AIB Armagh City Hotel Ulster Junior Camogie final
Brídíní Óga Glenravel (Antrim) 4-6 Naomh Pádraig Dungiven (Derry) 0-12
Brídíní Óga Glenravel won their second Ulster Junior A Camogie title in four years when they saw of the challenge of Naomh Padraig Dungiven in Saturday’s final at Portglenone. Goals were the difference for the Antrim champions, four of them coming from play over the hour, while Dungiven failed to raise a green flag, despite creating a few good chances. It just wasn’t to be the Derry girls day, coming very close on three occasions, but lady luck was not on their side. Brídíní Óga on the other hand were sharp in around the goal area with elusive corner forward Aimee Traynor grabbing 2-1 from play, substitute Eimhear McAleenan 1-0 and Molly Woulahan 1-1 with well taken scores. However it was Woulahan’s sister Jaime who deservedly received the Player of the Match award at the end of the game for a splendid display of defending, the full-back holding Dungiven’s Aideen McGonigle scoreless from play druing a great all round display.
The Brídíní Óga management had done their homework on the Dungiven attack and particullary on full forward McGonigle who had been the star of the show in their quarter and semi-final wins. It was not that McGonigle didn’t play well, she showed very well and hit seven points from frees, but Jaime Woulahan managed to keep her scorelss from open play and that gave the Antrim girls the edge. They were also that bit more dangerous up front where they were able to stretch the Derry champions’ defence and get in on goal and bringing several good saves out of Aoife McAteer.
It was a tight game from start to finish, broken up by a lot of technical frees that didn’t really favour either team. Crucially though the Glenravel girls were never behind in the game, although the teams were level on four occasions in the opening half.
The Brídíní Óga full-forward line each scored a point from play, while Torie Edgar added one from a free. Aideen McGonigle replied to the first three scores with a point from a free and Brannagh Brolly fired over one from play.
Edgar edged her side a point up from free in the 23rd minute and less than 60 seconds later came the breakthrough goal, a long ball in from Shauna McDonnell scrambled to the net by Aimee Traynor.
McGonigle pulled a point back from a free deep in injury time to leave it 1-5 to 0-5 at the break. In hindsight however there were those goal chances before McGonigle’s free that might well have changed the outcome.
Dungiven shuffled the pack at the break, and it seemed to work with points from Éabha McElhinney and Alicia Gillen drawing the teams closer. Brídíní Óga then got a break when Torie Edgar’s 45 didn’t go the distance, but was blocked down into the path of Molly Woulahan to scoop to the net.
Sub Mary Doran clipped over a point and McGonigle made a free count before Glenravel found the net again through sub Eimhear McAleenan whose shot was deflected past Aoife McAteer by Gráinne McElhinney’s stick.
Again Dungiven came back with two frees for Aideen McGonigle and a fine score from Clara Ferris and the game was finely balanced entering the last five minutes at 3-6 to 0-12.
Dungiven had won their last two games with late goals and they tried to drop a few balls in the hope of another late salvo. None of them worked and instead they were undone in added time when Aimee Traynor danced in along the end-line to claim her second major.
It has been a good run by Dungiven who were not among the favourites for the Derry title. A narrow win over Castledawson was followed by an extra time thriller with Ballinderry in the county final in Glen.
There was another extra time thriller in Cavan against Lacken a fortnight ago and they chased this provincial final down to the finish line as well. They may see it as a game that got away from them, but in hindsight it hasn’t been a bad month or so for the Black and Whites.
Brídíní Óga: Orla Donnelly, Maeve Mulholland, Jaime Woulahan, Danielle Scally, Emer McCann, Brónagh Laverty, Erin Coulter, Leona Gillan, Orlaith Gould, Sarah Fyfe, Kirsty Laverty, Shauna McDonnell, Aimee Traynor 2-1, Torie Edgar 0-4 (3fs), Molly Woulahan 1-1.
Subs: Eimhear McAleenan 1-0 for E McCann (36), Niamh McKay for M Mulholland (49).
Dungiven: Aoife McAteer, Grainne McElhinney, Geraldine McCloskey, Aoife McLaughlin, Caoimhe McCloskey, Eimear Mullan, Shauna O’Kane, Clíodhna McElhinney, Éabha McElhinney 0-1, Clara Ferris 0-1, Ellen Ní Mhaoláin, Alicia Gillen 0-1, Reece Devine, Aideen McGonigle 0-7 (fs), Brannagh Brolly 0-1
Subs: Orlaith Mullan for C McElhinney (ht), Mary Doran 0-1 for R Devine (ht), Bláithín Ní hEaráin for Ellen Ní Mhaoláin (41), Caitlin Kelly 0-1 for A Gillen (47)
Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan)