Derry Championship Finals

Derry Championship Finals Glory ! Glory !

That is, at least for Ballinascreen and Ardtrea Ladies Gaelic Football teams who have won the County Derry Junior and Intermediate Club Championships respectively.

Watty Grahams Glen pitch hosted the 2008 Ladies Gaelic Football, County Club Championships on Sunday (10th Aug). The double bill final consisted of Ballnascreen v Desertmartin for the Junior title and Ardtrea v Faughanvale for the intermediate title. (Glen Ladies go through to Ulster as County Senior Club representatives, uncontested as the only senior team in the county).

The first Match of the day was the Derry Junior Championship final, Ballnascreen v Desertmartin. Referee: Terri McCallan. The game got of to a quick start with Ballinascreen scoring the 1st point in the second minute of the game. Screen were to add a further nine points and a goal in the first half to Desertmartins two points leaving the half time score Ballinascreen 2-10 to Desertmartin 0-2. Going into the second half 14 points behind, Desertmartin had an up hill battle, although reducing the scores conceded in the second half to a further goal and 3 points unfortunately they were unable to increase much on their own scoreline and only managed one more point leaving the final score Ballinascreen 3-13 to Desertmartin 0-3. Player of the match went to Ballinascreens No8. Kirsty McCullough. Also worth a special mention are Screens No7. Grace Kelly and No11. Natasha McEldowney, while Desertmartins No7. Leanne McCrystal also put in a fine performance, this is not to take away from the 100% effort put in by all the girls who played on the day and the effort and commitment by all squad members leading up to the finals.

The second game of the day was the Derry Intermediate Championship final between Ardtrea and Faughanvale. Referee Gavin Dixon. Again with both teams knowing what was at stake, the Championship title and a place in Ulster, both teams put their heart and soul into the game. It was Ardtrea who were to take the first score of the game with a point in the 7th minute from Shauna Vallely. With no goals scored from either team in the first half, it was Ardtrea that had the upper hand in the points tally, going in at half time with the score reading Ardtrea 0-7 Faughanvale 03. The second half got off to something special with an individual goal from Ardtreas Aine McCusker who caught the throw in to start the second half, had a solo run from the half way line, then put the ball in the back of the net for the first goal of the game, only to be followed a minute later by a point from Ardtreas Grace Conway. Faughanvale responded within minutes with a goal and point of their own to leave the scoreline Ardtrea 1-8 to Faughvale 1-4. As the points started to rack up it was Ardtrea who started to pull away and with the blow of the final whistle the final score read Ardtrea 1-15 to Faughanvale 1-6. Player of the match went to Faughanvales No6. Naomi McMullan, again deserving a special mention were. Ardtreas Aine McCusker, Grace Conway, Charlene Scullion and Faughanvales Claire Doherty.
Again praise should be given to all the girls who represented their clubs on the day.

Presentations were conducted by the Chair of the County Board for Ladies Gaelic Football, Mr John McEldowney, who congratulated both the winning teams and also praised the runners up for getting to the finals and their spirited performances on the day. Mr McEldowney also thanked the managers and mentors for their commitments to the teams and personally thank all those officials, helpers, members of the county board for their assistants with the finals and Glen Club for the use of their facilities for the day. He also wished the three teams: Glen (Senior) Artrea (Intermediate) and Ballnascreen (Junior) the best of luck and success in the Ulster Championships.

Rab McQuiston
nbsf@btconnect.com