In the build up to Saturday’s LGFA Ulster Intermediate football final between St. Joseph’s Glenavy and Brian Og, Steelstown in Carrickmore the Saffron Gael speaks to Glenavy captain, Mary McStravick.
McStravick has had an excellent season in the Glenavy defence where she has been an ever present and has led by example and she was excited when we spoke to her in the build up to the club’s biggest game in their history.
“I have played for Glenavy Senior ladies for over 10 years and this has been without a doubt our best season yet! There is no better feeling that getting to an Ulster Final with your club. This is the first time in the history of Glenavy Ladies that we have made it to an Ulster Final and there is an unbelievable buzz around the club.
Mary McStravick who will captain Glenavy in their Ulster Championship final against Steelstown in Carrickmore
We had a difficult start to our Ulster campaign with a three hour bus trip to Donegal to face Naomh Muire. The travel was worth it and we came away with our first win of the competition. As you can imagine the bus home was not a bother to us and it felt like minutes before we were back in Glenavy.
We were very lucky to get two home draws then against Rostrevor and Ballyhaise in the both the quarter-final and semi-final. Through both games we battled hard and came away with two wins finding ourselves in the Ulster Final.
These two weeks have been very exciting leading up to the final. We really have the full support of the club behind us. We had a coffee morning on Sunday and it was great to see so many people from the club coming in to visit along with so many underage players! We are all really looking forward to the final on Saturday against Steelstown. We know we will have a lot of support from the club following us down to the game to encourage us from the sidelines” she concluded.
The Saffron Gael wishes Mary and Glenavy all the best against Steelstown in Carrickmore on Saturday and of course, our own Bert Trowlen will be there to capture the action and we will bring you a report on the game at the weekend.
Glenavy fans looking forward to Saturday’s final in Carrickmore
St. Joseph’s Glenavy travel to Carrickmore on Saturday where they take on Steelstown of Derry in the LGFA Ulster Intermediate final and they will have to be at their best for the full 60 plus minutes if they are to overcome the challenge of a strong Steelstown side.
The Derry champions have been knocking on the door of Ulster championship success for the last few years but to date the door has remained shut.
Its two years since Steelstown Ladies stood on a sodden Augher pitch watching Kinawley be crowned 2021 Ulster Intermediate champions. Brian Ogs’ hearts had been broken by an injury time Roisin O’Reilly point after a game they should have won.
A year later the Derry champions were expelled from the competition at the final stage in the most bizarre of circumstances when a late change of venue meant moving to a 3G surface. The city girls were already en route to the final without the necessary footwear and the surface switch meant they were unable to fulfil the fixture.
Steelstown have returned even stronger this year and their win over Glen Maghera in the Derry final where they ran out 2-11 to 0-3 winners to collect their fourth Derry title in a row shows they are in fine form.
They were sensational as they underlined, once again, their Oak Leaf dominance with a fourth straight Derry senior title; a fifth in seven years in what was their fifth successive senior county final.
Wins over a youthful Omagh St. Enda’s in the Ulster quarter-final and a resounding victory over Castleblaney in the semi-final where they ran out 3-13 to 1-9 winners will see them go into Saturdays final in Carrickmore as firm favourites.
St. Joseph’s Glenavy defeated neighbours, St. James Aldergrove in the Antrim final after losing to the same opposition in the group stages of the championship.
They really came to life in the knockout stages as they recorded a 4-12 to 1-5 win over the Crumlin girls in the final to send them through to the Ulster’s where they received a tricky away draw to Donegal champions, Naomh Muire.
St. Joseph’s Glenavy, hoping to spoil the Steelstown party in Carrickmore
The long trip to Donegal proved a successful one in the end for St. Joseph’s Glenavy but there were forced to endure a few anxious moments in the end as Naomh Muire hit 2-1 in the closing minutes to threaten the Glenavy party.
The Chapel Hill side held on for the win however to set them up for a quarter-final meeting with Down champions, Rostrevor where they received a home draw.
A late Ellen Morgan piece of magic swung this Ulster LGFA IFC clash the way of St Joseph’s Glenavy when they overcame the considerable challenge of a Niamh Rice inspired Rostrevor in the Ulster Intermediate Football Championship quarter final in wet conditions at Chapel Hill
The home side looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they led by 2-3 to 0-1 after 19 minutes, their goals coming from Aoibheann Monaghan and Grainne McLaughlin but it was visitors Rostrevor who finished the half strongly.
Niamh Rice led the way for the Down champions and she would add 1-3 to Aislinn McGeough’s early point to close the gap to a goal by half time, the Glenavy cause not helped by a yellow card decision late in the half
Rostrevor started the second half as they had finished the first with Colleen Crios and Aoife Murphy pointing to close the gap to one after six minutes before Ellen Morgan edged the home side two in front with a point in the 11th minute, their first score in over 20 minutes.
It seemed in vain as the Down girls came roaring back and when the impressive Niamh Rice rattled the Glenavy net in the 16th minute, Rostrevor were ahead for the first time and looking the likelier winners.
Clara Mulvenna followed with a point to put the Down champions two ahead in the 18th minute but it would be their final score of the game as Glenavy picked themselves of the canvas to finish strongly and earn a place in the semi-final.
Glenavy 4-12 Ballyhaise (Cavan) 3-9semi-final
Injury time goals from corner forward Aoibheann Monaghan and full forward Ellen Morgan added a gloss to Glenavy’s victory over Ballyhaise of Cavan in the Ulster LGFA Intermediate semi-final at Chapel Hill, in a thrilling game of football. After leading by five points at half time (1-8 to 1-3) Glenavy saw their lead cut back to two early in the second half. They responded well and boosted by a Graine McLaughlin goal they pulled clear again. However the Ballyhaise girls fought their way back again and came within three as the game went into injury time.
There were still a few anxious moments for the home fans, but those worries were short lived as Monaghan and Morgan struck with two great goals in injury time to seal a place in the final against Derry champions Steelstown on Saturday.
Glenavy have been excellent this season but must eradicate their habit of switching off in games where they appeared to be in complete control as happened in all three of the Ulster championship games this year and they will need to keep their foot on the pedal against a very experienced Steelstown if they are to overcome the Derry champions
Derry Champions, Brian Og, Steelstown who will start Saturday’s final as firm favourites
Steelstown’s bid for glory will once again be backboned by the likes of Aoife McGough, Ciara McGurk and 2017 All Ireland Junior Players’ Player of the Year, Emma Doherty, who led the Brian Ogs to Ulster Junior glory in 2015. That was a first provincial title for the city.
St. Joseph’s have their own star performers in county player, Grainne McLaughlin, Meabh Bradley, Mary McStravick, Bronagh Forester, Ana Mulholland, Aoibhean Monaghan and Ellen Morgan but are a well-balanced team unit.
The Antrim champions will go into Saturday’s final as outsiders but if they can produce their best for the full game and remain focused throughout then they can make it another bad day for Steelstown in Ulster deciders.
Antrim ladies end of year event took place at the Europa hotel in Belfast at the beginning of October. The night was to celebrate the senior ladies success throughout 2023.
History had been made not once but twice by this amazing group of talented athletes.
In April the team won the Division 4 National league final for the first time in Antrim’s history gaining promotion to Divison 3. Their journey in Division 3 will begin on January 21st.
The ladies now on a high from their league success continued building momentum and confidence going into the Ulster Intermediate Championship. Firstly winning against an experienced Monaghan side which again added to the girls belief that the Ulster Intermediate title wasn’t a pipedream and it wasn’t. The team met Tyrone in the final in what was an exciting encounter at Owenbeg. On a sunny day the squad sent shockwaves to everyone showing their fitness, skill and amazing teamwork throughout. History again was made. Antrim had never won a game at this level before never mind take home the silverware. The sky was the limit. The girls were still developing, learning and steadily progressing each week. All Ireland series now to come. With nothing to fear and everyone now taking notice of the saffron wave coming along the girls again stepped up another level. Winning against one of the favourites Westmeath in their own backyard then going on to beat Longford in Cargin to set up home advantage for an All Ireland Quarter Final against Monaghan. The support at Davitt’s was immense and the girls again rose to the occasion setting up a semi-final against Clare.
Clare were just a step too far for us, but this was the most disappointed the squad had been as they knew it was the one which got away with a slow start the first 10minutes being the difference.
The girls all received their winner’s medals from Division 4 and Ulster and were presented with their Black Antrim Jersies which were worn for the first time against Clare.
Overall what a season 2023 was for the Antrim Senior Ladies and expectations for continued success in 2024 will be high.
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.
Orlaith PrenterCathy CareyManager Charlie O’Kane
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.
St. John’s made their exit from the Ulster LGFA Junior Championship when they fell to a well organised, Maura Morgan inspired Carryduffy at Corrigan Park on Sunday.
The Johnnies enjoyed plenty of possession over the hour but found it difficult to break down a strong Carryduff defence that dealt well with most of what the Corrigan Park side could throw at them.
Lusine Adams pointed the Whiterock Road side into an early lead before Maura Morgan replied from a 45th minute free to level the contest.
The visitors soon settled into an early rhythm Katie Foy kicked them into the lead with a point in the 9th minute and further points from the impressive Morgan and Cara Donnelly had them 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 14th minute.
St. John’s pushed hard to get back into contention but Katie Foy, Sian O’Neill and Ashling Wojcieszak in the Carryduff defence were equal to everything that came their way.
Orla Corr raised St. John’s second white flag of the afternoon from a free in the 17th minute but the home side were grateful to their keeper, Sinead McAleavey who pulled off a good save to deny Cara Donnelly who looked in for the game’s opening goal.
Undeterred, the visitors continued to push forward and Maura Morgan added a point from a free before Cara Donnelly split the uprights from play to move her side four ahead after 21 minutes.
Donnelly’s point would prove to be the final score of the half but St. John’s were dealt a blow just before the break when Niamh Hamill limped out of the contest injured to be replaced by Hannah McAllister.
The Corrigan Park side needed a good start to the second half if they were to get themselves into the game but in the event it was Maura Morgan who extended the Carrduff lead from a free in the third minute.
Back came St. John’s with Lusine Adams splitting the posts in the 6th and 8th minutes to close the gap to three and suddenly there was a glimmer of hope for the girls in blue but that hope was quickly extinguished.
A good move from the resulting kick-out saw the Down champions move the ball smartly to the other end of the field and Ciara McLornan finished to the net to move her side six ahead.
St. John’s were still giving it everything and were enjoying a bit of success themselves as Orla Corr pointed in the 14th minute before Cora Magee brought the biggest cheer of the day from the home support when she fired past Caoimhe Lavery in the ‘Duff’ goals.
Suddenly there was only two points between the sides with 12 minutes still remaining but once again the visitors defence shut up shop as they turned everything that St. John’s could throw at them.
They replied with a couple of points themselves through Cara Donnelly in the 21st minute and another from goal scorer McLornan in injury time to ease home winners by four points and book a place in the semi-final.
