Ulster LGFA SFC quarter-final
Moneyglass 4-9 Bredagh 1-5
Moneyglass advanced to the semi-final of the Ulster LGFA Senior Football championship with a comprehensive win over Down champions, Bredagh as storm Ashley made conditions difficult at their new Loughbeg Road ground on Sunday evening.
A goal from Orlaith Prenter in the 11th minute saw St. Ergnat’s take brief respite from the elements as they headed to the dressing rooms leading 1-6 to 0-4 at the break but at this stage it was still very much in the balance.
After the break the Marian Hill side pushed on to add three further majors through Aoife Leahy, Cliona Griffin and Orlath Prenter to run out convincing winners in the end and set up a semi-final meeting with Ulster champions, Clann Eireann.
It was St. Ergnat’s who opened strongly at Loughbeg Road as Orlaith Prenter pointed them ahead from a free in the 3d minute but the visitors were then handed the opportunity to take the lead but Maebh Kelly had her penalty saved by Aine Devlin in the St. Ergnat’s goals.
Leah Stewart added a point for the home side and this was immediately followed by Orlaith Prenter’s opening goal in the 11th minute to move the home side five in front.
Bredagh had been under the cosh but Laoise Duffy opened their account with a point in the 15th minute with Prenter replying at the other end before Maire O’Neill and Eva Hicks for the visitors exchanged further points.
Hicks added her second of the evening to close the gap to four before Prenter from her second free of the afternoon and Eilish Ward exchanged further points to leave it 1-5 to 0-4 in favour of the home side at the break.
The Antrim champions put the game to bed in the third quarter as Aoife Leahy fired home their second goal in the 4th minute and points from Orlaith Prenter (f) and Maire O’Neill moved them nine ahead before Cliona Griffin hammered home her side’s third major of the game in the 10th minute.
The Down champions rang the changes but it would be 18 minutes before Claire Timmony opened their second half account from a free and Aislinn Keenan followed with another from play.
The home side were still very much in control as Laura McCann got her name on the score card with a good point but Bredagh were still fighting hard and were rewarded for their efforts when Eilish Ward finally breeched the home defence to find the net.
It would prove to be too little-too late as Orlaith Prenter responded with her second goal of the evening for St. Ergnat’s, deep into injury time and substitute Bronagh Devlin wrapped matters up with a point in the 35th minute.
The Moneyglass girls will not have long to celebrate and they face a much stiffer test when they travel to Lurgan in the semi-final to take on reigning Ulster champions, Clann Eireann in two weeks-time but in this form they will fancy their chances of causing an upset.
Moneyglass: 1 Aine Devlin, 2 Danielle Duffin, 3 Niamh McIntosh, 4 Niamh Neeson, 5 Aoife Leahy, 6 Sarah O’Neill, 7 Rebecca Bradley, 8 Aoife Kelly, 9 Laura McCann, 10 Annie Griffin, 11 Cathy Carey, 12 Cliona Griffin, 13 Maire O’Neill, 14 Orlaith Prenter, 15 Jo Jo Darragh,
Subs: 20 Leah Stewart, 19 Emma Louise McAreavey, 17 Bronagh Devlin
Bredagh: 1 Maeve Deery, 2 Orna Kelly, 4 Ciara McCreanor, 5 Aoife McCamphill, 6 Aislinn Keenan, 7 Orla Duffy, 8 Niamh Edgar, 9 Aoife Laverty, 10 Laoise Duffy, 11 Clare Timmoney, 12 Eilish Ward, 13 Maebh Kelly, 14 Vivienne McCormack, 15 Eva Hicks
Subs: 19 Muirin McCreanor, 20 Erin Watson, 21 Orlagfh Blaney
Referee: Dermot McColgan
TO VIEW ELAINE KELLY’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW