Never say die Antrim pip luckless Cavan in Ulster final

Armagh City Hotel Ulster Intermediate championship final

Antrim 2-12 Cavan 2-10

Pics by John Merry

Antrim staged a late comeback to beat Cavan in Saturday’s Armagh City Hotel Ulster Intermediate Championship final at the Moy. Cavan led the final with just two minutes of normal time to play and appeared to have secured their first title, but two late Dervla Cosgrove frees brought them level and sent the game to extra time.

**Niamh Neeson celebrates after scoring the match winning goal**

Cavan put themselves back on top when Roisin O’Keefe goaled early in extra time and things looked good for the Breffni blues, but Antrim hit back with points from Ellen McIntosh and Cosgrove (free) to cut the gap back to one. A Clodagh Keenaghan free, looked like taking Cavan in at the break with a two points advantage, but the Saffrons came back before the interval and Antrim substitute Niamh Neeson grabbed a goal to give her team a two point advantage.

Cavan showed great character to hit back again and Shanise Fitzsimons brought her team back on terms early in the second half of extra time. Antrim responded with points from McIntosh and Cara O’Boyle, with McIntosh’s constant running at the Cavan defence causing the Breffni girls no end of problems. Dervla Cosgrove’s contribution from frees was again a major factor, while Anna McNeill gave yet another committed performance.

Antrim: M Bakewell (1-0), N Neeson (1-0), D Cosgrove (0-9, 8 frees), E McIntosh (0-3), F McIntosh (0-1), C O’Boyle (0-1)

Cavan: R O’Keefe (1-1), S McKenna (1-0), C Keenaghan (0-8, 6 frees), S Fitzsimons (0-2), H Fitzsimons (0-1).

Antrim: A Graham, M McKinley, C Kearney, E Traynor, C Crawford, E McMullan, Bronach Magill, A McNeill, F McIntosh, E McIntosh, Brid Magill, S Fyfe, D Cosgrove, M Bakewell, O Laverty.

Subs: N Neeson for S Fyfe, C Laverty for M McKinley, C O’Boyle for F McIntosh, A Donnelly for M Bakewell.

Cavan: E Mulvaney, N Majola, E Galligan, S Slowey, A Coyle, R Crowe-McKeever, A Tierney, H Fitzsimons, J Maguire, S McKenna, C Keenaghan, C O’Reilly, R O’Keefe, S Fitzsimons, J Moore.

Sub: N Keenaghan