Gould stars as Brídíní Óga win their second Intermediate crown

Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate final – Saturday 11th October at Ahoghill

Brídíní Óga Glenravel 1-12 Loughgiel II 0-10

Brídíní Óga Glenravel won their second ever Doherty Woodshavings Antrim intermediate title in perfect playing conditions in Ahoghill on Saturday afternoon, taking the lead with a point from Kirsty Laverty in the 6^th minute and holding that lead until the final whistle.

However Loughgiel clipped away at their heels right through the game and the Glenravel girls could only breathe a little easier when just two minutes of added time were signalled as captain Torie Edgar prepared to take a free at the end of the game. Had the Shamrocks been that little more accurate in their shooting that gap might have been closer.

But overall Glenravel were the stronger team. They were very aggressive in the tackle and chased players down all over the pitch. They too could have had a better return from their shooting.

Anna Smyth opened the scoring with a point in the first minute. But Glenravel’s minor midfielder Orlaith Gould, who would go on to pick up the Player of the Match award, fired over Brídíní Óga’s first score. A fine interchange of passes involving Erin Coulter and Sarah Fyfe released Kirsty Laverty for a second point and Fyfe took advantage of a misplaced poc out to record the third – all inside six minutes.

Coulter added another point when she broke down a clearance in the 11^th minute. But Therese McKinley, Anna McKillop and Carlina Scullion hit back for the Shamrocks with just a Torie Edgar free in response.

In the final five minutes of the half, Gould and Edgar (free) scored for the winners while Anna Smyth, having a fine game for Loughgiel, replied and the teams left for the break at 0-7 to 0-5.

Torie Edgar pointed a free on the re-start, but the next score was a decisive one. Leona Gillan won the sliotar in a ruck at midfield and released Erin Coulter whose shot at the end of a strong solo run was short. Molly Woulahan though was first on to the break ball and she kicked to the net. 1-8 to 0-5 with 37 minutes gone.

Although Loughgiel hit back with three lovely points over the next ten minutes, from Smyth, Shanna Deery and Ciara Laverty, Coulter fed Kirsty Laverty to keep the gap at four points. Edgar then hit the target twice only for Deery and Laverty to respond for the Shamrocks.

However the Brídíní Óga defence held tight with Orlaith Gould dropping back to sweep and the held out for victory.

This performance was in sharp contrast to the semi-final effort a fortnight earlier when they needed an injury time goal and a point from frees to pull a result out of the bag. It was their defence that kept them in that game and once more the defence was on top in Ahoghill.

They had enough possession to win more comfortably and will look for improvement up front ahead of the Ulster semi-final in a fortnight against the Down champions.

Brídíní Óga: Orla Donnelly, Maeve Mulholland, Jaime Woulahan, Danielle Scally, Emer McCann, Brónagh Laverty, Erin Coulter 0-1, Leona Gillan, Orlaith Gould 0-2, Sarah Fyfe 0-1, Kirsty Laverty 0-2, Shauna McDonnell, Aimee Traynor, Torie Edgar 0-6 frees, Molly Woulahan 1-0.

Subs: Eimhear McAleenan for A Traynor (56).

Loughgiel: Shauna McKillop, Ciara Connolly, Aoibheann Gillan, Sarah Flavin, Ciara Dobbin, Maeve Shannon, Zoe Cassley, Louise McKillop capt, Shanna Deery 0-2, Anna Smyth 0-3, Therese McKinley 0-1, Ciara Laverty 0-2, Caela Dobbin, Anna McKillop 0-1, Calina Sullivan 0-1.

Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)