Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate semi-final
Brídíní Óga Glenravel 5-8 Cargin 3-8
AIMEE Traynor was the scoring star as Brídíní Óga Glenravel gained revenge for their quarter-final defeat last year by Cargin and reached their fourth Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate decider in six seasons with a six points’ win in Randalstown.
The scoreline flatters the winners though as Cargin went into the lead at the start of the fourth quarter having held the Glenravel girls to just a Traynor point during the third quarter.
However Glenravel and Traynor found their scoring touch once again and hit the front with two goals from the diminutive corner forward, the second coming at the start of injury time.
Cargin got the better start to the game with the first of three goals from Emer McErlean and a point from Eleanor Mallon.
However Traynor, with a point, helped Glenravel get a foothold in the game and they were back on level terms in the 6th minute when Ashling Millar crashed a shot off the post and Erin McAleese followed through to find the net.
Glenravel pushed on from there and two Eimhear McAleenan frees either side of a Traynor point put them three up at the end of the first quarter.
Cargin however hit back with Gráinne McAtamney setting up Emer McErlean for her second goal. Traynor however found space in the corner at the other end and floated a lovely ball across the centre for Molly Woulahan to bat home from the edge of the square.
Glenravel then pushed on with another goal from a fine move involving Erin Coulter, Torie Edgar and Woulahan with Ashling Millar through one-on-one. Katie McAnenley pulled one back for Cargin, but they still trailed by 3-4 to 2-2 at the change of ends.
The third quarter belonged to Cargin with a third McErlean goal, two fine points from Maria O’Neill, another from Cathy Carey and then two from McAnenley edging them into a 3-7 to 3-6 lead.
Traynor pointed to level in the 48th minute and four minutes later Erin Coulter found her with a long ball out of defence. She made room to kick to the roof of the net.
Cargin had chances to close the gap, but only managed an Eleanor Mallon point as the game slipped towards the three added minutes. During the first of those Traynor found the net again with a subert finish and Brónagh Laverty raced through from defence for the final score.
Not a totally convincing performance from the winners, but one that gets them into the decider where they meet Geraldine’s Portglenone who led from pillar to post to oust 2020 champions Tír na nÓg in the earlier game in Creggan.
Brídíní Óga: O Donnelly, M Mulholland, M McKenna, A Mulholand, E Coulter, L McKenna, B lLaverty 0-1, E McAleese 1-0, S Fyfe, K Laverty, M Woulahan 1-0, E McAleenan 0-3 fs), A Traynor 2-4, V Edgar, A Millar 1-0.
Cargin: M Creelman, E O’Neill, A Thompson, S O’Boyle, T O’Neill, M O’Neill 0-2, B Laverty, C McFadden, S O’Neill, A Blue, E Mallon 0-2 (1f), C Carey 0-1, G McAtamney, K McAnenley 0-2, E McErlean 3-0.
Sub: O Rooney for A Blue (35), for B Laverty and for E McErlean (both 56) Orla Dobbin and Niamh Donnelly
Referee P Tomelty (Lámh Dhearg)
