Cavan Ladies U 16's Retain Ulster title

Double delight for Cavan Ladies as U16 and Minor teams claimed two Ulster titles last Saturday in Magheracloone.

The U16 B Final was the curtain raiser when Cavan Ladies took on Derry under the watchful eye of referee C.Lennon (Armagh). The Derry girls were under pressure from the start with two early goals from Philippa Watters and Michaela Fitzpatrick. Further scores saw Cavan take a 2-2 to no score lead within ten minutes. Derry found it hard to get out of their own half, with Cavan dominating the scoreline. Maria Brady and Ciara Finnegan teamed up at midfield breaking down any ball that Derry tried to feed into their forwards. This was reinforced with Aine Mc Govern of Shannon Gaels marshalling the full back line with captain Daly never too far away for support in working the ball out.

The Derry side battled hard against a flighty Cavan Ladies team which saw some great defending Derry full back Anna Frizzel. The Coleraine native along with Mc Cluskey and O’Kane from Dungiven showed real determination and fight. Their persistence paid off when Rhianna Curran opened Derry’s tally with a well taken goal. Derry started to gain momentum but this was to be short lived with Courtney Renihan instantly punishing them with another point at the other end of the field. Cavan added to their tally when a well taken free by Saoirse Maguire sent the ball into Ashling Gilsenan who made no mistake in splitting the posts.

Derry retaliated with full on attack again and Rhianna Curran pointing her second score of the game with 25 minutes gone. Cavan were quick to punish when a pass from Watters resulted in Renihan rattling the net. A collision of players saw Michaela Fitzpatrick being sent to the sin bin. Cavan finished the first half with fourteen players on a scoreline of Cavan 5-7 to Derry 1-1

The second half opened up with Cavan winning the throw in but suffered another setback with a second sin bin, this time it was Alison Mc Gearty of Castlerahan/ Denn who was sent to the line. With Cavan now playing with 13 players, Derry took advantage taking the first score of the second half. Watters in shooting form scored two successive goals and a point taking Cavans scoreline to 7-8 to 1-2. With a healthy lead Cavan made three substitutions giving Leanne Leddy, Ashling Gilsenan and Courtney Renihan a well-deserved break. In their place, Nicole Mc Sherry, Muireann Cusack and Megan Shiels took to the field. A resilient Derry side fought hard and didn’t make it easy for Cavan Ladies. Further substitutions saw Raminta Ivaskevicate and Carla Reilly replacing Emily Daly and Ciara Finnegan. Finnegan was pivotal in working the ball forward throughout the game. Cavan finished the game on an impressive 7-12 to 1-2 lead with further scores from Muireann Cusack and Katie Mulligan.

Cavan Ladies Team: Leah Gregory, Katie Mulligan, Aine Mc Govern, Eimear Bogue, Leanne Leddy, Emily Daly (capt.), Saoirse Maguire, Maria Brady, Ciara Finnegan, Courtney Renihan, Alison Mc Gearty , Michaela Fitzpatrick, Eimear Mc Enroe, Philippa Watters, Ashling Gilsenan

Subs: Megan O’Reilly , Clodagh Keenaghan, Rebecca Mc Louglin, Niamh O’Donoghue, Nicole Mc Sharry, Ocean Graham, Raminta Ivaskevicate, Roisin Plunkett, Shanise Fitzsimons, Muireann Cusack, Megan Shiels, Carla Reilly, Katelyn Kelly, Ciara Brady.

The All Ireland Semi Final is fixed for July 15^th when Cavan will take in the Connaught Champions.