LGFA Northern Property Senior Football Championship

Moneyglass 4-15 St. Paul’s 0-9

Orlath Prenter produced another exhilarating performance to get reigning Senior Champions, St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass off to a winning start in this year’s Northern Property LGFA Senior Football Championship when they defeated old rivals St. Paul’s at Marian Hill on Sunday.

Not for the first time Prenter proved un-markable as she displayed the wide range of skills that has made her so vital to her club and county in recent years.

The St. Ergnat’s number 14 would finish the game with 3-10 of her sides total and proved a constant thorn in the side of her opponents over the hour.

It was visitors St. Paul’s who opened the scoring at Marian Hill with Niamh Ritchie pointing them ahead after three minutes but it would be the only time the Shaw’s Road girls would lead.

Orlath Prenter stamped her first mark on proceedings when she sent over the equaliser in the 10^th minute and she followed with a goal and a point by the 12^th minute to put the home side in control.

Aine Tubridy pulled one back for the visitors in the 18^th minute with Cathy Carey replying immediately at the other end and Prenter and Carey added two more in quick succession to move the home side further ahead.

St. Paul’s were battling hard to gain a foothold in the game but they were rocked with two goals within a minute as Marie O’Neill and Prenter found the net in the 25^th and 26^th minutes.

St. Paul’s replied with Lara Dahunsi kicking two late points but the final score of the half fell to St. Ergnat’s Aine Devlin to leave the Marian Hill side 3-7 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

Orlath Prenter increased the Moneyglass lead with a point on the restart with Lara Dahunsi replying for the Hoops with a point in the 7^th minute but it was the reigning county champions who continued to call the shots.

Prenter hit three on the bounce by the end of the third quarter and then replied to one from Dahunsi who was doing all in her power to get her side going but with limited success.

The mercurial Prenter, Bronagh Devlin and Prenter again added further points but St. Paul’s were still giving it everything and Niamh Ritchie pulled one back with time almost up.

Once again the home side responded as Orlath Prenter pointed before adding her third goal with Lara Dahunsi replying with two points in injury time for the visitors to conclude the scoring.

Next up for the champions is a visit to Glenravel on Monday 11^th September while St. Paul’s will hope to get their first win when they play hosts to St. Brigid’s at Pairc Naomh Pol, a day earlier.

Moneyglass: 1 Anna McCann, 2 Cara McKeefry, 3 Danielle Duffin, 4 Eleanor Mallon, 6 Rebecca Bradley, 7 Cliona Graffin, 8 Laura McCann, 9 Sarah O’Neill, 10 Maire O’Neill, 11 Bronagh Devlin, 12 Cathy Carey, 13 Aine Devlin, 14 Orlath Prenter, 15 Alicia Boyd

St. Paul’s: 1 Shauna Murphy, 2 Cliodhna Phillips, 3 Gemma McGroarty, 4 Aoife O’Sullivan, 5 Enya Daye, 6 Ciara Brown, 7 Stacey McCann, 8 Lara Dahunsi, 9 Seana-Hannah Moyes, 10 Niamh Ritchie, 11 Caoimhe Stewart, 12 Aine Tubridy 13 Aoife Mervyn, 14 Eimile Rogers Duffy, 15 Aisling Hyndman

Referee: Gerard Dougan (Creggan)

Charlie OKane is in his second year as manager of the Antrim club senior Championship and League Champions and Ulster finalist of 2022 St Ergnats Moneyglass. This week Saffron Gael’s Elaine Kelly spoke to him as he prepares for the Championship for a second season.

Question: Following what was a very successful 2022 campaign, what is your ambitions for 2023 with the Moneyglass Senior Ladies team.

Answer:  The aim for 2023 is to progress. To improve and be better than we were last year. We have our sights set on again winning both the league and championship in Antrim but I have no doubt we will face some stiff competition in both. 

Question: As Moneyglass prepare to defend their Antrim title what are your expectations and how has Moneyglass prepared for it.

Answer: The championship will be tough. Being the current champions puts a target on our backs. Everyone will be coming to beat us. We will just go out and play our game and take each game as it comes.

Question: Who are the teams that have impressed you during this year’s Antrim league and what teams carry the greatest threat in the championship’

Answer: St. Bridget’s and Glenravel are improving every year and I’m sure St. Paul’s will have something to say about who wins it this year.

Question: Everyone talks about how tight a group the Moneyglass Senior team are. Is this the case and how much does that benefit the group in training and in games.

Answer: Yes it’s a very tight knit group. The togetherness within the squad and the wider support team is unreal , such as the main sponsor Boyds Service Station and other local businesses who are always happy to support the girls. These are  all critical to the recent success we have had. 

Question: What a run you, the management team and the Moneyglass ladies had last season. History makers being the first Antrim Senior team to play in an Ulster Final. You only lost out at the Final in the last few minutes of a fantastic end to end game and it was lost to a very experienced Donaghmoyne Co Monaghan team.  Has that performance given you and the team the confidence going into this year’s Antrim campaign of retaining the trophies and hopefully push on to collect a first Ulster title.

Answer: We would hope we have learnt from that game and improved for the year ahead. Last year we were very inexperienced at the Ulster table but if we can come through Antrim we will hopefully be better for last year’s defeat. 

Question: What is the secret of you and your management team keeping a big panel of players happy and this senior team strong and together.

Answer: There’s no big secret. The squad, my management team of Donal and Annmarie and myself are all focused on the same goal. That of bringing success to Moneyglass. When everyone is pulling in the same direction for a common cause the natural outcome is a united group.

LGFA Division 1

St. James’ Aldergrove 2-11  Gort na Mona 1-7

The wife and sister of Darren O’Neill R.I.P., former manager of St. James’ Aldergrove promotion winning team were joined by their club chairman as they led the Aldergrove team onto the field in Crumlin last night for their first game in division 1

The Aldergrove Senior football team joined with the visiting team from Gort na Mona and spectators to observe an impeccable minutes silence before the game for the man who did so much to promote ladies football in Crumlin.

The former manager would surely have smiled down from his heavenly home as his former charges produced a sterling second half performance to overcome a strong challenge from a Gort na Mona side who looked to be well in contention at the halfway stage with the scores tied at 0-8 to 1-5.

Orla Rooney and Caitlin Taggart pointed Aldergrove into an early lead but the visitors hit back through a Ciara Maguire goal before their keeper Orlaith Lennon pulled off one of several good saves she was to make over the hour.

Aldergrove returned to the offensive and Rooney added two more to her total and Aoife Taggart got her first of the night to move the Crumlin girls two ahead before Ciara Maguire replied with a point at the other end to keep her side in touch.

An Aoife Taggart point for St. James’ brought a quick reply from the visitors through Gabrielle Monaghan and Jordan McCullough before Colleen McGuinness produced a lung bursting run for the point of the half for the home side.

The visitors had the better of the closing stages of the half however as Duailtin Ni Cathaill hit two fine points in reply to one from an Aoife Taggart free to leave it all square as the half time whistle sounded.

HT 0-8 TO 1-5

We looked set for a cliff hanger as the second half got underway as Aoife Taggart for the home side and Stacey Meighan for Gort na Mona exchanged further points but it was the Crumlin side who stepped up their intensity to take control.

Substitute Katie McArt fired to the Gort na Mona net with virtually her first touch of the ball and when Paula Masterson fired past Orlaith Lennon from the penalty spot there would be no way back for the visitors from Turf Lodge.

Aoife Taggart converted a free and added another from play as St. James dominated the closing stages with Ciara Maguire replying with a consolation point for a Gort na Mona team who battled well but were forced to concede to the better team on the night.

Aldergrove: 1 Lucy Simpson, 2 Caoimhe Bell, 3 Anna Crossan, 4 Bronach Mallon, 5 Aine Kelly, 6 Paula Masterson, 7 Rebecca Marquess, 8 Colleen McGuinness, 9 Katierose Bell, 10 Orla Rooney, 11 Caitlin Taggart, 12 Clare Hanna, 13 Aoife Taggart, 14 Anna McBride, 15 Emma McArt. Subs: 16 Katie McArt, 17 Nicole Jones, 18 Eimear Jones, 19 Niamh Hanna, 20 Mia Dunlop, 21 Roisin Crossan, 22 Alanah McMaster, 25 Niamh Agus, 27 Riona Muldoon, 29 Erin Kane, 30 Grace O’Neill

Gort na Mona: Orlaith Lennon, 2 Emily Kearns, 3 Carla Scannell, 4 Katie Irvine, 5 Tiernagh Elley, 6 Eimear Ni Lonnrachtaig, 7 Mia Gregory, 8 Jeyda Rooney, 9 Aoibhin Enright, 10 Gabrielle Monaghan, 11 Anna McCann, 12 Duailtin Ni Cathail, 13 Jordan McCullough, 14 Ciara Maguire, 15 Chloe Lennon. Subs: 16 Casey Meighan, 17 Niamh NicLonnrachtaigh

LGFA Division1

All Saints 2-4 St. Paul’s 2-18

All Saints faced a baptism of fire when they took on high flyers, St. Paul’s in their division 1 debut at Slemish Park on Monday night. The Ballymena girls suffered a heavy defeat but there was much in their performance to suggest that they can be competitive in the division.

They faced a St. Paul’s team containing Ciara Brown, Aine Tubridy and Laura Dahunsi who were all part of the Antrim side who defeated Leitrim in the National League Division 4 final on Sunday. Add to that Antrim manager, Emma Kelly who lined out at full forward for the Shaw’s Road side and it made for formidable opposition.

It was the home side who made the better start however, showing scant regard for the reputation of their opponents as Marnie Kelly and Catriona Quigley shot them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after four minutes play.

It seemed too good to last and the visitors showed just why they are still one of the teams to beat in Antrim football as they hit five on the bounce before Emma Kelly fired to the net in the 11^th minute to put them in control.

Undaunted, the home side continued to play some nice football and were rewarded when Wiktoria Babuszewska replied with a goal at the other end but with Aoife Mervyn, Ciara Brown, Laurs Dahunsi and Aine Tubirty prominent the visitors had matters more or less sewn up at half time when they led by 1-13 to 1-2.

The home side started the second half as they had started the first, on the front foot and Marnie Kelly pointed after 30 seconds before Anna O’Kane added a second with four minutes gone.

They were unable to maintain their opening burst however as St. Paul’s replied through Aine Tubridy and Emma Kelly by the 10^th minute but the visitors then had a player Sin-Binned but it failed to disrupt their dominance

Aoife Mervyn fired home their second goal but the home side continued to play some excellent football and had a goal bound shot come off an upright before Sarah McLaughlin got in for an excellent goal with 21 minutes gone.

It was to prove All Saints final score however as St. Paul’s finished strongly to hit the final three points of the game through Niamh Richie and two from the impressive Ciara Brown.

St. Paul’s showed why they will once again be Moneyglass’s main rivals for honours this year and they were always in control of matters in this game and in Ciara Brown, Laura Dahunsi, Aoife Mervyn and Aine Turbidy they had players of great quality.

The Ballymena management team can be well pleased by many aspects of their side’s performance on the night however. All Saints moved the ball well and always attempted to play expansive football and in Ciara Devine, Niamh McMahon, Sinead McLaughlin, Anna Kearney, Catriona Quigley, Anna O’Kane, Wiktoria Babuszewska and Sianeese Maybin they had fine performers on the night

All Saints: 1 Ciara Devine, 2 Aobhin Cosgrove, 3 Niamh McMahon, 4 Aine Kearney, 25 Emma Laverty, 6 Sinead McLaughlin, 7 Katie Connolly, 8 Anna Kearney, 9 Catriona Quigley, 10 Cliodhna Metrustry, 11 Anna O’Kane, 12 Wiktoria Babuszewska, 13 Molly Brady, 14 Sianeese Maybin, 15 Marnie Kelly. Subs: 24 Lucy McGuigan, 27 Kelly Wilson, 29 Cara Hackett, 19 Brianna-Lee Cushenan, 16 Sarah McLaughlin, 17 Tessa Brady, 18 Megan O’Neill, 30 Rachel Doherty

St. Paul’s: 1 Shauna Murphy, 2 Cara McCleave, 3 Cliodhna Phillips, 4 Caoimhe Stewart, 5 Gemma McGrourty, 6 Ciara Brown, 7 Maria Hanna, 17 Cora Lee McKeown, 9 Aine Tubridy, 10 Niamh Ritchie, 11 Laura Dahunsi, 12 Aoife Mervyn, 13 Orla Brown, 14 Emma Kelly, 15 Kade McDonnell

Referee: Martin Mulholland (Glenravel)