LGFA Junior Championship
A passionate crowd of supporters from the Glens and from North Belfast gathered at Fennell Park yesterday evening for the preliminary round of the Antrim Ladies Junior Football Championship. With the sun descending beautifully behind them in the shadow of Cavehill, little did they realise the exhibition of Gaelic football that was in store for them as the Senior Ladies of Ardoyne Kickhams and Glenariffe Oisíns gave battle.
Given their blistering league form, Ardoyne entered the clash as clear favourites, and as the opening half developed it looked a certainty that this game would follow the league form book. The ever-reliable Anna McGarry got the Ardoyne ladies off to a dream start. She struck twice in quick succession, hitting the back of the net with two goals to rattle the visitors. Her clinical finishing was brilliantly aided by the in-form Alex Trainor, who confidently slotted over the first of her impressive six points of the evening.
It was well past the ten-minute mark before Sionainn Graham finally registered the first goal for the visitors, offering a lifeline for the Glenariffe side. In truth, however, the remainder of the half was utterly dominated by the home side, who dictated the pace and won the vital battles across the pitch.
The closing minutes of the first half saw Ailisa Frame emphasise Ardoyne’s dominance with a gaol and point to put the ladies from the District a clear nine points ahead and firmly in the driving seat of this game.
Half-Time Score: Ardoyne Kickhams 3-06 Glenariffe 1-03
Alex Trainor struck first blood for Ardoyne immediately after the restart, slotting over her opening point of the second half to extend the home side’s lead. However, Glenariffe’s powerhouse, Sionnain Graham, quickly gave notice that the half-time break had breathed new life and hope into the Glens side, firing home her second goal of the game.
For a brief moment, the Kickhams duo of Trainor and Orla McGarry looked to have restored order, combining beautifully to tag on a goal and a point between them. Yet, what followed blew the game completely wide open. Over the next fifteen minutes, Glenariffe somehow established dominance. Launching a blitz on the Ardoyne goals, they rattled off an incredible 2-06 to leave the sides locked dead even as the third quarter came to a dramatic close. Saorla Maguire pulled off a magnificent save for the Ardoyne ladies, that unfortunately led an injury requiring her replacement between the posts for Ardoyne.
The final quarter of this game was an absolute war of attrition as the teams traded score for score in a furious, high-octane battle. Neither side was willing to blink, ultimately forcing a period of extra time to try to separate two teams that refused to be beaten.
As the sun fully disappeared behind the Belfast hills, the players left every single ounce of energy on the pitch. Both panels fought tooth and nail to establish ascendancy under the fading light. Ardoyne dug deep, showing their quality by slotting over six crucial points during extra time. However, it was Glenariffe who found the lethal touch when it mattered most. The visitors hit the home side with two devastating goals and a vital point, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
With the final whistle, this exhibition of pulsating football saw the heroic effort from the Ardoyne ladies fall just short, while Glenariffe deservedly secured progress to the next round of the Championship by the bare minimum.
Full-Time Score: Ardoyne Kickhams 5-16 Glenariffe 7-11
Ciceam Ard Eoin: 1. Saorla Maguire 2. Tierna McAuley 3. Colleen McLaughlin 4. Aoife McDonnell 5. Niamh McAuley 6. Ella McLaughlin 7. Catherine McGarry 8. Lauren Coleman 9. Aideen McDonnell 10. Anna McGarry 11. Orlaith Lynch 12. Cadhla Glover 13. Ailisa Frame 14. Alex Trainor 15. Natasha Rooney 17. Cailiosa Doherty 18. Abbi Maguire 19. Cliodhna Lynch 20. Kacey McLaughlin
Glenariffe Oisin: 1. Meabh McIlwaine 2. Mary-Rose McDonnell 3. Kate Ewings 4. Molly Magee 5. Scarlett McKillop (1-0) 6. Laura McMullan 7. Ciara McKeague 8. Derval McMullan (1-05, 4f) 9. Emer O’Neill (1-01)10. Clodagh McMullan (1-01) 11. Maebh O’Neill 12. Leah O’Boyle 13. Caitlin Hunter 14. Sionainn Graham (3-04)15. Isabella black 16. Caitlin O’Boyle 17. Cara Kilgore 18. Sarah Black 19. Majella Johnston
Referee: Patrick O’Callaghan
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