Ultimate GAA Junior A Final
St. John’s 5-8 Loughgiel 0-9
St. John’s produced a first half goal blitz to overcome the challenge of Loughgiel Shamrocks in this Ultimate GAA Junior A Championship final in Cloney on Saturday evening.
It was Loughgiel who opened the scoring from a Caite Connolly ‘45’ in the 3d minute but when Eimhear Costello fired past Eimear McGivern for the Belfast side’s opening goal it was St. John’s who slowly gained control.
Initially though the Shamrock’s responded through a pointed free from Charley McCarry and another from play from Eva McGarry to level the contest by the 13th minute and it looked like the North Antrim girls were taking control.
St. John’s replied through an Ellie Sweeney point with Roise McGarry tying the contest for the second time at the end of the opening quarter.
There wasn’t a lot between the sides at this stage but slowly the greater work rate and movement of the Whiterock girls began to pay dividends and Una Simpson pointed them ahead once more before striking with her side’s second goal in the 21st minute.
Suddenly the Loughgiel defence looked vulnerable to the long delivery and Niamh Hamill took advantage of another defensive lapse as she finished to the net from close range two minutes later and the Corrigan Park side were flying.
There would be no let up for the Shamrocks in the period leading up to half time as the impressive Simpson raised her second Green flag but a Charley McCarry pointed free and another from play brought about a brief respite as the half time whistle sounded.
Loughgiel needed a good start to the second half if they were to claw back the ‘Johnnies’ lead but it was the City side who once again took control as the second half got underway.
Hannah McAllister, Aine Dudley and Ellie Sweeney struck early points as they brought an added energy to the contest and it was 14 minutes before Charley McCarry would open the Shamrock’s account from a free.
Eimhear Costello replied immediately with a great point for St. John’s as both sides rang the changes but it had little bearing on the final outcome as Ellie Sweeney moved the Whiterock side 12 ahead with ten minutes remaining.
Loughgiel were still fighting hard and their greatest scoring threat, Charley McCarry sent over an excellent point but it was goals that they needed and they just wouldn’t come.
Sarah Jane McGuigan had repelled a couple of attempts from the North Antrim attack and when the next goal came it was from St. John’s as Una Simpson set up Ellie Sweeney to end the game as a contest.
The Shamrocks were afforded one late opportunity when they were awarded a penalty but McGuigan in the St. John’s goals had little trouble in dealing with McCarry’s mishit shot with late exchanges by Ellie Sweeney for St. John’s and Alana McKendry for Loughgiel concluding the scoring.
A great performance from the Corrigan Park side whose pace and energy proved too much for the opposition while their ability to find the net late in the opening half proved decisive.
Sarah Jane McGuigan, Sarah Lagan, Helen Mead, Paula McGivern, Ellie Sweeney, Aide Dudley and Una Simpson were best in a St. John’s side who all played their part.
Loughgiel never really recovered from that late opening half blitz but in Ciara Connolly, Caite McCaughan, Anna McKillen, Eva McGarry and Charley McCarry they had good performers.
St. John’s:1 Sarah Jane McGuigan, 2Claire Morgan, 3 Sarah Lagan, 4 Eimear Johnston, 5 Carla Hamill, 6 Helen Mead, 21 Ceara Carleton, 8 Paula McGivern, 9 Hannah Mead, 10 Ellie Sweeney, 11 Aine Dudley, 12 Hannah McAllister, 13 Eimhear Costello, 14 Niamh Hamill, 15 Una Simpson
Subs: Lacy Saunders for Eimhear Costello, Sinead McAleavey for Hannah Mead, Holly Holden for Eimear Johnston, Grace O’Reilly for Una Simpson
Loughgiel: 1 Eimear McGivern, 2 Grace McLean, 3 Ciara Connolly, 4 Aoife Cunningham, 5 Caite McCaughan, 6 Anna McKillen, 7 Ciara Breen, 8 Katie Glackin, 9 Aoife McMullan, 10 Eva McGarry, 11 Alana McKendry, 12 Catie Connolly, 13 Roise McGarry, 14 Charley McCarry, 15 Catherine McGarry.
Subs: Erin McMullan for Roise McGarry, Rhiona McGarry for Aoife Cunningham, Erin McMullan, Cara Connolly, Caoimhe Bateson.
Referee: Ryan O’Reilly
