Don Smith's Bar Cootehill Ladies Championship Final

Don
Smith’s Bar Cootehill Ladies Senior Club Championship
Final

Lurgan
V Erne Valley

On
Saturday afternoon next in Kingspan Breffni
Park a new senior champion will be crowned as
Lurgan and Erne Valley go head to head in what
promises to be an intriguing contest. Both teams
have been knocking on the door for the last
two years and after reaching the final no one
will want to loose and a titanic struggle is
anticipated. The wealth of talent and skill
on display will surely attract a large crowd
of supporters.

Lurgan
will enter the final slightly tipped as favorites
after their defeat of the champions for the
last two years, Knockbride. Lurgan received
the perfect morale boost when they picked up
the division one 9-a-side title recently and
will be hoping to add the blue ribbon title
to this year’s trophy chest. In defense the
backbone of the Lurgan team is provided by two
stalwarts and current county players – sisters
Laura Hanratty and Ann Lynch (nee Hanratty)
who got married this year. Along with Edel Gaffney,
the in-form Claire Carpenter and the young Fiona
Murphy they will be hoping to close down any
Erne Valley attacks. Clara Reilly proved just
what a game winner she can be when she gracefully
scored the winning point in the semi final Ace
free taker Philly McDermott will be hoping to
be in converting form next Saturday. Lurgan
will welcome back Michelle Cole who took a year
out to travel and after missing last years campaign,
the former county star will be hoping to make
her presence felt on the field. Full forward
Nicola O’Dwyer scored two goals against Knockbride
and the tall lady is sure to keep the Erne Valley
backs busy. The two Brady girls Ciara and Venessa,
pose a major threat to any team. The work-rate
of these two players is phenomenal as both are
probably the best ball getters in the county
at present.

Erne
Valley will be hoping to overturn last years
narrow defeat by Knockbride in the final and
walk away with the cup this year. The Mullahoran/Gowna
amalgamation provides a formidable force for
Lurgan and with equally as good as players will
be confident of victory on Saturday afternoon.
In their semi final against Lacken players like
Niamh Reilly and Lisa Reilly excelled in the
backs whilst in the middle of the field Erne
Valley’s foothold in the final will depend greatly
on county players Patricia Lynch and Emer O’
Reilly. Aisling Harton, Julie Ann Sheridan,
Claire McPhillips and Niamh Brennan will have
to be at their best if they are to stop any
Lurgan attacks. In the semi final Paula Fitzpatrick
was the main scorer for Erne Valley but interestingly
enough all the forwards scored in that game.
The vastly experienced Breda Smith showed her
speed and tenacity and was greatly helped by
Laura Pearson and Jenny Fitzpatrick. The full
forward line is completed with Aine Brady and
Julie Ann Brady.

Cavan
Cabs ladies Junior Championship Final

This
weekend sees the final of the ladies junior
championship between Templeport and Killinkere.
Both teams have been building at underage in
recent years and the result’s of all their labor
has seen them reach the final with wins over
some big names. Strong favorites Templeport
disposed of Gowna in the semi final after an
hour of frantic football to win by two points.
They also had wins over Cuchulains and Killygarry
in the opening rounds. Off course the main threat
comes from the Doonan sisters Aisling and Clodagh,
Sharon Cassidy and Karen Baxter. Re Established
in 1995 by Katie Donohoe, Margaret McDermott
and Adrian McGovern. Under the guidance of Fr
Tom McKiernan and Adrian they have had several
underage successes but most notably the D3 league
final win last year. The panel consists of players
from Corlough, Swanlinbar and Templeport namely
the aforementioned and Martha Brady, Deidre
O’Brien, Mary T. Goldrick, Niamh Kilbride, Blathin
Murphy and Maggie Mcgovern. The Templeport defense
has shown throughout the campaign that they
have the ability to close down any volume of
attacks whilst up front id Aisling Doonan and
Sharon Baxter are on Form They will prove a
tough obsticle for Killinkere.

Killinkere
are also appearing in their first ever championship
final and will be hunting for glory this weekend.
The club formed a junior team 6 years ago and
has never lifted a title before. Fresh from
a win in the 9-a-side final over Ballymachugh
they will be hoping to add to their trophy cabinet
this year. They had wins over Cootehill in the
first round and in the semi final came out on
top over a strong Arva side. In the forwards
Emer McGovern and Sinead Denning are the main
threat each having notched big scores on route
to the final. Maria Murphy, Edel Donnelly, Emer
Reilly and Orla O’Sullivan adds extra strength
to the forward line. In the middle Lisa Smith
and Louise Clarke take responsibility whilst
in the backline Ruth Smith, Aine Clarke will
be hoping to stall Templeport attacks. One interesting
feature is the county goalkeeper young Aideen
Duff. Aideen will be playing at right full back
for her team.

McGinn
Print Ladies Intermediate semi Final
Mullahoran 3-05
Ballyhaise 2-8 .     

Ballyhaise
and Mullahoran served up a brilliant second
half of football on Sunday last in Drumalee
and must do it all over again in two weeks time
to decide who will play Erne Gales in this year’s
final. With no score at half time Mullahoran
were always going to have to lift their game
in the second half. Ballyhaise, to their credit,
defended well and closed down any attacks that
challenged them in the first half hour. In the
second half, Mullahoran shot out of the traps
with three goals in the first five minutes.
Two goals from Una Brady, and one from Louise
Sheridan, who performed brilliantly throughout
the hour. Ballyhaise fought back with a superb
goal from Collette McCaul and points from Roisin
Greenan, Aisling Reilly and Elaine Reilly. The
latter player had to go off for treatment and
bravely came back on to assist her team. But
a late equalizer from a free by Una Brady ensured
a replay in a fortnight’s time.

E.G.M.

There will be an emergency general meeting on
Thursday night next at 9.00pm in the Farnham
Hotel. All Clubs are asked to have at least
two delegates present for this very important
meeting.