Ulster LGFA IFC Championship
Naomh Muire Iochtar Na Rosann 4-10 St. Joseph’s 5-9
The long trip to Donegal proved a successful one in the end for St. Joseph’s Glenavy but there were forced to endure a few anxious moments in the end as Naomh Muire hit 2-1 in the closing minutes to threaten the Glenavy party.
It was the Donegal girls who made the better start with Ailbhe O’Donnell hitting the Glenavy net in the opening minute though Megan McGarry restored parity with a goal at the other end in the second minute.
Ana Mulholland was having an increasing influence for the Chapel Hill girls and she took advantage of a turnover in the St. Mary’s defence to finish to the net and put her side three in front and they looked to be taking control.Within two minutes they had lost that lead however as Caroline Sharkey pointed for Naomh Muire before finishing to the net in the 16th minute to restore her side’s lead.McLaughlin restored parity once more as her increasing influence began to tell with Ailbhe O’Donnell adding two for the Donegal side and Orlagh Mullan pulling off a great save to deny Sharkey as Naomh Muire threatened a third goal.
Grainne McLaughlin replied with three late points for the visitors to leave them one ahead at the short whistle but with the breeze to face in the second half there was all still to play for.McLaughlin was now causing havoc in the Glenavy attack and she rattled the Naomh Muire net within a minute of the restart and Aoibheann Monaghan added a point to move her side five in front after seven minutes and the visitors looked to be taking control.Erika Ni hAnnaid replied with a point for the host side but when Ellen Morgan palmed home St. Joseph’s fourth goal after a strong run and cross from Aoibheann Monaghan in the 9th minute it looked as good as over.Grainne McLaughlin added a fifth with a sublime lob over keeper, Leah McGarvey and Ellen Morgan added a point to leave her side 11 ahead at the end of the third quarter but amazingly, it would be their last score of the game.
Naomh Muire replied with points from Caroline Sharkey and Erika Ni hAnnaidh before the game took a dramatic twist when the outstanding McLaughlin was shown Yellow, effectively ending her participation in the contest. At this stage the Chapel Hill side still looked in a comfortable position but they lost their way going down the home straight with O’Donnell getting in for a goal in the 26th minute to give her side a glimmer of hope. Leah McGarvey in the Naomh Muire goals then pulled off a great save as Glenavy tried to respond but it was the Donegal side who now had the bit between their teeth as Ailbhe O’Donnell pointed at the other end.
With the game now well into injury time and the big travelling Glenavy support calling for the full-time whistle, the impressive Erika Ni hAnnaid got through for her side’s fourth goal to leave just two between the sides but that would be as close as they got.St. Joseph’s will now have home advantage as they host Rostrevor of Down in the quarter-final on the 28th of October and their management will be pleased by much of Sunday’s performance but will be hoping to eradicate those closing stages lapses in Donegal.
Naom Muire Na Rossa: 22 Leah McGarvey, 3 Hannah Gallagher, 4 Casey McGarvey, 5 Caoimhe Boyle, 6 Annie Rose Quinn, 7 Amy Hannah, 8 Roisin Rogers, 9 Sarah Doherty, 10 Katie O’Donnell, 11 Ailbhe O’Donnell, 12 Tara O’Donnell, 13 Caroline Sharkey, 14 Hollie McDaid, 15 Ciara Kavanagh, 28 Erika Ni hAnnaid
Glenavy: 1 Orlagh Mullan, 2 Mary McStravick, 3 Meabh Bradley, 4 Aideen McCambridge, 5 Orla McLeod, 6 Bronagh Forester, 7 Natasha O’Neill, 8 Ana Mulholland, 9 Anna Rice, 10 Aoibheann Monaghan, 11 Grainne McLaughlin, 12 Megan McGarry, 13 Michelle Gregory, 14 Ellen Morgan, 15 Cathy Scannell
