St Macartans to meet surprise packets Glenelly in senior showdown
After an exciting weekend of semi-final action, the line-up for this year's Tyrone Ladies championship finals are all but completed, with no shortage of thrills and surprises along the way.
Pride of place must go to Glenelly, who qualified for the Senior Championship final for the very first time as they saw off a fancied Aodh Ruadh in their semi-final clash. Their opponents in the decider will be St Macartans, who followed up their win over Carrickmore at the quarter-final stage with an equally convincing victory over Errigal Ciaran in their semi-final meeting.
It's a first Intermediate final too for Kileeshil, their superb win over Moy last weekend booking their ticket to a final showdown against either Clann na nGael or Ardboe, the Loughshore side having easily disposed of Beragh in their quarter-final replay.
In the junior it's an exciting local derby between Omagh St Enda's and Cappagh. There will be more than just pride at stake as the rivals cross swords in the August decider, with a place in the Intermediate grade awaiting the winners.
Senior Championship Semi-Finals
Glenelly 1-13
Aodh Ruadh 0-14
(after extra-time)
Glenelly made history by reaching their first senior final after a gruelling encounter against Aodh Ruadh which went to extra time.
It was the Glenelly girls who were the quickest out of the blocks racing into a 1-5 lead after 15 minutes with points coming from Fiona Marie Kearney, Eva Hicks and Aisling O'Kane. Glenelly's goal came when a long range effort by Anna Hicks was saved on the line by Aodh Ruadh's Martina Dillon who unfortunately could not recover possession, and Mary Carmel Kearney was on hand to find the back of the net.
The game appeared one sided as Glenelly's defence stood strong but a poor clearance allowed Rachel Molloy to pop up and get Aodh Ruadh on the scoreboard. Further points from Niamh McKernan helped build their confidence and minutes from half time only a crucial interception by Glenelly full back Orla Harkin prevented Aodh Ruadh adding to their score line. Glenelly led 1-5 to 0-3 at half time.
After Carol McGlinchey narrowed the gap with an Aodh Ruadh point it was Glenelly through O'Kane who pushed forward combining with her inside forward line to score and put full-forward Eva Hicks through to give Glenelly a four point lead.
Aodh Ruadh's Grace Parks was sin binned with nine minutes of normal time remaining which weakened Dungannon as Fiona Marie Kearney and Hicks added further points. Minutes later, Glenelly's Patricia Anne Kearney was sent to the sin bin levelling up the numbers. A controversial free minutes into stoppage time against O'Hagan saw Aodh Ruadh save themselves from defeat and push the match into extra time with the game tied at 1-9 to 0-12.
It was Aodh Ruadh's McKernan who pushed her side ahead with a fine score from play before O'Kane was taken down to allow Kearney to bring the sides level. Further fouls on Kearney on the edge of the square allowed O'Kane to edge Glenelly ahead.
After great work from Glenelly full back Orla Harkin that broke down a dangerous Aodh Ruadh attack, a long ball was played to O'Kane who brilliantly linked up with Patricia Morris to put Glenelly further ahead.
Aodh Ruadh's McKernan narrowed the lead to a point from a free before a more spirited Glenelly worked hard to get the ball to Morris who was brought down to allow Kearney to convert the free which was to prove to be the last score of the day as Glenelly won through with two points to spare.
St Macartans
3-7 E Ciaran 0-8
Title favourites St Macartans blasted their way into the final courtesy of an eight point win over Errigal Ciaran.
In truth, the game was all but over by half-time with the Clogher Valley outfit having forged a 1-6 to 0-3 lead. Cathy Donnelly was the star for Macartans with four first-half points, with Niamh McKenna finding the net in the eighth minute and further points from Katrina McQuaid and livewire Joline Donnelly. Errigal's response was three points from Sarah Connolly, who finished with all but one of her side's scores.
The game was sealed in the first minute of the second half as Cathy Donnelly found the net to open up a nine point lead, a margin which Errigal were never going to recover from. Joline Donnelly fired over two further points before the final whistle. Macartans kicked six wides in the second half, but it didn't matter as they went on to a comfortable win.
Intermediate Championship Semi-Finals
Cill Iseal 2-14
Moy 0-05
This was a much closer contest than the final scoreline would suggest with Cill Iseal's clinical finishing the main difference between the teams.
The Moy girls will rue a series of missed scoring opportunities which would certainly have left things a lot tighter at half-time and gave them more to play for in the second period. Despite striking nine first half wides and unlucky not to have scored at least two goals, An Mhaigh were only 0-3 to 1-3 behind five minutes before the break.However, a late scoring burst by Cill Iseal, including a second goal on the stroke of half-time, saw them establish a clear ten point lead (2-7 to 0-3) at the interval.
Although Maeve McKearney opened the scoring for Moy within three minutes of the restart, it was the ladies of Killeeshil who killed the game off as a contest with a string of well taken points in the third quarter. To their credit, Dee Lavery and Aidan McAleese's team kept battling to the final whistle but their only reward was a late point from young substitute Eimear Swail.
Junior Championship Semi-Finals
Cappagh 2-17
Donaghmore 2-08
Greencastle was the venue as Donaghmore took the lead early on in this encounter, but it wasn't long until the Cappagh girls got into their rhythm with some great scores from half-forward Teri McCusker who in total scored five points on the night.
Goals in the first half by midfielder Tracy Wallace and Corner forward Stephanie McGinn gave Cappagh a 2-07 to 0-05 lead at the break. Cappagh's inspirational captain Clodagh Poyntz took the game by the scruff of the neck at the start of the second half with a great exhibition of scores and she finished with an incredible 11 points to her name.
Both teams were momentarily reduced to 14 players in the second half when two yellow card cautions merited two 10 minute stints in the sin-bin for each player. During this period Donaghmore scored a goal from the penalty spot which reduced Cappagh's lead which was then reduced further by a second Donaghmore goal in quick succession.
However this was the closest Donaghmore were to come as when needed the Cappagh forwards came up trumps with some fine scores to settle any nerves there may have been to finish the game on a score line of 2-17 to 2-08.
Aghyaran 1-02
St Endas 2-04
A superb second-half defensive display, holding Aghyaran scoreless, saw St Enda's progress to the Junior final by double scores against their north Tyrone opponents.
Both teams started well and were evenly matched, and at half time the score was a draw at 1-2 a piece with Hayley Ballard scoring Omagh's goal. Defences were on top throughout the second half, but with less than ten minutes to go Omagh were awarded a penalty. With the Aghyaran goalkeeper sin binned, Kellie Meehan had the job of looking after the goals. After missing a penalty, Omagh hit the front with Terri McCullagh scoring a brilliant goal and Aghyaran did not recover. A further two points before the final whistle ensured that it would be St Enda's who would be taking their place in the junior decider.
Junior B Championship Semi-Finals
Drumragh progressed to the final of the Junior B Championship after securing a 3-16 to 3-7 win over Coalisland.
Neamh Woods' shot found the back of the Coalisland net with just 30 seconds played, and they continued their dominance throughout the first half, but could not make it count on the scoreboard as they led by 1-4 to 1-2 at the break. Neamh Woods settled her side with another marvellous point, and Drumragh eased further ahead with scores from Oonagh McMacken, Amy Cox and Clodagh Loughran. Coalisland came back to within three points but Drumragh dug deep and eventually ran out comfortable winners.
Their opponents in the decider will be Carrickmore 'B' who produced a barnstorming display to see off the challenge of Rock by 5-21 to 0-01.
