Advantage Monaghan and Armagh after senior semi finals

Its advantage Monaghan and Armagh after yesterday’s Ulster
senior semi finals

Its advantage Monaghan and Armagh after yesterday’s Ulster senior
semi finals first leg games. A goal each from Mc Nally sisters
Grainne and Therese helped Monaghan to a seven point win over
Down at Downpatrick. The Mourne girls had the brighter start and
led by two Michaela Downey points after eight minutes. Monaghan
drew level through Niamh Kindlon and Hazel Kingham and then went
ahead for the first time when debutant Kingham fired over in the
24th minute. Downey rounded of a great personal half firing over
her third point to leave the sides level at the break. Monaghan
had a dram start in the second half when wing back Grainne Mc
Nally found the net with their first attack. Kindlon extended
the lead with another fine point but Michaela Downey kept the
Mounre girls in touch with another couple of points. Monaghan
showed all their experience in the final quarter hitting 1-4,
while all Down could manage was a couple of late points. The second
goal came from Therese Mc Nally after some great work by Monaghan’s
best player Niamh Kindlon. The Farney County also had late scare
as Downey’s cracking shot came back of the woodwork. The final
score was 2-8 to 0-7 and next weeks second semi is by no means
a formality.

Scorers – Monaghan N.Kindlon 0-4, H. Kingham 0-4, G. Mc Nally
1-0, T. Mc Nally 1-0 Down – M. Downey 0-5, E. Mc Conville 0-1
and P. Mc Kibbern 0-1

All Ireland junior champions Armagh were pushed all the way by
Tyrone in the other semi final. The Red Hand County despite having
two players sinned binned late on and missing a glorious goal
chance in the final minute only lost by four points and will feel
confident of overturning the deficit next week. The sides were
level at four points each after the first quarter but then Armagh
had a five minute purple patch and scores by Mags Mc Alinden,
Bronagh O Donnell, Maria O Donnell and Aileen Matthews helped
them into a four point lead. Cathy Donnelly scored a great goal
for Tyrone in the 22nd minute but one again Armagh finished the
half strongly and went in at the break leading 0-12 to 1-5. Two
early points from Sarah Connolly and Gemma Begley brought the
deficit down to two points but then Tyrone had their two players
sin binned and any chance they had of closing the gap was lost.
Armagh went on to win 0-15 to 1-8.

Scorers – Armagh – A.Matthews 0-4, C.O Hanlon 0-3, M. Mc Alinden
0-3, B. O Donnell 0-2, M.O Donnell 0-1, A. O Donnell 0-1 Tyrone
– S. Connolly 0-4, C. Donnelly 1-1 and G. Begley 0-3.

In the junior semi finals Cavan had a massive 9-16 to 1-6 win
Antrim. Full forward Bronagh Sherdian scored a hatrick. The other
semi final was a lot closer. Fermanagh had just four points to
spare over Monaghan’s B team 1-12 to 1-8 and thus setting up a
very interesting return leg next week.

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for publication – contact Paul swift at pswift5@eircom.net or
0035386 1703640