LGFA U17C Championship final
Tir na nOg 1-11 All Saints 2-2
The superb Niamh McKinley led Tir na nOg to victory over All Saints Ballymena in Sunday’s U17C Football Championship in sparkling overhead conditions at Fr. Maginn Park, Glenravel.
The Whitehill side’s captain kicked all five of her side’s first half points to leave them leading 0-5 to 0-0 at the halfway stage as a shot shy All Saints failed time and again to make the best of good approach play in the opening half.
The Ballymena girls finally broke their duck when a shot from Anna O’Kane dropped over Tir na nOg keeper, Catriona McCann in the 5th minute of the second half but that would be as close as they got with the Randalstown girls pushing on for a deserved win.
It was All Saints who made the early running with Anna O’Kane and Cliodhna Metrustry and Keely O’Mullan prominent but too often a pass too many led to them being turned over by a strong Tir na nOg defence.
Slowly though Tir na nOg settled and Orlagh McNally in the All Saints goals pulled off a good save to deny Aime Gartside what looked a certain goal.
Both sides were guilty of poor shooting and it was 13 minutes before the first score arrived with Niamh McKinley pointing Tir na nOg ahead from a free.
The Ballymena girls tried to respond but continued to kick away possession as McKinley kicked her first point from play and added three more before half time to put the Randalstown girls in a commanding position as Martin Mulholland blew his half time whistle.
Aime Gartside increased the Tir na nOg lead with a point in the opening minute of the new half and the excellent Niamh McKinley looked certain to increase her personal tally but Orlagh McNally pulled off her second good save of the contest to deny the Tir na nOg Number 11.
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All Saints were badly in need of a score and there was a touch of good fortune about it when it arrived as Anna O’Kane’s driven effort dipped below Catriona McCann’s crossbar to leave just three in it with five minutes of the new half gone.
Fortune appeared to be on their side when Amy Gartside’s fisted goal was ruled out for a square ball infringement at the other end with All Saints attempting to respond at the other end but the Ballymena side were guilty of a bad miss.
A minute later the girls in Blue were awarded a penalty and once again it was Ballymena’s McNally to face McKinley and again McNally proved up to the task as she denied the Tir na nOg captain from the spot to keep her side’s fading hopes alive
It was the Randalstown side who would kick the next score with Shannon McNeilly splitting the posts and further points from Niamh McKinley and Eimhear McCloskey saw them 0-9 to 1-0 ahead by the 19th minute.
Orlagh McNally in the All Saints goals had been excellent throughout the contest but she was finally beaten when Uisneach McCann finished to the net following a fine double save by the All Saints custodian.
It looked as good as over at this stage but to their credit the Ballymena side fought to the end with Cliodhna Metrustry and Anna O’Kane firing over points and substitute Erinn White getting in for a late goal.
A good game of football, well refereed by Martin Mulholland with the best team winning and in Niamh McKinley Tir na nOg had the outstanding player on view.
The Randalstown side were solid in defence with Emma Gartside, Shannon McNeilly and Shauna Robinson the pick of a strong unit. At mid-field Caoife Smith and Jessica Simpson got through a power of work while Niamh McKinley had excellent colleagues in attack in Eimhear McCloskey and Aime Gartside.
Orlagh McNally was excellent in the All Saints goals while no nonsense full-back, Brianna Cushenan, Leah McArdle and Alex Spurgeon were strong in defence. Keely O’Mullan was outstanding at mid-field and had strong support from Cliodhna Metrustry while Anna O’Kane, Orla Lemon and Lucy McGuigan were best in attack.
Tir na nOg: 1 Catriona McCann, 2 Aoife McCloskey, 3 Emma Gartside, 4 Ciara McParland, 5 Shannon McNeilly, 6 Shauna Robinson, 7 Niamh McAteer, 8 Jessica Simpson, 9 Caoife Smith, 10 Aoife McCann, 11 Niamh McKinley, 12 Eimhear McCloskey, 13 Sara Martin, 14 Aime Gartside, 15 Uisneach McCann,
Subs: 17 Catriona Fagan, 18 Cora Hill, 19 Fayth Sansome, 21 Ciara McCann, 22 Katie McIvor,
All Saints: 1.Orlagh McNally 2.Aoife Mulholland 3.Brianna Cushenan 4.Leah McArdle 25.Tess Brady 6. Alex Spurgeon 7. Ella McLaughlin 28. Cliodhna Metrustry 9. Keely OMullan 10. Aimee Kerr 11. Anna OKane 12. Eve Lemon 13. Kate Hasson 14. Orla Lemon 15. Aimee Lee Holmes
Subs: 20 Erinn White, 16 Lucy McGuigan, 18 Maria Mitchell, 19 Eva Casey.
Referee: Martin Mulholland (Glenravel)
