Ardboe Win Tyrone Intermediate Title

LADIES FOOTBALL

WJ DOLAN TYRONE INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL FINAL

PADDY HUNTER

 

Ardboe……..2-8

Sperrin Og….1-4

After a week best forgotten by all at Ardboe O’Donavan Rossas, there was something to smile about on Saturday as the club progressed to senior football in Tyrone by virtue of a seven point victory over Sperrin Og.

Twelve months ago they claimed the Junior Championship title, Now Ardboe look forward to Senior football next season courtesy of back-to-back promotions, A strong opening spell laid the foundation for Ardboe’s victory , they went  1-3 to 0-0 ahead while Sperrin Og suffered frustration after frustration. Captain Eimear Teague, playing with a knee injury, lined out at centre-half-back for the Greencastle girls, but following a number of heavy knocks she was forced to withdraw from proceedings midway through the first period, and was obviously a huge psychological blow for the Sperrin Og girls to watch the quality captain leave the fray so early on.

. At the other end of the pitch, Sperrin Og simply could not find the target and did not seem to come to terms with the breeze aiding them, kicking up on a dozen wides in the opening half.

Sperrin Og could have taken an early lead when a high ball into the square left full-forward Kim McCullagh jumping against Ardboe goalkeeper Sinead McVey. Instead of trying to catch the ball, McCullagh cleverly palmed the ball back over her head and over the advancing ‘keeper, but with the ball destined for the back of the Ardboe net full-back Karen Quinn got back to clear off the line.

Ardboe Full-forward Kerry Graham, exceptional throughout, pulling all the strings up front for her side, played a fantastic ball through to Maeve Wylie who slotted home to the Greencastle net. A point soon followed, and despite Sperrin Og’s best efforts they could not break through an exceptionally tight Ardboe defence.

Later in the half Graham was once again the director of operations as she sent wing-forward Madonna Ryan through on goal, whose high shot on goal was turned over the bar by Sperrin Og ‘keeper Ashlinn McKenna, and Ryan again pointed to make it 1-3 to 0-0.

Sperrin Og had a good chance to hit back before the break when the ball came through to corner-forward Amy McCullagh, but county minor star  McVey was on hand to pull off a great save and the ball was cleared.

Sperrin Og began the second half in determined fashion as expected.  Kim McCullagh landed a long range point for her sides first score of the day, but Ardboe hit straight back with a Britta Quinn point, Graham once again the provider. Amy McCullagh pointed for Sperrin Og, but Ardboe once again cancelled out the score with a point of their own from centre-forward Maggie-Anne Conway, who opted to point when there was possibly a goal chance with options around her.

Ardboe centre-forward Conway finished a great run with a sweet point. Graham then pointed from wide on the wing with the outside of her right boot, before McCullagh again pointed from a free in reply for Sperrin Og.

A somewhat dubious free against a Sperrin Og player saw Ardboe quickly turn defence into attack as they pushed forward at speed, corner-forward Siobhan O’Hagan feeding Maeve Wylie to fire to the net and make it 2-7 to 0-3.

Substitute Louise McDermott pointed for Sperrin Og almost from the end line, before O’Hagan responded with a pointed free for Ardboe.

Sperrin Og had a prime goal chance when full-forward Kim McCullagh was sandwiched between two players, and referee Tommy McSorley immediately signalled for a penalty. However, her weak shot was saved by Ardboe ‘keeper Sinead McVey and cleared from danger.

Maureen Teague, who was arguably Sperrin Og’s best performer on the day, was desperately unlucky as her shot across the ‘keeper came rattling back off the crossbar and out, with McCullagh picking up a knee injury in the process to force her withdrawal.

Indeed, with the game in injury time, it was Teague’s 20 metre free-kick which sailed in low to the edge of the square to Louise McDermott, who turned and shot low to the corner of the Ardboe net despite the best efforts of McVey.

2-8 t0 1-4 to Ardboe and at last they had something to smile about on the Loughshore, heartbreak though for Teague and Sperrin Og.

Scorers…

Ardboe: Maeve Wylie 2-0, Madonna Ryan 0-2, Maggie Anne Conway 0-2, Kerry Graham 0-2, Britta Quinn 0-1, Siobhan O’Hagan 0-1 (free)

Sperrin Og: Louise McDermott 1-1, Kim McCullagh 0-2 (2 frees), Amy McCullagh 0-1.

…

Ardboe: Sinead McVey, Karen Quinn (Jnr), Karen Quinn (Snr), Ciara Rocks, Carolyn Bell, Ailish Devlin, Laura Heron, Rachel McConville, Jennifer McConville, Madonna Ryan, Maggie-Anne Conway, Britta Quinn, Maeve Wylie, Kerry Graham, Siobhan O’Hagan.

Subs used: Michelle Muldoon for Rachel McConville, Ciara Curran for Madonna Ryan, Maria Quinn for Carolyn Bell.

Sperrin Og: Aislinn McKenna, Karen Teague, Maggie Gallagher, Cathy Teague, Elisha McDermott, Eimear Teague, Ellen Clarke, Shauneen Ferrity, Laura-Lee McCullagh, Maureen Teague, Briege Beggs, Sarah Potter, Amy McCullagh, Kim McCullagh, Eva Clarke.

Subs used: Nicola Glass for Eimear Teague, Bronagh Warnock for Karen Teague, Louise McDermott for Sarah Potter, Anita McDermott for Amy McCullagh

Referee: Tommy McSorley (Drumragh)