A slick moving Gort na Mona proved too good for St. Joseph’s Glenavy in a good game of open football in the LGFA Division 1 on Monday evening.
The early exchanges were fairly even with Dembele Mills and Niamh Enright for the Gorts and Anna Mulholland and Megan Hannan for Glenavy exchanging points but when Ciaran Maguire edged Gort na Mona ahead in the 13th minute they began to take control.
Dembele Mills and Ciara Maguire added points and when Alyssa Davidson and Bronagh Crossin added two quick fire goals in the 21st and 24th minutes the girls from the Mona bye-pass were in complete control.
Blaithin Nic Cathail followed with her first point of the contest before Ellen Morgan gave the Chapel Hill girls some of hope when she finished to the net in the 28th minute.
That hope was soon dashed as Dembele Mills replied with a goal at the other end and Alyssa Davidson added a point to leave Gort na Mona 3-7 to 1-2 ahead at the break and good value for their lead.
Ellen Morgan briefly reduced the gap with a point for St. Joseph’s on the restart but Blaithin NicCathail replied for Gort na Mona and Broghan Crossin added a good goal to move the Gorts 14 points ahead with only five minutes of the new half gone.
Kella McAllister replied for the Chapel Hill side with a point but Niamh Enright and Blaithin NicCathail responded with points for the visitors before Eva Ramsey got through for Gleavy’s second goal in the 18th minute.
It gave St. Joseph’s a boost going down the home straight and they actually outscored their opponent during the final quarter while never looking like getting back into contention.
Ana Mulholland 0-2, Megan Hannan, Carla Scannell and Keela McAllister added points for the girls in orange while Blithin NicCathail from 3 long range frees and Ciara Maguire saw Gort na Mona home comfortably.
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All Saints and Cargin played out a well contested game of ladies football on Sunday evening at Quinn Park with the home side running out eventual winners on a score-line of 5-09 to 2-07 to leave them sitting at the summit of the second division. Both teams will meet each other in their opening championship group fixture and although both teams were missing key players for this game, if the standard of play was anything to go by then the opening round robin game will be something to look forward to. The All Saints ladies began the game well playing some good attacking football and should have been well in front from the off only for some wayward finishing, leaving behind some three or four goal opportunities. Keely O’Mullan, Anna O’Kane, Sinead McLaughlin, Roisin Ward and Helena O’Dornan all linking up play well early on. For all the attacking play the Saints ladies had it was Cargin who got the first score of the game, a fine effort by Orlaith Jonston.
Cargin started to get more and more in to the game after the first ten leading to a good competitive period of football. The All Saints defensive rearguard of Katie Connolly, Ella McLaughlin, Niamh McMahon, Maria Mitchell, Cliodhna Metrustry and Orla Magill held a strong resolute line as Cargin continued to attack, with some nice passages of skilful play. Marnie O’Neill in the Saints net was sound throughout with good handling and her football know how was evident in her precise kick outs. The All saints girls took a firm grip on the game reeling off some fine team scores with some great flowing passages of play. Sianeese Maybin, Anna O’Kane, and Keely O’Mullan all finished some good moves to the net and a couple of points for good measure from O’Mulllan and A O’Kane , which were all ably supported and assisted by Brianna Cushenan, Méabh O’Kane and Helena O’Dornan. Orlaith Jonston was able to take a good goal from a long range free as Cargin got more invested in the game, although it was the All saints ladies who went in at the short whistle with a bit to spare but still a lot to do to see out the game. The Second half saw a real end to end competitive game of football with both sides playing a fast and expansive game.
The scores were still unable to match the good approach play of both teams but eventually things began to click for the two teams, Cargin started taking a few chances and hit some nice long range scores from McFadden, Jonston, McAuley and Craig whilst for All Saints Caitlin Kelly and Orla Lemon got in on the act with 1-03 between them after being introduced from early on. Both girls made a good impact on the game with Kelly finishing a lovely move started in the AS full back line and moved nicely up the pitch before finishing assuredly. As the game entered its final stages both teams kept attacking and providing both sets of spectators with plenty to appreciate. Méabh O’Kane, Sianeese Maybin and Roisin Ward all chipping in with some nice scores to see the game out. As Sean Toal, who had ably officiated throughout the evening, sounded the final whistle the All Saints ladies finished on the winning end but come the championship opener with both teams at their full quotas this game could go either way.
All Saints team and scorers: Marnie O’Neill, Maria Mitchell, Niamh McMahon, Cliodhna Metrustry, Ella McLaughlin, Katie Connolly, Orla Magill, Roisin Ward (0-01), Sinead McLaughlin, Méabh O’Kane (0-01), Anna O’Kane (1-01),Keely O’Mullan (1-02), Sianeese Maybin (2-02), Helena O’Dornan, Brianna Lee Cushenan Replacements: Caitlin Kelly (1-00) for Sinead McLaughlin Orla Lemon (0-02) for Brianna Lee Cushenan Aine Kearney for Orla Magill Ciara Connon for Maria Mitchell Rachel Dorrity for Méabh O’Kane Kate Hasson for Cliodhna Metrustry
Cargin team and scorers: Roise Murray, Tania Lynn, Caoimhe Scullion, Aela McCann, Sinead Quinn, Sally Scullion, Aoife Neeson, Enya Neeson, Annie Convery, Gemma McAuley (0-01), Roisin Quinn (0-01), Niamh Laverty, Catherine McFadden (1-02), Orlaith Jonston (1-01), Cathy Craig (0-02) Replacements: Niamh Devine for Niamh Laverty Aoife O’Boyle for Tanya Lynn Erin Neeson for Sinead Quinn
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Antrim senior ladies got their all Ireland campaign off to the perfect start when they travelled to Longford on Sunday and returned home with a resounding 4-15 to 0-5 victory… this was an absolute superb performance from the Antrim girls from first to last whistle.
Antrim went on the attack straight from the throw in and Lara Dahunsi popped over their first point of the day which was quickly followed by Maria Oneill, Theresa Mellon, Bronagh Devlin and Ana Mulholland all raising white flags.
Longford then hit back with two of their own but after some fantastic interchanging of passes between the Antrim forwards Maria O’Neill hammered the ball to the net. Antrim then turned over the Longford kickout and Nicole Jones broke clear to raise her first green flag of the day.
The Antrim girls were totally dominant at this stage and further one pointers from Mellon and O’Neill kept them in full control.
At this stage Antrim had the bit between their teeth and O’Neill and Jones both got their second goals of the day after some fantastic slick football from the Antrim girls.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Ana Mulholland hitting an early point and this was followed by scores from Dahunsi, Mellon, Jones and O’Neill.
Carla McKenna then broke clear and unselfishly led the ball off to O’Neill who raised another white flag.
Gemma McGroarty then sent Luisne Adams through for a superb point and the final score of the day came from Debbie Boyd who after rounding two defenders calmly slotted over the bar.
Antrim managers Micky and Chris were delighted with the team performance.
“Our girls played some fantastic football today. Our work-rate and desire to win today was very evident.. the girls were far from happy with their performance in the Ulster final and knew they would have to put in a much better performance to get the right result today …
We now play London on Saturday 14th June at Randalstown with a 1pm start and will hope to continue from where we left of today.
Great credit to every one of our girls today for a superb performance”
A fine display of finishing by St. James’ Nicole Jones led her side to a comprehensive victory over neighbours Glenavy in division 1 of the LGFA All County League at Chapel Hill on Monday night.
The Aldergrove mid-fielder would finish with 3-3 as their side proved too good for their neighbours and deadly rivals to claim the early season bragging rights.
The visitors opened at a fast pace and were 2-3 to 0-0 up after 7 minutes with their goals coming from Meabh Rooney and Nicole Jones and Rooney, Jones and Caitlin Taggart their point scorers.
Helen Morgan finally got the home side off the mark from a pointed free and Lydia Grant added another but it provided only temporary respite as Nicole Jones pointed at the other end before firing home her side’s third goal in the 12th minute.
Megan McGarry for Glenavy and Orla Rooney for the Crumlin side exchanged further points before St. Josephs sent over three on the bounce through Helen Morgan, Bronagh Forester and Keela McAlister as the home side came more into the game.
Aoife Taggart replied from distance with 20 minutes on the clock but Glenavy were starting to grow in confidence and Helen Morgan 0-2 and Megan Hanna fired over points that sandwiched a goal from Keela McAlister.
The final point of the half fell the way of Orla Rooney for St. James who led 3-7 to 1-9 at the break but at this stage it still looked anybody’s game.
HT 3-7 TO 1-9
Orla Mullin in the Glenavy goals pulled off a fine fingertip save to deny the visitors on the restart and when Helen Morgan pointed a free in the second minute, the Aldergrove lead had been reduced to three points.
It would be as close as the Chapel Hill girls got however as St. James came back with a vengeance with Caitlin Taggart 0-2 and Aoife Taggart pointing before Katie McArt got on the end of a well-constructed build up to fire home her side’s fourth goal.
That was in the 11th minute and a minute later Nicole Jones put the game well and truly out of reach with her third major of the evening.
Aoife Taggart would add a sixth goal for the visitors in injury time and in between the team in Red would add to their ever increasing points tally with Caitlin Taggart, Aoife Taggart, Nicole Jones and Orla Rooney all to the fore.
Keela Taggart replied with a point and Glenavy’s best player, Helen Morgan converted a late penalty award but by that time the points had been secured by a slick moving St. James.
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St Mary’s Primary School are the South West Antrim Allianz Ireland 7 aside LGFA winners for 2025 after navigating their way through an excellent days football at All Saints GAC.
Ladies football is thriving in Portglenone, the girls from the area now have the opportunity to represent the Casements club and this was backed up by the performance of the girls on the day. They negotiated their way through the group stages with relative ease to reach the semi finals.
There they met Mount St Michael’s from Randalstown, whilst the other semi final saw St Joseph’s Crumlin and Ballymacrickett face off in a local Derby. This game saw Ballymacrickett emerge victorious.
The final was an excellent advertisement for the game in the area with great skill, determination and teamwork in evidence. It resulted in victory for St Mary’s and they will progress to the county final later this year.
The shield competition saw St Brigid’s Ballymena continue their recent successful spell, defeating Moneynick in another excellent game. Well done to them.
Participating teams were Ballymacrickett, Brigid’s Ballymena, Creggan, St Mary’s Portglenone, Mount St Michael’s Randalstown, St Colmcille’s Ballymena, St Comgall’s Antrim, St Joseph’s Crumlin, Mary Queen of Peace, Millquarter and Moneynick.
Well done to all the girls involved and to the organisers for a wonderful day’s football.
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