Kennedy Centre LGFA JFC

All Saints 1-9 St. John’s 2-10

St. Johns advanced to the semi-final of the Kennedy Centre JFC with a win over All Saints in Ballymena on Friday night. When these sides met in the league earlier in the season the Johnnies lades won convincingly and they went into this championship game as firm favourites.

It didn’t quite work out that way however and the Ballymena girls made the visitors fight for their victory with the sides level at 0-5 apiece at half time.

The loss of their mid-fielder Anna Kearney to a Yellow card in the second half proved a blow that the home side never recovered from and it was St. John’s who ran out deserving winners in the end.

All Saints set up with a good game plan that helped to frustrate the St Johns forwards in the first half. Having lost heavily to their opponents earlier in the league campaign All Saints set about their task with great determination. St Johns opened the scoring but were being forced to shoot from distance and difficult angles and on occasions get turned over by the Saints defence. All Saints managed to get on the scoreboard themselves with good points from Anna OKane, Roisin Ward and Sianeese Maybin.

HT 0-5 TO 0-5

St Johns flew out of the traps in the 2nd half with the home side guilty of some poor handling errors as they team they built up a 6 point lead. 

However a smartly taken goal by 2nd half substitute Laura McAleese got All Saints back in the game and when St Johns lost midfielder Orla Mallon to a yellow card and sin bin it looked like the home side could be on for a shock. However a Yellow Card for influential midfielder Anna Kearney meant St Johns were able to see out the game comfortably and move forward to the semi-finals. 

Siantelle Boyd, Siobhan McGurk, Carla Hamill, Olivia Cardwell, Niamh Hamill and Debbie Boyd impressed in an excellent St. John’s side while Katie Connolly, Anna Kearney, Anna O’Kane, Roisin Ward and Sianeese Maybin were best in a battling All Saints side.

St. John’s now meet Sarsfields, who defeated Ardoyne at Fennell Park in their quarter-final while the second semi-final sees Rossa travel to Hannastown to take on Lamh Dhearg

All Saints Scorers: Anna O’Kane 0-4, Sianeese Maybin 0-3, Roisin Ward 0-2, Laura McAleese 1-0

KENNEDY CENTRE LGFA JFC

Lamh Dhearg 3-12 Moneyglass 2-8

Lamh Dhearg recorded a good win over St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass in what turned into the battle of the opposite number 11’s in this Kennedy Centre LGFA Junior Football Championship meeting at Hannastown at the weekend.

Moneyglass youngster, Leah Stewart finished the game as her sides top scorer with 0-6 on the day but it was her opposite number 11, Robyn Murray who would turn the game on its head, early in the second half to send her side to victory.

The St. Ergnat’s ladies second string looked on their way to victory when they led by 1-7 to 1-3 at the break but the Hannastown girls came back strongly in the second half to claim the victory.

It was Lamh Dhearg who were first on the score card as Isla Annett gave them a great start with a goal in the 5^th minute.

Leah Stewart replied with a point for St. Ergnat’s but points from Annett and Ciara Larkin had the Hannastown girls four in front with 12 minutes gone.

Molly Gribbon raised St. Ergnat’s second white flag of the evening in the 18^th minute as the visitor’s stuggled to turn possession into score but once again Lamh Dhearg replied and Robyn Murray restored their four point advantage.

It would be their final score of the half however as St. Ergnat’s began to get it together and a Megan Carey goal in the 21^st minute fired them into life.

They finished the half in impressive style with Danielle Connolly driving tghem on from mid-field and points from Molly Gribbon and four from the excellent Leah Stewart had her side four ahead at the short whistle and looking good.

It had been all Moneyglass in the closing stages of the opening half with number 11 Stewart the star of the show but on the restart it was Lamh Dhearg’s number 11, Robyn Murray who took on the staring mantle.

The home side came flying out of the starting blocks as the new half got under way with Murray pointing in the opening minute before firing to the Moneyglass net with two minutes gone to level the contest.

The visitors looked shocked as Robyn Murray continued to punch holes in their defence and the Hannastown number 11 added a further goal and a point by the fourth minute to bring her personal tally to 2-3 for the evening and put her side in control.

Inspired by Murray’s contribution, Lamh Dhearg were now playing with great confidence and Amelie Annett added a point and two more from Isla Annett had the home side 6 in front by the 39^th minute.

Lauren Smith extended that lead to seven before Megan Carey fired to the net for Moneyglass’ first score for 15 minutes to leave four between the sides with 12 minutes remaining.

Carey’s goal failed to gain the necessary response from her colleagues however and it was Lamh Dhearg who finished the half as they had started with Isla Annett, Lauren Smith, Aoibheann Lrkin and the superb Robyn Murray adding points and the visitor’s solitary reply coming from Leah Stewart.

Lamh Dhearg: 1 Shannon Mccann, 2 Niamh Quinn, 3 Sinead McCloskey, 4 Emer McGarry, 5 Sara Kennedy, 6 Niamh Webb, 7 Tiarnach Fagan, 8 Aoibheann Larkin, 9 Rachael Mulholland, 10 Orlaith Webb, 11 Robyn Murray, 12 Isla Annett. 13 Lauren Smith, 14 Ciara Larkin, 15 Meabh Diamond, 16 Derbhla McAufield, 17 Amelia Annett

Moneyglass: 1 Marie Dobbin, 2 Orla Rooney, 3 Katie Scullin, 4 Cailin Murphy, 5 Mia McLarnon, 6 Katie McCloskey, 7 Annie Griffin, 8 Danielle Connolly, 9 Megan McGlinchey, 10 Caoimhe McErlain, 11 Leah Stewart, 12 Beverly Graffin, 13 Paricia Morris, 14 Michelle Mullin, 15 Molly Gribbon, Megan Carey

Referee: Sean Curran

LGFA JFC Final

Aldergrove 5-10  Moneyglass 2-11

Four second half goals paved the way for a convincing win for St. James’ Aldergrove over St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass in this LGFA Junior Football final on Saturday. The Crumlin girls led 1-4 to 0-5 at half time with their goal coming from Nicole Jones in the 8^th minute but Moneyglass finished the half strongly after a slow start and were well in contention at the break.

Aldergrove found another gear in the second half however with Nicole Jones striking her second goal in the 33d minute and Caitlin Taggart, Katie McArt and Emma McArt all rattling the Moneyglass net as they pushed on for an excellent victory.

Aldergrove made the early running and two points from Aoife Taggart, either side of Nicole Jones opening goal saw them lead 1-2 to 0-0 after 9 minutes and it would be another 5 minutes before Alicia McAuley raised St. Ergnat’s first white flag.

Dannielle Connolly, Ciara O’Boyle and Alica McAuley add further point for Moneyglass by the 24^th minute to close the gap to one and they looked to be getting on top but Aldergrove replied through Caitlin Taggart and Aoife Taggart to move three in front.

The final score of the half fell to Alica Boyd who pointed in the 29^th minute for the girls in yellow to leave just two in it in favour of the Crumlin girls at the break and the scene looked set for a tight second half.

Once again it was St. James’ who grabbed the initiative at the start of the second half and the excellent |Nicole Jones fired home her second goal with only three minutes gone with Caitlin Taggart, Aoife Taggart and Emma McArt adding points to move the girls in Red 8 ahead by the 38^th minute.

As in the first half, St. Ergnat’s found it difficult to get going but they did come back with points from Ciara O’Boyle and two from Niamh McKeefry by the 44^th minute to give their support some hope as we entered the final quarter.

Those hopes were quickly dashed as St. James came back with a vengeance as they hit three goals in a six minutes spell between the 46^th and 52 minute through Caitlin Taggart and the McArt’s to put the game firmly to bed.

Niamh McKeefry 0-2, and Michelle Mullin added consolation points for he Marian Hill girls with Aoife McTaggart and Emma McArt completing the scoring for an excellent Aldergrove side to run out convincing winners.

Aldergrove: 1 Lucy Simpson, 2 Alannah McMaster, 3 Anna Crossan, 4 Bronach Mallon, 5 Aine Kelly, 6 Paula McMasterson, 7 Rebecca Marquess, 8 Colleen McGuinness, 9 Katie Rose Bell, 10 Roisin Crossan, 11 Nicole Jones, 12 Caitlin Taggart, 13 Aoife Taggart, 14 Anna McBride, 15 Emma McArt, 16 Katie McArt, 17 Caoimhe Bell, 18 Sophie Nugent, 19 Mia Dunlon, 20 Edel Neeson, 21 Meabh Rooney, 22 Orla Rooney, 23 Shannon McGarry, 24 Grace O’Neill, 25 Clare Hanna, 26 Bronagh McGuinness

Moneyglass: 1 Emily McCVoy, 2 Orla Rooney, 3 Geraldine Campbell, 4 Erin Duffin, 5 Alicia McAuley, 6 Danielle Duffin, 7 Katie Scullin, 8 Niamh Neeson, 9 Danielle Connolly, 10 Alica Boyd, 11 Niamh McKeefry, 12 Gemma Laverty, 13 Michelle Mullin, 14 Beverly Graffin, 15 Orlaith McAteer, 17 Cara McKeefry, 19 Annie Griffin, 20 Molly Gribbin, 21 Ciara O’Boyle, 22 Leah Cassidy, 24 Katie McCloskey

Northern Property Antrim Junior Football Championship 

St Johns 3-03-0-04 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

Goals were the difference at Corrigan Park this evening as St Johns advanced to the last eight of the Northern Property Antrim Junior Football Championship with a 3-03-0-04 win over Lámh Dhearg. 

St Johns drew first blood on a bright evening at Corrigan Park and netted early on when they turned the ball over and possession was switched to Cora Magee- who drove forward and picked her spot low in the net. 

Back-to-back points followed from the Lámhs in response, Isla Annett played a precise pass through to Tiarnach Fegan to fire over the bar and converted free followed from Robyn Murray. 

Murray sent a second free between the posts midway through the half to restore parity, but the hosts regained the lead as Debbie Boyd swung a pass out to Olivia Cardwell- who dropped her shot over the bar. 

Cora Magee to attempted to add to her earlier goal- her shot was blocked down, though Luisne Adams was on hand to ensure a point was forthcoming as St Johns were 1-02-0-03 ahead at the break. 

The hosts extended their lead after the restart courtesy of a Debbie Boyd free and then found the net for the second time. 

Boyd was again instrumental in bursting in at an angle and popping the ball across before it was sent into the path of Carla Hamill to sweep home and make it 2-03-0-03. 

Robyn Murray converted her third free of the evening to ensure the Hannashtown side remained in contention with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Try as they might, they couldn’t find the elusive goal that would have set up a grandstand finish and in the end the Johnnies would secure a third goal in time added on. 

Niamh Hamill forced a turnover and switched possession to Cora Magee who unselfishly supplied Cora Burns with the simple task of firing in at the near post to give her side a 3-03-0-04 win at the conclusion and ensure a quarter-final meeting with Sarsfields next weekend. 

St Johns : SJ McGuigan, C Carleton, C Richmond, C Conway, E Hamill, O Cardwell (0-01), E Boyd, M Laverty, N McArdle, L Adams (0-01), A Hawkins, C Hamill (1-00), D Boyd (0-01f), C Magee (1-00), C Burns (1-00). Subs: A Hesketh for O Cardwell (52), S McMahon for D Boyd (60). 

Lámh Dhearg : S McCann, C Hayes, S McCloskey, E McGarry, T Fegan (0-01), N Webb, H Kennedy, I Annett, A Larkin, R Murray (0-03f), M Donnelly, O Webb, M Diamond, C Doherty, L Smyth. Subs: J Peoples for E McGarry (25), A McKinley for M Diamond (47), M Diamond for R Murray (51), R Murray for A Larkin (60+2).