Ulster Junior A club semi-final
Ahoghill (Antrim) 1-12 Kilrea (Derry) 0-9
They say a good start if half the battle and so it proved for Ahoghill Camogs at Cloney yesterday as the got past the challenge of Kilrea in the Ulster Junior A Club Championship
The home side may not have been at their very best but they were more efficient than their Derry opponents, who squandered a succession of chances in the first half , both from frees and from open play, while the home side, with county goalkeeper Catriona Grahan leading the line, kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Kilrea were in for a goal when Kimberey Burke broke through for the Derry girls, but a great ‘hook’ by defender Fiona Blaney saved the day for the Cloney girls and when player of the match Catriona Graham goaled from a penalty her team were in the driving seat, going in at the break with a 1-06 to 0-06 lead at the break.
Karen Kielt, who was Kilrea’s star performer, hit her fifth point to narrow the gap early in the second half before, but though both team’s showed great endeavour the scores proved hard to come by during the third quarter. Catriona Graham was to prove the difference as she sent over two more points while the visitors were wasteful, despite creating plenty of chances. The home side began to pick off the scores as the second half advanced and two from Aisling O’Donnell and one each rom Noreen Graham and Katie McCloskey saw them home with six to spare.
The win sees them through to Sunday’s final against holders Granemore, the Armagh champions sealing their place with a win over Down champions Bredagh.
Ahoghill: Á Graham, M McCloskey, B Graffin, F Blaney, O Neeson, É McGarry, C Scullion, N Neeson, E Neeson, K McCloskey (0-1), A O’Donnell (0-2), M Horan, N Graham (0-3), C Graham (1-6, 1-0 pen, 0-5 frees), M Downey
Subs: A-M O’Neill for M Horan (51), C McLaughlin for B Graffin (51), G O’Donnell for N Graham (59).
Kilrea: C Kielt, N Henry, C McNicholl, M Maguire, B McNicholl, S Donaghy, E McGilligan, A McGilligan, J Hickson, E Maguire, K Kielt (0-5, 3fs), A Gorman (0-1), K Burke (0-3), B McLaughlin, D Thompson.
Subs: A O’Boyle for M Maguire (17), K McGilligan for E Maguire (ht), D McKenna for D Thompson (31).
Referee: K Rice (Down)