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)

NORTHERN PROPERTY LGFA IFC

St. Gall’s 6-4  Glenavy 3-11

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

A goal from the penalty spot in injury time from Mairiosa McGuinness swung this keenly contested Intermediate Championship encounter the way of St. Gall’s and broke the hearts of an excellent Glenavy who thought they had clinched victory five minutes earlier.

Anna Mulholland had fisted a dropping ball to the St. Gall’s net in the 27^th minute to give the visitors to Milltown the lead but St. Gall’s came back with one last attack and were awarded a penalty which McGuinness tucked away to earn her side victory.

Both side played some great expansive football but it was St. Gall’s ability to score goals that was to prove the difference in the end with Meabh McCurdy playing the poacher’s role to great affect for the Milltown side.

McCurdy struck for her first goal when she intercepted a slack kick-out in the 9^th minute at a time when Ana Mulholland and Grainne McLaughlin had shot Glenavy into a two point lead. Mairiosa McGuinness extended the St. Gall’s lead with a point but two more points from McLaughlin and McCurdy for Glenavy had the side’s level after 24 minutes.

Three unanswered points from Meabh McCurdy, Ana Mulholland and Ellen Morgan saw the Chapel Hill side hit the front by the 29^th minute with St. Gall’s kicking the final point of the half in time added on through Aveen Maginn to trail 1-2 to 0-7 at Half time.

St. Joseph’s had edged the first half exchanges but the second half was only 30 seconds old when Jenny McCavana got in for a St. Gall’s goal to edge her side a point in front.

Ellen Morgan replied with a point but when Meabh McCurdy fired home her second and her side’s third goal in the 5^th minute the balance of play looked to have swung in favour of the Milltown Row girls.

Glenavy were having none of it and Ellen Morgan made a timely interception to rifle home a goal for the Chapel Hill girls and put them right back into contention and even at this early juncture it was obvious that this one was going right down to the wire.

Play was beginning to open up with the Glenavy defence continuing to look vulnerable every time the opposition got forward and Mairiosa McGuinness got on the end of a good move to score her side’s fourth goal in the 8^th minute.

McGuinness added a point before Glenavy responded with a goal of their own with county player, Grainne McLaughlin showing her predatory instincts to finish a good move in the 12^th minute and put her side right back into contention.

It was case of ‘blink and you might miss it’ as the St. Gall’s goal machine continued to role and Mairoisa McGuinness’ quick thinking led to her side’s fifth goal as she picked our Meabh McCurdy with a free and McCurdy applied the finish for her third major of the evening.

It was still anyone’s game but Glenavy looked to have grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat as Grainne McLaughlin fired over a couple of points and Ellen Morgan added another before Ana Mulholland climbed to fist the ball to the net with three minutes of normal time remaining.

A point from Hannah Cosgrove in reply left it finally balanced with the visitors looking to have done enough as the game edged into time added on but in a last attack the home side were awarded a penalty and McGuinness kept her cool to slot her shot to the net and give her side victory.

St. Gall’s: 1 Eimear Magorrian, 2 Clare Cosgrove, 3 Megan McGlinchey, 4 Nicole McKeown, 5 Niamh Bellew, 6 Eimear Bradley, 7 Beth Cosgrove, 8 Aveen Maginn, 9 Aoife Turley, 10 Cuisle Wilson, 11 Jenny McCavana, 12 Hannah Cosgrove, 13 Mairiosa McGuinness, 14 Meabh McCurdy, 15 Stephanie Cochrane.

Glenavy: 16 Orla McMullan, 2 Maire McStravick, 3 Cathy Scannell, Aideen McCambridge, 5 Lilly Curran, 6 Bronagh Forester, 7 Orla MacLeod, 8 Meabh Bradley, 9 Natasha O’Neill, 10 Ellen Morgan, 11 Megan McGarry, 12 Ana Mulholland, 13 Edele Christie, 14 Grainne McLaughlin, 15 Cara McGarry, 18 Grainne Fallon, 19 Geraldine McCann, 21 Ciara McCorry, 22 Ciara McLaughlin, 23 Michelle Gregory, 24 Eve McCartney

Referee: Stephen Higgins (Tir na nOg)