Clones

Slowly though Colaiste Oiriall began to reel in the St. Mary’s lead but the Derry defence stood strong with their opponents forcing a series of ‘45’s’. Eventually the pressure paid off with Sherry collecting a loose ball to fire to the net and give her side a one point lead going into the second water break.

Trailing by three going into the closing stages, St. Mary’s threw everything at the opposition but could not turn good possession into score and they were caught with a sucker punch goal that killed off their challenge.

Despite defeat St. Mary’s can take a lot of positives from this final with the South West girls, Maria O’Neill, Aoife Kelly, Ciara Scullin and Sarah O’Neill all making a big contribution to what has been a great year for the South Derry College.

That story hasn’t ended yet and tomorrow at the Athletic Grounds St. Mary’s footballers will take on Holy Trinity Cookstown in the MacRory Cup final with Kevin Brady from Moneyglass and John McKeever from Portglenone in charge of the respective sides while St. Mary’s have a strong representation in their side from the South West Antrim area.