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

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

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.