Bridie McMenamin Shield – Quarter-Final

Clontibret 0-09 St John’s 3-09

A dominant second-quarter surge and a lethal eye for goal saw Antrim champions St John’s Belfast book their place in the next round of the Bridie McMenamin Ulster Junior Camogie Championship, dispatching Monaghan side Clontibret with a hard-fought 3-09 to 0-09 victory.

The early exchanges suggested a tightly contested affair, with St John’s relying heavily on the dead-ball accuracy of Ellie Sweeney. Sweeney opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a well-struck ‘45, following it up just three minutes later with a pointed free to give the Belfast side an early two-point cushion. Clontibret, however, quickly found their rhythm and responded with a blistering period of dominance. Codi Morgan sparked the revival with a point in the ninth minute, before Marie Greenan levelled the game from a free. The Monaghan champions then seized control, pulling ahead through a fantastic score from play by Lucy Greenan, another from a Marie Greenan 45, and a fine effort from Karen Boyle in the 18th minute.

Trailing 0-05 to 0-02, St John’s desperately needed a foothold, and Niamh Hamill provided exactly that with a crucial point from play in the 19th minute. What followed was a devastating two-minute spell that completely altered the trajectory of the match. Eimhear Costello shattered the Clontibret defence, rattling the net with a brilliant goal from play in the 22nd minute to reclaim the lead for St John’s. Just two minutes later, Costello struck again, bagging her second goal and leaving Clontibret reeling. The Belfast side capitalised on the sudden shift in momentum, with Sweeney tapping over a penalty point and adding another free to stretch the lead, though Clontibret remained in the fight with late first-half frees from Marie Greenan and Codi Morgan.

The second half opened with a decisive blow from the Antrim side. In the 34th minute, Niamh Hamill capped off her excellent performance by crashing home St John’s third goal of the afternoon. When Sweeney slotted another free moments later, the gap looked insurmountable.

Clontibret’s hopes of mounting a comeback were severely dented in the 40th minute when a player was shown a second yellow card and subsequent red. Despite being reduced to fourteen players, the Monaghan side showed immense character. Jennifer Duffy led their late resistance, striking a valiant point from play in the 54th minute and following it up with a converted free shortly after.

The match took another dramatic turn in the closing stages when St John’s also had a player sent off , evening the playing field to fourteen players apiece. However, the Belfast side had already done enough damage. Fittingly, it was Ellie Sweeney who had the final say in injury time, tapping over her seventh point of the afternoon to cement a comprehensive 3-09 to 0-09 victory for St

St Johns

1. Sarah Jane Mc Guigan
2. Claire Morgan
3. Sarah Lagan
4. Eimear Johnston
5. Carla Hamill
6. Helen Meade
7. Ceara Carleton
8. Áine Dudley
9. Hannah Meade
10. Ellie Sweeney
11. Sophie Bradley
12. Hannah Mc Allister
13. Eimhear Costello
14. Niamh Hamill
15. Úna Simpson

Mna Ionaid (Substitutes):

• 16. Caoimhe Morgan
  17. Sinead Mc Aleavy
  18. Lacy Saunders
  19. Holly Holden
  20. Grace O’ Reilly
  21. Rebecca Greene
  22. Meabh Mc Aleavey
  23. Faoileann Leyden
  24. Anna Adams
  25. Brooke Mc Nerney
  26. Meabh Montgomery
  27. Leah Mc Crudden