Ulster LGFA SFC Semi-final

Clann Eireann v Moneyglass

Clann Eirerann Park 2-00pm

Having finally slayed Goliath, St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass hit the road again this Sunday to face what could potentially be another tuff opponent in their own back yard.

Ulster champions, Donnaghmoyne were finally put to the sword by an Orlaith Prenter inspired St. Ergnats last day out and the Antrim champions will take great confidence from that win but they would do well to treat Sunday’s opponents, Clann Eireann with the upmost respect.

Clann Eireann are appearing in their first Ulster semi-final since 2017 and with home advantage they will fancy their chances of causing an upset against a Moneyglass side who reached last year’s decider but lost to the Monaghan champions.

Moneyglass produced what must rate as the greatest result in the club’s history when they travelled to Monaghan and Ulster champions Donaghmoyne and beat the greatest team in Ulster club history in their own back yard to set up a semi-final meeting with Armagh champions Clann Eireann.

Clann Eireann captain, Niamh Henderson believes that the Armagh champions can cause an upset of their own when the Marian Hill girls visits what is likely to be a hostile venue.

“We are focused and ready and have been training really hard. Everyone is fit and ready and we can’t wait for Sunday”

Clann Eireann defeated Cavan champions Drumlane 5-8 to 0-6 in their quarter-final meeting and in Meabh McCambridge they have a formidable forward who hit a first half hat-trick against the Cavan side.

Moneyglass represent a step up in class for the Armagh champions and Charlie O’Kane will have warned his side of any complacency and Orlaith Prenter, Cathy Carey, Maria O’Neill, Niamh McIntosh and Co. should have enough in store to advance to a second successive Ulster final.

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As St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass travel to Donaghmoyne this weekend to take on the LGFA Ladies club championship in the first round of Ulster, in what is a repeat of last year’s final, the Saffron Gael speak to one of the rising stars of Moneyglass and Antrim, Maria O’Neill.

Saffron Gael: 

You were awarded the POTM at the senior championship final this year. Congratulations for that and well deserved Maria. You had a fantastic game and what a great season you have had for Moneyglass this year. Tell us about it and what has been the highlight to date?

Maria O’Neill:

It’s been a great season. Coming off of such a successful year last year we knew we had another big year ahead and had goals we needed to achieve to get back into Ulster again this year. Our performance in the league set us up really well coming into championship and gave us a chance to look at some of the younger girls coming through and really start piecing together our starting team. 

My highlight of this year would be winning the championship final against St Paul’s. They gave us a good fight and overall I thought it was the most exciting game we’ve had to date.

S.G.: You have been playing alongside Orlaith Prenter for a number of years now and she has been one of the stars of the Antrim club championship and of course, her performances for Antrim has brought her rave revues. What has it been like playing alongside Orlaith and how has it benefited your own game?

Maria O’Neill: 

It’s been unreal playing alongside Orlaith, she is a great footballer and there is so much you could learn from her. 

We also played school football together in St Mary’s so we are very familiar playing with each other, and can read each-other’s runs and plays.

She really encouraged me to be more confident on the ball and take on scores and it’s just been great playing with her in the forward line.

S.G.: Tell me about the Antrim championship and who you played on the way to the final and the final itself against St. Paul’s?

Maria O’Neill:

Antrim championship was tougher this year than last. With there being 4 teams in the senior championship this year it has got very competitive and all of the games were tough but on the other hand they were great opportunities for us to improve our play.

S.G.: Donaghmoyne have dominated Monaghan and Ulster club football for a number of years. You came close to beating them in last year’s final. You travel to them this weekend. How do you think last year’s game will prepare you for this weekend’s encounter?

Maria O’Neill:

Watching back last year’s game I feel like we didn’t play to our full ability. We made a lot of silly mistakes and since then we’ve straightened them out. Its hard meeting last year’s Ulster winners in the first round of this year’s competition but we are more than up for the challenge and we are definitely more prepared going into this year’s game than last years.

S.G.: How has preparation for Sunday’s meeting with the Ulster champions gone. Tell us about your management and how the knowledge gained from last year’s defeat is likely to have benefited you for this year’s first round meeting?

Maria O’Neill: 

We’ve done a lot of preparation over the last few weeks leading up to this game. With a lot of us re-watching last year’s game and reflecting on what went right and wrong and how to fix those issues. 

Our management has also been working very hard behind the scenes to get us video analysis of different games so we can identify where and what we can improve on and also in order to incorporate strategies into our play to resolve these issues. 

Overall I just feel like we are a lot more prepared going into this game than last year.

The Saffron Gael will be in Donaghmoyne on Sunday to cover the Moneyglass v Donaghmoyne game and we wish the Antrim champions every success and will hopefully be bringing you a great success story on Sunday night.

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Antrim LGFA Senior Final at Davitt Park

Moneyglass 3-8 St Paul’s 0-7

Moneyglass won their third Senior Football Championship title in a row at Davitt Park on Sunday when they beat St Paul’s in the final by 3-8 to 0-7. In a hard fought first half the champions did not have things all their way, and it took a Laura Marron goal to help the Marrian Hill girls to a 1-4 to 0-3 half time lead. However a second goal early in the second half put then in control and a third major seven minutes from time wrapped it all up.

Orla Prenter gave Moneyglass an early lead with a point from a free, but St Paul’s came back to level on seven minutes with a point from play by Lara Dahunsi. Cliona Griffin put the champions back ahead when she sent over a point on eight minutes and they struck a significant blow a minute later when Laura Marron found the St Paul’s net.

When Cathy Carey increased the Moneyglass lead with a point in the tenth minute they were five clear but St. Paul’s responded with points from Niamh Ritchie and Emily Rodgers, in reply to one from Orlaith Prenter to leave Moneyglass four clear at the half time whistle.

Bronagh Devlin’s goal soon after the start of the second half pushed the gap out to seven but St Paul’s fought back with points from Emily Rodgers, Niamh Ritchie and substitute Clodagh Mervyn to close to within four by the 39^th minute.

That was as close as they would get however as two points from Orlaith Prenter and a goal from Maria O’Neill all but sealed the win. Emily Rogers pulled one back for St Paul’s but the last score went to the holders when Alicia Boyd sent one over to finish ten points to the good.

MONEYGLASS

Anna McCann, Danielle Duffin, Emma McArreavey, Cara McKeefrey, Niamh McIntosh, Rebecca Bradley, Clionna Griffin, Sarah O’Neill, Cathy Carey, Eleanor Mallon, Bronagh Devlin, Alicia Boyd, Aine Devlin, Orlaith Prenter, Maria O’Neill.

ST PAUL’S

Shauna Murphy, Caoimhe Stewart, Gemma McGroarty, Aoife O’Sullivan, Cliodhna Phillips, Aine Doyle, Ciara Brown, Aine Turbidy, Seana Harley Moyes, Niamh Ritchie, Lara Dahunsi, Aisling Hyndman, Aoife Mervyn, Eimile Rogers Duffy, Stacey McCann

Referee – Ray Matthews (Rossa)

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Northern Property SFC

Moneyglass 2-18 St. Brigid’s 1-4

Moneyglass completed their group programme unbeaten with a convincing victory over St. Brigid’s and, as was expected, will meet old rivals St. Paul’s in the final on the first of October.

Aine Devlin got the home side off to a great start with a goal in the 2^nd minute and points from Cliona Griffin and a couple from Orla Prenter had them in a strong position by the 13^th minute with Cliodhna Logan replying with a point for St. Brigid’s in the 7^th minute.

St. Ergnat’s continued to extend their lead with points from Alicia Boyd, Ealeanor Mallon and Cathy Carey but a goal from Cliodhna Logan for the visitors in the 27^th minute gave the Musgrave Park side a glimmer of hope.

Logan continued to carry the greatest threat for St. Brigid’s and she would add another point just before half time but the final score of the half fell to St. Ergnat’s Orla Prenter to leave her side 1-7 to 1-2 ahead at the break.

St. Brigid’s  added to their tally with a pointed free from Aileen McDonnell in the first minute to close the gap to four points but any hopes of a visitors comeback in the second half were soon dismissed and the Musgrave Park girls would add only one more score, a point from Theresa Mallon.

Moneyglass had been under power up to this point but they suddenly sprung into life and the scores came thick and fast with Orla Prenter again to the fore.

Aine Devlin got them on their way and Prenter followed with another before converting three frees on the bounce.

Sarah O’Neill added another in the 12^th minute to put the reigning champions 10 ahead and even at this stage it was all over.

Cathy Carey got her name on the score-sheet before Annie Griffin fired home her sides second goal in the 51^st minute and Leah Stewart and two more from Prenter in the final quarter put the contest out of sight.

St. Ergnat’s now play St. Paul’s in a final fixture that has become familiar for more than a decade and will start this one as firm favourites but St. Paul’s will not be too concerned about that and will hope to cause an upset against last year’s beaten Ulster club finalists.

Moneyglass: Anna Mccann, Cara McKeefry, Danielle Duffin, Niamh Neeson, Niamh McIntosh , Rebecca Bradley, Cliona Griffin, Sarah O’Neill , Laura McCann, Eleanor Mallon, Bronagh Devlin , Alica Boyd, Aine Devlin, Orlaith Prenter, Cathy Carey

Subs: Danielle Connolly for Alica Boyd, Leah Stewart for Bronagh Devlin, Annie Griffin for Eleanor Mallom, Megan McGlinchey for Aine Devlin, Mia McLarnon for Cara McKeefry

St. Brigid’s: 1 Julie Curran, 2 Danielle Hargan, 3 Maeve Blaney, 4 Enya Boyce, 5 Caoimhe Herron, 6 Emma Ferran, 7 Ciara Austin, 8 Molly McCarten, 9 Laura Agnew, 10 Aoife Monaghan, 11 Aileen McDonnell, 12 Mary Mitchell, 13 Ellie Murphy, 14 Cliodhna Logan, 15 Theresa Mellon.

Subs: 18 Emile Ni Ogartaigh, 19 Eileen Devlion, 20 Anne Brady

Referee: Fionnuala Murphy

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Northern Property LGFA SFC

St. Paul’s 2-15 St. Brigid’s 2-8

St. Paul’s and St. Brigid’s served up an entertaining game of football in the LGFA Northern Property Senior Football Championship at Shaw’s Road on Sunday.

The home side always held the upper hand and led by 0-10 to 0-5 at the break and a goal from Emilie Duffy midway through the second half put them in a strong position.

Emma McFerran replied with a goal for the Musgrave Park side in the 52^nd minute to give them hope but a second St. Paul’s goal from Lara Dahunsi from the penalty spot put the home side in control.

St. Brigid’s fought right to the end and were rewarded for their efforts when Ciara Austin got through for a goal in injury time but it proved too little-too late.

It was St. Paul’s who got off to the better start with Lara Dahunsi pointing them ahead after 25 seconds and the same player added another by the second minute.

Laura Agnew replied with St. Brigid’s opening point but Dahunsi was presenting problems on the ’40’ and she came back with two more to bring her personal tally to four with only 6 minutes gone.

St. Brigid’s were giving it everything to get their own game going and Hanna D saw her effort come back off a post and it was Lara Dahunsi who would continue to torment the visitors defence.

The Musgrave Park girls found their shooting boots during the second quarter with Cliodhna Logan and Laura Agnew bringing their total to five by the half way stage but Lara Dahunsi and Emilie Duffy kept the score board ticking for St. Paul’s to leave them five ahead at the break.

Half time score: St Brigids 0-5(5) St Paul’s 0-10(10)

St. Paul’s continued to edge the exchanges on the restart as they added four further points by the 5^th minute with St. Brigid’s only response coming from a Laura Agnew free.

Lara Dahunsi replied with another point for St. Paul’s before Elilie Duffy fired home the game’s opening goal in the 14^th minute.

Both sides exchanged points and a goal from Emma Ferran in the 22^nd minute gave St. Birigid’s a glimmer of hope but four minutes later Lara Dahunsi fired home from the penalty spot to put the contest out of reach.

To their credit St. Brigid’s continued to fight and a goal from Ciara Austin as the game crept into injury time closed the gap to seven but only served to put a better reflection on the score-line.

Lara Dahunsi was superb for the Shaw’s Road side and finished the game with 1-6 while Emilie Duffy and Ciara Brown were also prominent and contributed 1-2 for a good all round St. Paul’s side.

Laura Agnew carried the greatest threat for St. Brigid’s and finished with 0-3 to her credit while Emma Ferran and Ciara Autin were the St. Brigid’s goal scorers.

St. Paul’s:1 Shauna Murphy, 2 Caoimhe Stewart, 3 Aoife Sullivan, 4 Cliona  Phillips, 5 Gemma McGroarty, 6 Stacy McCann, 7 Enya Daye, 8 Aine Lynch, 9 Seana Moyes, 10 Niamh Ritchie,11 Lara Dahunsi, 12 Aisling Hyndman, 13 Aoife Mervyn, 14 Emilie Duffy,15 Ciara Brown

St Brigids:1 – Julie Colgan, 2 – Caoimhe, 3 – Aoife Murnaghan, 4 – Cora,  5 – Cliodhna McG,  6 – Emma Ferran, 7 Theresa Mellon, 8 – Maeve 9  Laura Agnew, 10 – Ciara Austin, 11 – Aileen, 12 – Mary Mitchell, 13 – Hanna D,14 – Cliodhna Logan, 15 – Ellie Murphy

Referee: Piarais McCaffery

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