LGFA Intermediate Final

Naomh Eoin 3-6 Gort na Móna 1-11

Venue: Davitt Park

Referee: Ritchie Leahy

Report and photographs: Brian Hamill

Naomh Eoin were crowned LGFA Intermediate champions after a disciplined and determined display saw them overcome fellow Belfast side Gort na Móna at Davitt Park. A superb defensive performance and clinical finishing in front of goal proved the difference in a final played in difficult conditions.

Playing against a strong wind in the opening half, Naomh Eoin settled quickly and took an early lead through Hannah McAllister before Luisne Adams added another point from play. Gort na Móna responded through frees from Ciara Maguire and a point from Debbie Boydbut Naomh Eoin’s defence was already setting the tone for what was to follow.

The breakthrough arrived midway through the half when Niamh Hamill finished to the net after a well-worked move. Despite enjoying the wind advantage, Gort na Móna found scores difficult to come by as Naomh Eoin repeatedly forced turnovers and limited clear scoring opportunities. The champions then landed a second goal through Hannah McAllister before Luisne Adams struck for a crucial third major score approaching the interval.

Gort na Móna stayed in touch through the accuracy of Ciara Maguire, while Niamh NicIonnrachtaighraised a green flag of her own. However, Naomh Eoin reached the break with a valuable 3-3 to 1-5 lead despite having played the entire first half against the elements.

With the wind now at their backs, Naomh Eoin looked to control proceedings after the restart. Luisne Adams continued to punish infringements from placed balls, while AnnaAdams and Ellen Bradley added important scores to keep the scoreboard moving.

To their credit, Gort na Móna refused to go away. Ciara Maguire remained a constant threat from frees and was well supported by Debbie Boyd, Blaithin Nic Cathail, Casey Meighanand Alyssa Davidson. The Belfast side enjoyed lengthy spells of possession and repeatedly attempted to work their way back into the contest. 

However, Naomh Eoin’s defensive resilience remained the defining feature of the afternoon. Time and again they turned over possession, tracked runners and forced Gort na Móna into taking difficult scoring chances. Their ability to restrict their opponents to a single goal ultimately proved decisive.

Having scored three goals in the first half while facing into the wind and then managed the game impressively after the break, Naomh Eoin fully deserved their championship success and the Intermediate title.

Naomh Eoin scorers

• Luisne Adams 1-6 (five frees)
• Hannah McAllister 1-3
• Niamh Hamill 1-0
• Anna Adams 0-2
• Ellen Bradley 0-1

Gort na Móna scorers

• Ciara Maguire 0-6 (five frees)
• Debbie Boyd 0-2
• Blaithin Nic Cathail 0-1
• Casey Meighan 0-1
• Alyssa Davidson 0-1
• Niamh Nic Ionnrachtaigh 1-0

Naomh Eanna ladies celebrated the end of a successful league campaign with an inter panel challenge match. 

Amber and Black versus Black and Amber. 

The Glengormley girls negotiated their way through a highly competitive league two campaign suffering only a solitary defeat in 15 games. Very impressive to achieve this with the quality teams from Sarsfields,  Ardoyne and Cargin mounting their own title challenges.While the younger division 3 squad have finished in the runners-up spot losing out to an excellent Aghagallon team and playing predominantly as an u20 squad to lose just 3 times. 

With both teams having their final league games conceded the players prepared for the upcoming Junior and Junior B championship with a competitive match refereed by Sean Maguire. 

Presenting the trophy to Naomh Eanna captain Orla McNulty Sean paid tribute to the skills of all the players on display and wished the Hightown girls good luck in the championships and for next year. 

With exciting teams at u16 and u14 emerging the future looks bright for the lgfa in the Glengormley hills as they return to Division 1 for the first time in 5 years.

LGFA Ulster IFC

St. Gall’s 0-4 Mullahoran 6-10

St. Gall’s had no answer to an excellent Mullahoran from Cavan in this LGFA Ulster quarter-final at Hannastown on Sunday with the Cavan champions at a different level to their Antrim counterparts.

Led by the superb Aisling Sheridan, Mullahoran made the running right from the start and had this one put to bed by the halfway stage where they led 5-6 to 0-3.

Their opening goal came from a somewhat soft penalty after 7 minutes with Sheridan despatching it to the net with Kate Smith adding a second at the end of the opening quarter to move the visitors 2-5 to 0-1 ahead.

The St. Gall’s point came from an Alexandra Burns free in the 13^th minute and Burns accuracy from the placed ball was one of the highlights of her side’s performance as they were soon forced again onto the back foot.

It was another Sheridan this time, Geraldine who came forward to register Mullahoran’s third goal at the end of a superb move in the 19^th minute and there was a bit of dispute about goal number 4 with the referee deciding it had crossed the line in a goalmouth scramble despite protests from the St. Gall’s girls.

There was no such doubt about the visitors 5^th as the superb Aisling Sheridan completing her hat-trick on 30 minutes to move her side 5-6 to 0-3 ahead with all three first half points coming from Alexandra Burns frees.

To their credit St. Gall’s tightened up in defence in the second half but continued to find it difficult to penetrate a strong Mullahoran defence in which Geraldine Sheridan was outstanding.

The visitors still managed to add 1-4 into the Hannastown breeze with Aisling Sheridan hitting 0-3 to bring her total for the evening to 2-8 with their goal coming from Kate Smith in the 18^th minute and substitute Etain Higgins concluding the scoring.

A tough lesson for the Antrim champions who battled gamely against the odds but on the day they faced a side who were at a different level and would not have been out of place playing in the senior championship.

It’s been a great year for the Milltown girls and with plenty of youth in their side they will take the lessons from this defeat and move on to better things in the season ahead.

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LGFA IFC Final

St. Gall’s 2-9 St. John’s 0-6

A strong second half performance from St. Gall’s with the elements in their favour saw them turn around a half time deficit to beat St. John’s comfortably in the end in this Intermediate Championship final at windy Glenavy on Saturday.

St. John’s more than held their own during an evenly balanced opening half but received a bad blow when Maebh Laverty had to leave the field following what looked a serious injury.

Play was held up for six minutes due to Laverty’s in jury with Orla Corr kicking the final point of the half to give the Whiterock girls a narrow 0-4 to 0-3 half time lead.

It was a different story after the break and with the elements now in their favour it was the Milltown Row side who took control with goals from Alexandra Burns in the 9^th minute and another from Erin Stewart in injury time securing them a comfortable victory.

It was Hannah McGirr who gave St. Gall’s the lead with a point in the 2^nd minute with Luisna Adams squaring maters with a similar score with five minutes gone.

Nicole Killen and Alexandra Burns moved St. Gall’s two in front by the 9^th minute but Anna Adams replied from a free and Olivia Todd squared matters for the second time as she sent over in the 22^nd minute.

The last piece of action following a lengthy stoppage for Maebh Laverty’s injury saw Orla Corr on target for the Johnnies as they headed to the Glenavy dressing rooms carrying a slender one point lead.

St. Gall’s, aided by the elements made a bright start to the second half with an equalising point from Alexandra Burns and when the same player fired to the St. John’s net in the 9^th minute they were in control.

Further points from Erin Stewart and Hannah McGirr moved St. Gall’s five in front as St. John’s found scores hard to come by against the wind but Luisna Adams finally got the off the mark with a point in the 15^th minute.

They would add only one further score with Anna Adams replying to good Hannah McGirr point from play and Erin Stewart wrapped it up with a goal and a point for the Milltown side, her goal arriving deep in added time.

A good game of football with both sides playing their part but in the end St. Gall’s were comfortable winners.

A word of praise for the host club Glenavy who had their ground in excellent condition and ensured everything ran like clockwork and we at the Saffron Gael wish Maebh Laverty of St. John’s a speedy recovery following what looked a serious injury.

St. Gall’s: 1 Abbie Browning, 2 Fiona Johnston, 3 Claire Cosgrove, 4 Ciarra Culbert, 5 Erin Hughes, 6 Nicole McKeown, 7 Eimile McKeown, 8 Aoife Turley, 9 Roise Morris, 10 Megan Dowds, 11 Nicole Killen, 12 Hannah McGirr, 13 Erin Stewart, 14 Aine Sheehan, 15 Alexandra Burns

St. John’s: 1 Sinead McAleavey, 2 Ciar Nic Riocaird, 3 Aine Dudley, 4 Ceara Carelton, 5 Niamh McArdle, 6 Niamh Hamill, 7 Olivia Cardwell, 8 Orla Corr, 9 Olivia Todd, 10 Hannah McAllister, 11 Maebh Laverty, 12 Carla Hamill, 13 Anna Adams, 14 Debbie Boyd, 15 Luisna Adams

Referee: Barry Hotchkiss (Glenavy)

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