Antrim LGFA Junior Football Championship final
Lámh Dhearg 1-18 O’Donovan Rossa 0-3
Lamh Dhearg proved too strong for Rossa in this LGFA Junior Championship final in Glenavy on Saturday. The Shaw’s Road girls hung in during the opening half but the Hannastown side found another gear after the break to win comfortably.
Despite playing into the gale force wind in the opening half Lamh Dhearg led by a goal at the interval and even at this stage it was hard to visualise anything other than a win for the Red Hands.
The excellent Aoife Fitzsimmons was the architect in chief for a smooth moving Lamh Dhearg machine and would finish the game with 0-6 to her name as she gave an exhibition of scoring.
Playing into a strong wind, the Hannahstown side maintained possession and worked the ball patiently before taking their scores.
Robyn Murray got the Hannastown side off the mark before Rossa hit back immediately with Elmer Matthews splitting the posts, but they were hit on the counter in the sixth minute as Ráichéal Mullholland’s shot looked to be drifting wide but, Aoibhean Larkin was lurking unmarked and finished from close range.
Sophie Ball blocked an Isla Annett effort as Lamh Dhearg threatened again and Rossa began to grow into it, yet the wind at their backs wasn’t a huge help at times with kick passes carrying well beyond their target.
They did have their chances as Meadhbh Gallagher intercepted an Orlaith Webb kick-out but shot straight at the Lámh Dhearg goalkeeper and late in the half, Aoife McKenna found herself one-on-one but again Webb was up to the task as her team took a 1-2 to 0-2 lead into the half.
With the wind now at their backs Lamh Dhearg began to exert control with Amelie Annett marking her arrival just two minutes after the break, scoring with her first touch.
The teenager would finish with seven in all as Aoife Fitzsimmons showed her class with half a dozen of her own, while Robyn Murray chipped in with another two and even midfielder Ráichéal Mulholland got in on the act with a well-taken score.
Rossa never gave up but came up against a side who were better all round on the day and a late pointed free by Aoife McKenna was all they had to show for their second-half efforts as Lámh Dhearg claimed the title in fine style.
LÁMH DHEARG: O Webb; C Hayes, S McCloskey, E McGarry; N Quinn, N Webb, T Fegan; R Mulholland (0-1), C Larkin; A Larkin (1-0), R Murray (0-4, 1f), I Annett; M Diamond, C Doherty, M Martin.
Subs: A Annett (0-7) for C Doherty (HT), A Fitzsimmons (0-6) for M Martin (HT), L Smyth for M Diamond (42), S Kennedy for T Fegan (55), M Megraw for E McGarry (57), D McAufield for S McCloskey (blood-sub, 60+2-FT).
ROSSA: E Rea; S Bell, S Erskine, S Armstrong; E Taylor, G Holbrook, E Rogan; E Doyle, K Ferran; A Copeland, E Matthews (0-1), R Tubridy; M Gallagher, A McKenna (0-2f), Roise Matthews.
Subs: Riona Matthews for M Gallagher (30+1), G Ward for E Rogan (45), B Rogan for S Bell (47), O Little for A Copeland (48), R McCourt for E Trainor (48), S Brown for Roise Matthews (48), E Early for G Holbrook (57), G White-Davey for R Tubridy (57).
REFEREE: Richie Leahy (Moneyglass)