Lidl National Football League Division 4 final
Antrim 2-07
Fermanagh 011
A superb goal from Glenavys’ Aoibhinn Monaghan swung this Lidl LGFA division 4 final Antrim’s way and they went on to claim the title and secure their return to division 3 next season.
Trailing by two points in the 52nd minute, Monaghan got on the end of a well-constructed build-up to fire past Haren in the Fermanagh goal to give her side the lead.
In a very competitive final where both sides gave it everything, Antrim ended the game with 14 players while Fermanagh finished up with 13.
It was Fermanagh who were first out of the start traps and Joanne Doonan fired over their opening point. Lara Dahunsi levelled for Antrim before a Bronagh Devlin free edged the Saffrons ahead.
Antrim were beginning to find their rhythm and Maria O’Neill found the back of the net in the ninth minute to put four points between the sides.
Fermanagh responded and the excellent Eimear Smyth brought them back on level terms by the17th minute. It was end to end at this stage and Devlin fired over another free in the 19th minute before a Smyth free drew the side’s level for the third time.
In the final five minutes of the half Smyth kicked over two points while Doonan got her second of the game to give the Ernesiders a 0-9 to 1-3 lead going in at the break.
Fermanagh extended their lead to four on the restart with a point from Lisa Maguire and at this stage Antrim were struggling to turn opportunities into scores.
Indeed it was Fermanagh who were looking the more dangerous and Aine Devlin in the Saffron’s goals pulled off a fine double save to keep the opposition at bay.
It took Antrim 13 minutes to register their first score of the second half when Devlin fired over a free; their first score for 24 minutes but Fermanagh’s replied and Smyth pointed a free to keep her side ahead.
The same player added her seventh point of the game in the 49th minute to put a goal between the sides and at this stage the Ernesiders looked on their way to the title.
Things swung in favour of Antrim however when Fermanagh full-back Ciara Clarke was sin-binned in the 52nd minute and a minute later Aoibheann Monaghan produced a brilliant finish to put her side a point ahead.
In a feisty closing four minutes Antrim were reduced to 14 in the 56th minute when Aine Tubridy received a yellow card and Fermanagh then suffered a similar fate when Doonan was sin-binned to leave them with 13 players.
It was still in the balance but Maria O’Neill sealed the win for Antrim with a point in the 59th minute to bring the biggest cheer of the day from the Antrim support and herald scenes of wild celebration.
Scorers – Antrim: M O’Neill 1-1, B Devlin 0-4 (4f), A Monaghan 1-0, L Dahunsi, L Agnew 0-1 each.
Fermanagh: E Smyth 0-7 (1’45, 4f), L Maguire, J Doonan 0-2 each.
Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, L Dahunsi, A Kelly; B Devlin, N Jones, M O’Neill. Subs: L Agnew for Jones (35), A Monaghan for Kelly (36), C McKenna for Coleman (47).
Fermanagh: A Haren; S McQuaide, C Clarke, E Keenan; A O’Brien, C Murphy, C Bogue; N McManus, M McGloin; S Barrett , C Martin, L Maguire; J Doonan, E Smyth, A McCabe. Subs: S McCarville for O’Brien (47), E Murphy for Keenan (54), S Barrett for Boyle (55), B Smyth for McCabe (57).
Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare).
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