Antrim under 14B championship final:
Brídíní Óga Glenravel 2-6 Gort na Móna 2-4
THE key score in this Antrim under 14B championship final came less than a minute and a half into the second half in Creggan. A shot from Aoibhe Marrs was deflected past Sabina Duracova in the Gort na Móna goals.
That score strengthened the Glenravel side’s position immensely and gave them the drive to dig in and eke out a two points victory.
The teams had met in last year’s final and again in the Féile na nGael decider back in May, the latter going to penalties. Each time Brídíní Óga have come out on the right side of the result and they made it a third successive trophy at Creggan on Saturday.
Once again there was little between the teams and certainly at half-time it looked like advantage to Gort even though they trailed by 1-3 to 0-3 in an excellent battle between two committed sides.
There was a strong breeze in the Glenravel side’s favour in the first half and they popped over the opening three points – two from Laoise Carey 45s and one from Molly McKernan.
However over the next ten minutes Gort na Móna shut up shop at the back and began to press at the other end with Holly Donaghy opening their account with a point.
Molly McKernan forced home a goal for Brídíní Óga in the 17th minute and had another chance of a three-pointer two minutes later, but failed to convert.
In the last ten minutes of the half though Gort na Móna were the better team and Sophie O’Hanlon converted two frees to put them in a good place at the break.
However the goal from Marrs changed the game and the north Antrim side really had the bit between their teeth. Despite a point and then a goal, both from Sophie O’Hanlon frees in the 9th and 11th minutes of the second half, Brídíní Óga remained in control.
Laoise Carey converted a free to leave the gap three points midway through the half and Rosie O’Boyle’s quick turn after grabbing a Carey free resulted in their fifth point. Caela McCann then increased the lead with just two minutes remaining.
There was a scare in the first minute of added time when O’Hanlon rippled their net. But the Glenravel girls held their composure and were on the attack when the final whistle was blown
Brídíní Óga : Nicola McToal, Shauna McCann, Caela McCann 0-1f, Sofia Cotter, Cara McFadden, Laoise Carey 0-3f, Grace Higgins, Chloe McKay, Rosie O’Boyle 0-1, Aoibhe Marrs 1-0, Bronagh McQuillan, Caitlin Kelly, Annie Scullipn, Molly McKernan 1-1, Grace McKernan
Subs: Siofra McMullan for A Scullion, Aveen Walters, Ella Rose Quinn, Erin Quinn, Megan Kelly, Maria Doherty
Gort na Móna : Sabina Duracova, Jessica McGeown, Siana Ward, Aoife Mackel, Holly Donaghy 0-1, Alexia Largey, Cara Malone, Carly Muckian, Sophie O’Hanlon 2-3 frees, Ciara McKenna, Cadhla Stilges, Evie Magee-McKenna, Myah Denver, Grace Kearney, Lara Lyons.
Subs: Aarya Thakur for M Denver, Lucy French for L Lyons, Ciara McConnell for G Kearney, Sian Cunningham,Aoibhin Baggley-Fox.
Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)
