The Tyrone Ladies championships have been completed with wins for St Macartans, Ardboe and Coalisland. The teams will now represent Tyrone in the Ulster club series.
Patrick Fahy and co Solicitors Senior Football Final
St Macartan’s 2-16
Killeeshil St Mary’s 1-4
St Macartans, eased to an eighth Tyrone senior championship with a complete performance at Killyclogher on Saturday, Killeeshil, playing in a first senior decider rarely threatened, a late penalty scored by Louise Kelly adding some gloss to the final tally as the Macs remain unbeaten in 2016.
A league and championship double remains within their grasp too , they are due to play Aodh Ruadh in that decider, their Tyrone championship journey that ended at the weekend of course began with a big win over the Dungannon side.
Inspired by real stalwarts of the ladies game the St Macartan’s were dominant all over the park, a determined air of confidence was evident as they racked up a big score although they looked nervous early on and hit some poor wides.
Killeeshil’s resistance had been brave, evident more so in the first half, but they could just not live with the champions as they upped the tempo, in a powerhouse second half punctuated with two goals in a minute that all but ended this as a contest. This was as an effective performance from the Macs , one which the large crowd had expected, Cathy Donnelly tagged on 1-5, championship top scorer Chloe McCaffrey increased her tally with 1-4 , five other players were also on the Macs scoresheet, it could have been more but for some heroics from St Mary’s keeper Cathy Donaghy .
There was seven points between the sides at half time , St Macartan’s led 9-2, it should have been a bigger margin but the Macs not firing well in the opening quarter, they failed to finish attacks with St Mary’s Michelle Monaghan and Clare Jordan doubling up with Ursuala McGee to break down several Macs forays up front.
St Mac’s led 0-4 to 0-2 as the game turned to the seventeenth minute, Chloe McCaffrey opened her account almost from the throw in, a long ball from Colleen McQuaid , collected and pointed. Grainne Rafferty levelled although a great Maura McMenamin run was rewarded with a fine score and a save by Neamh McKenna after a fine effort from veteran Catriona McGahan saw the Macs break and Cathy Donnelly finished over the bar thanks to the hand of St Mary’s custodian Donaghy. Donnelly adding another point to settle the nerves.
Macartan’s were guilty too of some poor finishing, racking up eight wides, yet they never looked under pressure, Killeeshil tried to break the resilience of Marie Treanor and Maria Donnelly, it was a thankless task, Lynda Donnelly swept up everything and Slaine McCarroll was superb, a constant thorn in the side of Killeeshil.
Lisa Marie Skeffington turned over a free for the St Mary’s but that was as good as it got in this opening half for them, the Macartan’s upped the tempo, became more assured with the ball and broke through a decent St Mary’s defence more and more often. Cathy Donnelly 0-2, Paula Donnelly, Colleen McQuaid and a fine score from Shauna McGirr after a lovely one two with Joline Donnely put them in control.
Macartans took the game to St Mary’s after the restart. Chloe McCaffrey was on hand with a brace of points in the opening minutes. Skeffington responded with a close range free, their challenge was dead and buried by the forty second minutes. McCaffrey went close only for Donaghy to make a great save, Joline Donnelly landed a free from the right and then came the goals, two on the bounce, Cathy Donnelly ran through for a trademark finish, and then McCaffrey was on the spot when Joline Donnelly’s effort was well saved, the rebound was slammed home.
A late Killeeshil penalty after Chloe Collins was fouled by St Mac’s keeper McKenna, the challenge resulting in a yellow card for the keeper, was smashed home by Louise Kelly in the closing stages and a Skeffington point added only a little gloss on the scoreline. Joline Donnelly 0-2, Chloe McCaffrey and Cathy Donnelly wrapping up the Macartan’s tally, fitting perhaps it ended 2-16 as they were crowned 2016 champions.
A quality performance from the now eight time champions, they dominated in all sectors, Killeeshil keeper Cathy Donaghy made a host of superb saves to prevent her team from a thumping and despite Monaghan, Emma Mulgrew and Skeffington’s best efforts they were well beaten in the end, a learning curve perhaps for them while Ryan McMenamin and his Macartans side are delighted to once more have the Jarlath Kerr cup with Ulster now the focus, they will face Down champions Bredagh in what promises to be an interesting tie.
Fahy and Co Solicitors Tyrone Intermediate football final
Ardboe O Donavan Rossa 2-11
Dromore St Dympnas 1-13
Ardboe’s self belief that saw them over the line in a pulsating championship semi-final replay earlier this year was again evident at Greencastle on Saturday as they finally clinched a championship title, Louise Daly’s side edged out Dromore but they were forced to the pin of their collars in the latter stages after a penalty from Louise McCann pulled the St Dympna’s right back into the contest. Ailish Devlin and Hannah Lydon scored two firts half goals for the Rossas.
Dromore carved out several clear cut chances in the final ten minutes but as Emma Smyth continued to tag on scores they could just not final a crucial three pointer, it was nerve jangling stuff but credit to Ardboe they were composed and even when they looked compromised they stood firm, Karen Quinn and Ailish Devlin particularly impressive in the closing stages.
Patrick Fahy and Co Solicitors Junior Football championship
Coalisland Fianna 2-7
Mna Na Deirge 1-9
Coalisland literally snatched the Tyrone junior title frim under the noses of Castlderg at Killyclogher on Saturday. The Derg side trailed by five points after fifteen minutes, turned that around and led by four with five minutes of normal time left, only to concede a late Una Robinson goal to lose by one, A hugely entertaining game played on a perfect sod in front of a massive crowd.
The game provided that crowd with a pulsating end to end contest, some fine scores and quality play it was sad there had to be a loser after such a good battle. ,Coalisland were more effective with the ball they had as Castlederg lacked a clinical punch at the other end, that was crucial, Castlederg can have little complaint with that.
Castlederg started bright enough but they trailed by two at the break, Laura McSorley landed an early point for the Reds although an opportune Nicole Murphy goal six minutes in put the Fianna in the box seat. Murphy collected on the right and from twenty five metres dropped the ball over goalkeeper Lena Toland. Castlederg enjoyed plenty of the ball but were in the main wasteful with the possession, reliant on Shannon Lynch and Aimee Arnold to carve out openings, the forwards chances were limited by a solid Coalisland defence, Aisling McKernan in top form at full back with veteran Lynette McShane and Niamh McKernan also rallying back time and time again.
Marisa Lynch was forced off injured just shy of the quarter hour mark, a far from 100% fit Roisin Devlin drafted in as Coalisland built a head of steam, Caiomhe Quinn and a quick double from Emma Cummimgs put them five ahead.
The Derg side responded well, Laura McSorley, and Leah Lynch points kept them in the tie, they were reduced to fourteen players though when Bridget Devine was yellow carded and were on the receiving end of a stunning point from the “Island”, Mc Kernan finishing off a great move involving five players.
Mc Sorley and Shannon Lynch points in the closing stages left it a two point game, Lynch and Leah Lynch points just after the break levelled things yet this was a purple patch for Coalisland. Maura McClures introduction added some bite up front and they carved out a raft of chances, Corr, Quinn and Cummings moved the ball well although four wide’s on the bounce was frustrating for them and after that initial period of pressure, Castlederg weathered the onslaught and took the lead.
Forty two minutes into the tie Leah Lynch landed a fine point before a well worked move set up Laura McSorley for a goal. Emma Laird took the ball through for Caoimhe Brogan who in turn sent McSorley in and she rolled the ball home to give them a four point lead.
McSorley went close indeed for a second goal moments later, Laura Kelly made a super stop and Coalisland pulled back a point when Mc Kernan put Corr in for the score, their joy short lived as influential attacker Nicole Murphy was yellow carded. The Fianna were under pressure, Toland made another save as they clung on, McShane, the McKernan’s and Laura Campbell turned in some shift to keep the East Tyrone side with a foothold.
Leah Lynch latched on a good score for the Derg and with seven minutes left there was four points between the teams. It was tense going into the final minutes and when McClure and talisman McShane points closed the gap to two the scene was set for a dramatic finale.
Nicole Murphy returned to the fray after her yellow card, her first touch saw her collect the ball deep inside her own half, she stormed through on a forty metre run, combining then with McClure who stubbornly held off three defenders before laying off to McKernan her telling pass put Robinson in for the goal, she finished well , no way back for Castlederg with time up , the title on it;s way to East Tyrone.
The Fianna side now face Aldergrove of Antrim in the Ulster chapionship and they certainly have the quality to follow in the footsteps of Omagh, Sperrin Og and Dromore and clinch that Ulster crown.
By Paddy Mon 19th Sep
