WS DENNYSON IFC Final

Glenavy 4-12 Aldergrove 1-5

St. Joseph’s Glenavy claimed the bragging rights and gained revenge for their one point defeat in the final game of the Group stages to the same opposition when they recorded a big win over last year’s Junior Champions, St. James Aldergrove at Hannastown at the weekend.

It was the Crumlin girls who were first on the score card as Bronagh McGuinness pointed them ahead in the third minute but a goal in response from Grainne McLaughlin gave the Chaple Hill side a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.

Aldergrove replied with a point from Aoife Taggart but Megan McGarry struck with a second goal for Glenavy in the 7^th minute to put them in a very strong position.

Grainne McLaughlin 0-2 and Aoife Taggart 0-2 exchanged further points to keep the gap at four with 14 minutes gone and Bronagh McGuinness briefly closed it to three before Glenavy hit three on the bounce to move six clear by the 19^th minute.

Grainne McLaughlin, Ellen Morgan and Megan McGarry were the players on target and when McLaughlin followed with a goal in the 20^th minute the Chapel Hill side looked in control.

McLaughlin’s goal would prove to be the final score of the opening half and it put Glenavy in a strong position when they led 3-6 to 0-4 and it was going to take something special from St. James if they were to overturn that lead.

Last year’s Junior champions needed a good start to the second half if they were to get back into contention and Caitlin Taggart got them off the mark with a point in the second minute.

It failed to get the required response from her colleagues however and Glenavy were not going to let this one slip as they came back with a point of their own and a goal from Ellen Morgan as they took almost total control.

Wing half, Natasha O’Neill got forward for a point and the splendid Grainne McLaughlin hit three on the bounce to put the contest out of reach with nine minutes remaining.

Aldergrove were still fighting hard and were rewarded with a goal from their best forward, Aoife Taggart in the 25^th minute but it would prove to be their final score with player of the match, Grainne McLaughlin concluding the scoring with a late St. Joseph’s point.

A good win for the Chapel Hill side who put last week’s group defeat behind them to produce the goods when it mattered and in Grainne McLaughlin they had a real match winner.

When the disappointment of defeat starts to pass Aldergrove can take a lot of consolation from the fact that they reached this year’s decider after claiming the junior title last year and no doubt they will be back stronger next season.

WS DENNISON Intermediate Football Championship

Aldergrove 1-11 Glenavy 0-13

A goal from the excellent Caitlin Taggart in the 21^st minute proved the difference in the end as St. James Aldergrove defeated neighbours, St. Joseph’s Glenavy it terrible conditions in Crumlin on Sunday evening.

Taggart was in excellent form as her side claimed the bragging rights for now in an excellent game of football which was a credit to both sides despite the incessant rain that fell throughout.

It was visitors Glenavy who got off to the better start as Ana Mulholland, Megan McGarry, Grainne McLaughlin and Aoibheann Monaghan fired them into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 5^th minute.

In a game of changing fortunes it was St. James Aldergrove who responded positively as Aoife Taggart replied with three points for the home side and another from Nicole Jones had it all square by the 15^th minute.

The home side were dominating at this stage and Orlagh Mullin pulled off a smart save in to deny them when a goal looked on but it provided only temporary respite.

Taggart pointed the Crumlin side ahead for the first time from a free in the 20^th minute and a minute later she capitalised on a bad kick-out to send a dipping shot over the head of Orlagh Mullin to put her side four ahead.

The Aldergrove number 10 was running riot at this stage and she added a point from play and followed with another from a free to put her side six ahead and they were threatening to run away with it at this stage.

The Chapel Hill side picked themselves up of the floor however with Natasha O’Neill kicking their first score for 20 minutes and Grainne McLaughlin, Megan McGarry, McLaughlin again and Natasha O’Neill kicked unanswered points to leave just one between the sides as the half time whistle sounded.

Half Time: Aldergrove 1-7 Glenavy 0-9

Ther momentum was very much with the visitors as the opening half came to an end and when Grainne McLaughlin fired over the equaliser after 30 seconds of the new half it was St. Joseph’s who were looking the more likely winners.

Aldergrove were having none of it and spurred on by their talisman, Caitlin Taggart they fired over the next two points to restore their lead but as conditions deteriorated the scoring from both sides slowed down.

Natasha O’Neill closed the gap to the minimum once more with a point for Glenavy in the 16^th minute and Paula Masterson for St. James and the excellent Grainne McLaughlin for Glenavy exchanged further minors.

It still looked anybody’s game as it entered the final ten minutes but Caitlin Taggart converted a great free from out on the left to move the Crumlin side two in front.

Glenavy pressed hard in the closing stages but despite a brave effort from the visitors, an Ana Mulholland point with two minutes remaining was as close as they would get.

So for now the bragging rights belong to the Crumlin side but Glenavy can take consolation from the fact that these two sides will meet again in the Intermediate final and it offers them the opportunity to avenge tonight’s defeat.

St. James Aldergrove:  1 Anna McBride, 2 Bronach Mallon, 3 Anna Crossan, 4 Grace O’Neill, 5 Rebecca Marquess, 6 Aine Kelly, 7 Colleen McGuinness, 8 Caoimhe Bell, 9 Katierose Bell, 10 Caitlin Taggart, 11 Nicole Jones, 12 Bronagh McGuinness, 13 Emma McArt, 14 Aoife Taggart, 15 Paula Masterson

 St. Joseph’s Glenavy: 1 Orlagh Mullin, 2 Maire McStravick, 3 Meabh Bradley, 4 Aideen McCambridge, 5 Orla McLeod, 6 Bronagh Forester, 7 Natasha O’Neill, 8 Ana Mulholland, 9 Anna Rice, 10 Aoibheann Monaghan, 11 Grainne McLaughlin, 12 Megan McGarry, 13 Ellen Morgan, 14 Cathy Scannell, 15 Michelle Gregory.

Referee: Sean Toal

WS DENNISON Ladies LGFA IFC Championship

Gort na Mona 2-9 Glenavy 8-11

A goal hungry St. Joseph’s Glenavy had too much fire power for a battling Gort na Mona in this WS Dennison Intermediate Championship opener at Enright Park

The visitors put themselves in the driving seat when Megan McGarry raced through for the opening goal right from the throw in and before Gort na Mona had time to recover Aoibheann Monaghan struck with a second with only five minutes on the clock.

Niamh Enright got the home side off the mark with a good long range point after 6 minutes but points from Patricia O’Neill and Ellen Morgan and a goal from Keela McAllister had Glenavy in total command after 10 minutes when they led by 12 points.

The home side had been under the cosh for most of the opening quarter but Mia Dembele Mills gave them a lift when she fired to the Glenavy net in the 13^th minute and Ciara Maguire added a point from a free with 14 minutes gone.

Megan McGarry finished to the net for a fourth goal for the Chapel Hill side before Maguire replied from a long range free in the 19^th minute as the Enright Park side kept battling away.

There would be no let-up in the Glenavy intensity however as Ellen Morgan added their fifth goal with six minutes remaining to the break and after a lengthy stoppage for an injury to a Glenavy player, Grainne McLaughlin and Blaithin Ni Cathail exchanged the halves final points.

HT Gort na Mona 1-4 Glenavy  5-5

It looked a long way back for the girls from the Mona Bye-pass as the second half got under way but to their credit they continued to give it everything and indeed dominated the early second half exchanges.

It was Glenavy’s Ana Mulholland who kicked the opening point but Gort na Mona came back strongly with points from Ciara Maguire, Niamh Enright and Bronagh Crossan and a goal from the penalty spot by the impressive Maguire.

Just when it looked like we had a come-back on our hands, Glenavy responded with a vengeance as Aoibhean Monaghan struck with goal number six and further points from Megan McGarry and Grainne McLaughlin had the visitor’s back in total control by the end of the opening quarter.

The home side could manage only two further points during the final quarter from Ciara Maguire from a free and Mia Dembele Mills with a fine long range point from play but again it brought a strong reply from the visitors.

St. Joseph’s dominated the closing stages with substitute Michelle Gregory and Megan McGarry bringing the goal total to 8 for the evening and Megan McGarry, McLaughlin and Gregory adding points.

Gort na Mona: 1 Holly McGahey, 2 Emely Kearns, 3 Katie Irvine, 4 Caoimhe Delaney, 5 Tiernagh Elley, 6 Carla Scannell, 7 Seana Bradley, 8 Eimear Enright, 9 Duailtin Nic Cathail, 10 Blaithin Nic Cathail, 11 Niamh Enright, 12 Patricia O’Neill, 13 Mia Dembele Mills, 14 Ciara Maguire, 15 Casey Monaghan, 16 Jordan McCullough, 17 Broghan Crossan.

St. James: 1 Orlagh Mullin, 2 Maire McStravick, 3 Meabh Bradley, 4 Aideen McCambridge, 5 Orla McLeod, 6 Natasha O’Neill, 7 Cathy Scannell, 8 Ana Mulholland, 9 Anna Rice, 10 Aiobheann Monaghan, 11 Grainne McLaughlin, 12 Megan McGarry, 13 Ellen Morgan, 14 Bronagh Forester, 15 Keela McAllister

Referee: Emma Kelly

LGFA Ladies Intermediate Football Championship

St. Gall’s 2-13 Aldergrove 3-12

Nineteen minutes into the second half St. James’ Aldergrove appeared to be coasting in this exciting LGFA Intermediate Championship meeting with St. Gall’s at Milltown but the Crumlin ladies wouldn’t score again as the home side staged a storming finish but in the end came up just short.

It was St. Gall’s who made the better start at Milltown as Alexandra Burns pointed a free in the first minute before Hannah Cosgrove fired home the game’s opening goal with only two minutes gone.

Aldergrove began to get their game together with Aoife Taggart 0-2 and Caitlin Taggart pointing to close the gap to one by the 8^th minute and Alexandra Burns from a free and Katie Rose Bell with a great point from play exchanged further points to keep the gap at one.

Hannah Cosgrove edged the Milltown Row ladies two in front but a couple at the other end by the superb Aoife Taggart kept the Crumlin side very much in touch.

It was end to end stuff as two evenly matched sides went toe to toe and Aine Sheehan edged St. Gall’s three ahead once more with 25 minutes gone with Bronagh McGuinness firing over at the other end when she could have had a goal.

The visitors might have gone ahead when an Aoife Taggart rocket came back of an upright and was cleared to safety but the same player kicked the final score of the opening half to leave her side trailing by the minimum at the short whistle.

HT 1-6 TO 0-8

Once again it was St. Gall’s who made the early running as the second half got under way with Anna McBride coming to the Aldergrove rescue with a good save in the opening minute.

St. James’ failed to heed the early warnings however as Alexandra Burns pointed a free and then fired home her side’s second goal in the 4^th minute following an excellent build up.

Corner forward Burns continued to carry the game to the visitors as she pointed another free in the 6^th minute and at this stage St. Gall’s were looking good but suddenly the Crumlin side came to life.

Aoife Taggart led the charge with points in the 9^th and 10^th minutes and when Paula Masterson fired a penalty to the net in the 12^th minute the Aldergrove recovery was well under way.

They continued to carry the game to the opposition as the superb Aoife Taggart added a second goal from play and as the one way traffic towards the St. Gall’s goal continued Nicole Jones and Bronagh McGuinness added points.

 The visitors were now flying and the Taggart twins combined with Caitlin placing Aoife for Aldergrove’s third goal with 11 minutes remaining and a landslide victory looked on the cards but amazingly it would be St. James’ final score.

St. Gall’s had been on the back foot for quite a while but they picked themselves up of the canvas to stage a sterling finish to put the visitors on the ropes as Claire Cosgrove, Alexandra Burns, Aine Sheehan and Burns again cut the deficit to a single point with three minutes remaining.

It was to be the game’s final score however as the Aldergrove defence closed ranks to hold out for the win.

St. James entertain Gort na Mona next Sunday 10^th September while St. Gall’s travel to St. Joseph’s Glenavy who defeated the Enright Park ladies in their opening game on Sunday.

St. Gall’s: 1 Niamh O’Neill, 2 Holly Bone, 3 Erinn Tieger, 4 Michael Culbert, 5 Fionnuala Haughey, 6 Mairead McGurk, 7 Nicole McKeown, 8 Beth Cosgrove, 9 Aoife Turley, 11 Hannah Cosgrove, 12 Aine Sheehan, 13 Niamh Bellew, 15 Alexandra Burns, 16 Kerry Logan, 17 Aobvh Dunne, 18 Ciara McGlinchey, 19 Ciara Murray,

Aldergrove: 1 Anna McBride, 2 Bronach Mallon, 3 Anna Crossan, 4 Grace O’Neill, 5 Rebecca Marquess, 6 Aine Kelly, 7 Colleen McGuinness, 8 Katie Rose Bell, 9 Caoimhe Bell, 10 Caitlin Taggart, 11 Nicole Jones, 12 Bronagh McGuinness, 13 Paula Masterson, 14 Aoife Taggart, 15 Katie McCart

Referee: Stephen Higgins (Tir na nOg)

LGFA Ulster Intermediate final

Antrim 2-18 Tyrone 1-13 

Underdogs Antrim produced a splendid performance to outgun a fancied Tyrone in this excellent Intermediate final at Owenbeg on Sunday.

Tyrone went into this final as strong favourites following a recent win over last year’s Junior Champions but the Saffrons paid scant reward to their underdog tag as they set about taking down their opponents.

Led by the splendid Orlaith Prenter who was to finish the game with 1-8, including a second half penalty, Antrim at times cut through the red hand defence and looked sharp on the ball and the finishing of Prenter was a benchmark of their success. 

The sides were level on five occasions in the first half but in the final minutes of the half Antrim pulled away to lead at the break by four at the break.

 Antrim never looked back after that taking control through a Theresa Mellon goal on the restart and always looked comfortable. 

Maria Canavan had opened the days scoring with a well taken point but Lara Danhunsi, Prenter and Maria O’Neill replied with points for the Saffrons while goalkeeper Anna McCann denied Emma Jane Gervin who looked to be in for a goal after a good Canavan pass. 

In a good spell for Tyrone they showed what they were capable of as Grainne Rafferty, Aoife Mc Gahan 0-2 and Canavan hit points and they looked well capable of pushing on yet Prenter kept Antrim on top.

Grannie McLaughlin added points to push Antrim ahead and despite a Rafferty equaliser there was a strong finish from the Antrim girls. 

Prenter dropped over three points and O’Neill could have goaled but tapped over a point as they led well.  

Antrim started the second half as they finished the first as they hit a quick 1-3 to lead 1-13 to 0-6 with eight second half minutes played. Mellon was on hand to slam home the goal while captain Cathy Carey, Mellon and Prenter added the points. 

Credit to Tyrone they came fighting back, scoring five points without reply through Canavan, Slaine McCarroll and three points from the impressive Rafferty to close the gap to five.

Antrim responded and were awarded a penalty which Orlath Prenter dispatched the goal after winning the spot kick herself and it was as good as over.

The Saffrons finished on the front foot and Prenter added further points with Aoife Horisk on target for Tyrone.

Lara Dahuntsi and Sasha Byrne exchanged points with Maria O’Neill and Dahuntsi keeping the scoreboard ticking over before Horisk scored a consolation goal for the Red Hands. 

Antrim were excellent throughout while only on occasions did Tyrone carry a threat and there were scenes of joy at the final whistle as Antrim celebrated this excellent win

Antrim scorers: Orlaith Prenter 1-8, Theresa Mellon 1-1, Maria O’Neill 0-4, Lara Dahuntsi 0-2, Grainne Mc Laughlin 0-2, Cathy Carey 0-1 

Tyrone scorers: Grainne Rafferty 0-5 Aoife Horisk 1-1, Maria Canavan 0-3, Aoife Mc Gahan 0-2, Slaine Mc Carroll 0-1, Sasha Byrne 0-1 

Antrim: A McCann; D Coleman, A Keenan, E Ferran; O Corr, C Brown, S O’Neill; A Mulholland, A Tubridy; T Mellon (1-2), C Carey (capt)(0-1), L Dahunsi (0-3); G McLaughlin (0-2), O Prenter (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-1f), M O’Neill (0-2)

Subs: G McLaughlin for Corr (40), C McKenna for Mellon (54), C Taggart for McLaughlin (58), L Agnew for M O’Neill (60)

Tyrone: S McVey; M Corrigan, C Magee, E Quinn; J Lyon’s, C Campbell, E Hegarty; EJ Gervinho, A McHugh (capt); A Horisk (1-1), G Rafferty (0-05, 0-2f), S Byrne (0-1); M Canavan (0-3), N Hughes, A McGahan (0-2)

Subs: S McCarroll (0-1) for J Lyons (35), E Loane for Canavan (28), N McElduff for Hegarty (52), J Barrett for Quinn (54)

Referee: Philip Conway (Armagh)