U16 Bronze Ulster Final
Antrim 2-2 Fermanagh 1-10.
It was the second game of the day for Saffrons as Antrim U16s came up against Fermanagh in the Bronze final at Errigal Ciaran.
After a win last week against Down in extra time, Fermanagh came into the game as favourites and that certainly showed as they won the throw in and went straight on the attack only to put their first effort wide of the post.
They soon took a 3 point lead with scores from Lucy Gallagher, Megan Mullally and Jessica Largo-Elis.
Antrim quickly reorganised and tightened up across the field, using the ball a lot better from defence into attack to find Sophie Skelly to opening Antrim’s account for the day.
Antrim continued to press Fermanagh and soon took the lead with a well worked goal from Lauren Magill into the bottom corner of the net to put Antrim in front, but Fermanagh responded straight away to level the game.
Sophie Skelly then restored Antrims lead with a well worked free to Niamh Ní Mhuirrigh who gave the ball back to Skelly to slot it over with her left foot this time.
Antrim then picked up their first yellow card of the game with 5 minutes left of the 1st half and they increased their work rate across the pitch to make sure the Ernesiders did not get level before half time.
Half time Antrim 1-2, Fermanagh 0-4.
Starting the second half Fermanagh used the player advantage to their strength and within seconds of the throw in they went straight for the Antrim net. They caught Antrim on the overlap and captain Jessica Largo-Elis got their only goal to give they back the lead.
Just as Antrim battled to get their defence sorted, they picked up a dubious second yellow card within the opening minutes leave them with 13 players on the field. However, they still worked hard to move the ball only for the final execution of 4 wides in a row, while Fermanagh adding 4 points of their own to increase the lead.
As Antrim returned to 14 players on the field within a minute, they were back to 13 with yet another yellow card.
They worked tirelessly in defence and keeper Hanika Abhol putting in the performance of a lifetime to keep Fermanagh at bay. She retrieved the ball from a Fermanagh attack and carried it out to find Aoibhinn Austin who delivered a cross field ball to Ava le Mahieu on the 45 line. She carried the ball up the field and dispatched an excellent goal to give Antrim some hope.
Again, Antrim failed to covert scorable chances and hit a a few more wide, while Fermanagh didn’t make the same mistake and finished off with 2 frees to end the game.
Antrim U16s players and management will be disappointed in the result but they will learn a lot from that defeat and come back stronger next year.
TO SEE MORE OF BRIAN McKEE’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
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