Category / Ladies Football

by thesaffrongael

McKinley magic leads Tir na nOg to victory in Glenravel

LGFA U17C Championship final

Tir na nOg 1-11 All Saints 2-2

The superb Niamh McKinley led Tir na nOg to victory over All Saints Ballymena in Sunday’s U17C Football Championship in sparkling overhead conditions at Fr. Maginn Park, Glenravel.

The Whitehill side’s captain kicked all five of her side’s first half points to leave them leading 0-5 to 0-0 at the halfway stage as a shot shy All Saints failed time and again to make the best of good approach play in the opening half.

The Ballymena girls finally broke their duck when a shot from Anna O’Kane dropped over Tir na nOg keeper, Catriona McCann in the 5th minute of the second half but that would be as close as they got with the Randalstown girls pushing on for a deserved win.

Niamh McKinley, who was outstanding for Tir na nOg, is closed down by Cliodhna Metrustry, All Saints

It was All Saints who made the early running with Anna O’Kane and Cliodhna Metrustry and Keely O’Mullan prominent but too often a pass too many led to them being turned over by a strong Tir na nOg defence.

Slowly though Tir na nOg settled and Orlagh McNally in the All Saints goals pulled off a good save to deny Aime Gartside what looked a certain goal.

Both sides were guilty of poor shooting and it was 13 minutes before the first score arrived with Niamh McKinley pointing Tir na nOg ahead from a free.

The Ballymena girls tried to respond but continued to kick away possession as McKinley kicked her first point from play and added three more before half time to put the Randalstown girls in a commanding position as Martin Mulholland blew his half time whistle.

Aime Gartside increased the Tir na nOg lead with a point in the opening minute of the new half and the excellent Niamh McKinley looked certain to increase her personal tally but Orlagh McNally pulled off her second good save of the contest to deny the Tir na nOg Number 11.

All Saints Keely O’Mullan drives forward from mid-field

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All Saints were badly in need of a score and there was a touch of good fortune about it when it arrived as Anna O’Kane’s driven effort dipped below Catriona McCann’s crossbar to leave just three in it with five minutes of the new half gone.

Fortune appeared to be on their side when Amy Gartside’s fisted goal was ruled out for a square ball infringement at the other end with All Saints attempting to respond at the other end but the Ballymena side were guilty of a bad miss.

A minute later the girls in Blue were awarded a penalty and once again it was Ballymena’s McNally to face McKinley and again McNally proved up to the task as she denied the Tir na nOg captain from the spot to keep her side’s fading hopes alive

It was the Randalstown side who would kick the next score with Shannon McNeilly splitting the posts and further points from Niamh McKinley and Eimhear McCloskey saw them 0-9 to 1-0 ahead by the 19th minute.

Tir na nOg’s Shauna Robinson breaks up an All Saints attack

Orlagh McNally in the All Saints goals had been excellent throughout the contest but she was finally beaten when Uisneach McCann finished to the net following a fine double save by the All Saints custodian.

It looked as good as over at this stage but to their credit the Ballymena side fought to the end with Cliodhna Metrustry and Anna O’Kane firing over points and substitute Erinn White getting in for a late goal.

A good game of football, well refereed by Martin Mulholland with the best team winning and in Niamh McKinley Tir na nOg had the outstanding player on view.

The Randalstown side were solid in defence with Emma Gartside, Shannon McNeilly and Shauna Robinson the pick of a strong unit. At mid-field Caoife Smith and Jessica Simpson got through a power of work while Niamh McKinley had excellent colleagues in attack in Eimhear McCloskey and Aime Gartside.

Orlagh McNally was excellent in the All Saints goals while no nonsense full-back, Brianna Cushenan, Leah McArdle and Alex Spurgeon were strong in defence. Keely O’Mullan was outstanding at mid-field and had strong support from Cliodhna Metrustry while Anna O’Kane, Orla Lemon and Lucy McGuigan were best in attack.

Tir na nOg: 1 Catriona McCann, 2 Aoife McCloskey, 3 Emma Gartside, 4 Ciara McParland, 5 Shannon McNeilly, 6 Shauna Robinson, 7 Niamh McAteer, 8 Jessica Simpson, 9 Caoife Smith, 10 Aoife McCann, 11 Niamh McKinley, 12 Eimhear McCloskey, 13 Sara Martin, 14 Aime Gartside, 15 Uisneach McCann,

Subs: 17 Catriona Fagan, 18 Cora Hill, 19 Fayth Sansome, 21 Ciara McCann, 22 Katie McIvor,

All Saints: 1.Orlagh McNally 2.Aoife Mulholland 3.Brianna Cushenan 4.Leah McArdle 25.Tess Brady 6. Alex Spurgeon 7. Ella McLaughlin 28. Cliodhna Metrustry 9. Keely OMullan 10. Aimee Kerr 11. Anna OKane 12. Eve Lemon 13. Kate Hasson 14. Orla Lemon 15. Aimee Lee Holmes

Subs: 20 Erinn White, 16 Lucy McGuigan, 18 Maria Mitchell, 19 Eva Casey.

Referee: Martin Mulholland (Glenravel)

Debbie Murray, Antrim Secretary presents the U17C cup to Tir na nog captain, Niamh McKinley
by thesaffrongael

Maria O’Neill speaks to the Saffron Gael

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 turned in a player of the match performance against St. Paul’s in the Antrim final

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?

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass who make the trip to Donaghmoyne to face the Ulster Champions

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.

by thesaffrongael

Glenavy advance after surviving late Naomh Muire rally

Ulster LGFA IFC Championship

Naomh Muire Iochtar Na Rosann  4-10 St. Joseph’s 5-9

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.

It was the Donegal girls who made the better start with Ailbhe O’Donnell hitting the Glenavy net in the opening minute though Megan McGarry restored parity with a goal at the other end in the second minute.

Ana Mulholland was having an increasing influence for the Chapel Hill girls and she took advantage of a turnover in the St. Mary’s defence to finish to the net and put her side three in front and they looked to be taking control.Within two minutes they had lost that lead however as Caroline Sharkey pointed for Naomh Muire before finishing to the net in the 16th minute to restore her side’s lead.McLaughlin restored parity once more as her increasing influence began to tell with Ailbhe O’Donnell adding two for the Donegal side and Orlagh Mullan pulling off a great save to deny Sharkey as Naomh Muire threatened a third goal.

Grainne McLaughlin replied with three late points for the visitors to leave them one ahead at the short whistle but with the breeze to face in the second half there was all still to play for.McLaughlin was now causing havoc in the Glenavy attack and she rattled the Naomh Muire net within a minute of the restart and Aoibheann Monaghan added a point to move her side five in front after seven minutes and the visitors looked to be taking control.Erika Ni hAnnaid replied with a point for the host side but when Ellen Morgan palmed home St. Joseph’s fourth goal after a strong run and cross from Aoibheann Monaghan in the 9th minute it looked as good as over.Grainne McLaughlin added a fifth with a sublime lob over keeper, Leah McGarvey and Ellen Morgan added a point to leave her side 11 ahead at the end of the third quarter but amazingly, it would be their last score of the game.

Naomh Muire replied with points from Caroline Sharkey and Erika Ni hAnnaidh before the game took a dramatic twist when the outstanding McLaughlin was shown Yellow, effectively ending her participation in the contest. At this stage the Chapel Hill side still looked in a comfortable position but they lost their way going down the home straight with O’Donnell getting in for a goal in the 26th minute to give her side a glimmer of hope. Leah McGarvey in the Naomh Muire goals then pulled off a great save as Glenavy tried to respond but it was the Donegal side who now had the bit between their teeth as Ailbhe O’Donnell pointed at the other end.

With the game now well into injury time and the big travelling Glenavy support calling for the full-time whistle, the impressive Erika Ni hAnnaid got through for her side’s fourth goal to leave just two between the sides but that would be as close as they got.St. Joseph’s will now have home advantage as they host Rostrevor of Down in the quarter-final on the 28th of October and their management will be pleased by much of Sunday’s performance but will be hoping to eradicate those closing stages lapses in Donegal.

Naom Muire Na Rossa: 22 Leah McGarvey, 3 Hannah Gallagher, 4 Casey McGarvey, 5 Caoimhe Boyle, 6 Annie Rose Quinn, 7 Amy Hannah, 8 Roisin Rogers, 9 Sarah Doherty, 10 Katie O’Donnell, 11 Ailbhe O’Donnell, 12 Tara O’Donnell, 13 Caroline Sharkey, 14 Hollie McDaid, 15 Ciara Kavanagh, 28 Erika Ni hAnnaid

Glenavy: 1 Orlagh Mullan, 2 Mary McStravick, 3 Meabh Bradley, 4 Aideen McCambridge, 5 Orla McLeod, 6 Bronagh Forester, 7 Natasha O’Neill, 8 Ana Mulholland, 9 Anna Rice, 10 Aoibheann Monaghan, 11 Grainne McLaughlin, 12 Megan McGarry, 13 Michelle Gregory, 14 Ellen Morgan, 15 Cathy Scannell

by thesaffrongael

3-in-row for Moneyglass

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 39th 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)

by thesaffrongael

Glenavy claim the bragging rights with win over Aldergrove

WS DENNYSON IFC Final

Glenavy 4-12 Aldergrove 1-5

St. Joseph’s Glenavy claimed the bragging rights and gained revenge for their one point defeat in the final game of the Group stages to the same opposition when they recorded a big win over last year’s Junior Champions, St. James Aldergrove at Hannastown at the weekend.

It was the Crumlin girls who were first on the score card as Bronagh McGuinness pointed them ahead in the third minute but a goal in response from Grainne McLaughlin gave the Chaple Hill side a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.

Aldergrove replied with a point from Aoife Taggart but Megan McGarry struck with a second goal for Glenavy in the 7th minute to put them in a very strong position.

Grainne McLaughlin 0-2 and Aoife Taggart 0-2 exchanged further points to keep the gap at four with 14 minutes gone and Bronagh McGuinness briefly closed it to three before Glenavy hit three on the bounce to move six clear by the 19th minute.

Grainne McLaughlin, Ellen Morgan and Megan McGarry were the players on target and when McLaughlin followed with a goal in the 20th minute the Chapel Hill side looked in control.

McLaughlin’s goal would prove to be the final score of the opening half and it put Glenavy in a strong position when they led 3-6 to 0-4 and it was going to take something special from St. James if they were to overturn that lead.

Last year’s Junior champions needed a good start to the second half if they were to get back into contention and Caitlin Taggart got them off the mark with a point in the second minute.

It failed to get the required response from her colleagues however and Glenavy were not going to let this one slip as they came back with a point of their own and a goal from Ellen Morgan as they took almost total control.

Wing half, Natasha O’Neill got forward for a point and the splendid Grainne McLaughlin hit three on the bounce to put the contest out of reach with nine minutes remaining.

Aldergrove were still fighting hard and were rewarded with a goal from their best forward, Aoife Taggart in the 25th minute but it would prove to be their final score with player of the match, Grainne McLaughlin concluding the scoring with a late St. Joseph’s point.

A good win for the Chapel Hill side who put last week’s group defeat behind them to produce the goods when it mattered and in Grainne McLaughlin they had a real match winner.

When the disappointment of defeat starts to pass Aldergrove can take a lot of consolation from the fact that they reached this year’s decider after claiming the junior title last year and no doubt they will be back stronger next season.