Fermanagh Ladies V Cavan Ladies In The Ulster Intermediate Final 2009

Fermanagh Ladies V Cavan Ladies In The Ulster Intermediate Final 2009

Fermanagh Ladies took on their Cavan counterparts for the second time in three weeks in The Athletic grounds in Armagh in The Ulster Intermediate Final. The first time both teams played out a draw in the opening round of the All Ireland Intermediate Championship, games between these two sides have always been close affairs, and this encounter was prove no different, going the full distance.
The game started off with Cavan getting on the score sheet within the first minute threw Renee Murphy but was cancelled out by Fermanaghs,Caroline Little, in the third minute of the game. These early scores failed to settle the two teams as there wasn’t to be another score till the 15th minute, both teams were attempting to impose their own style of play and game plan on the opposing team and a stalemate developed which lasted for most of the first half as players fought to win their own individual battles. Fermanagh’s Ashling Moane was the next player to raise a white flag after a trademark run from mid-field in the 15th minute of the game but exactly one minute later in the 16th minute Cavan’s Sharon Cassidy was to raise the first green flag of the day as she ghosted un-noticed behind the Fermanagh defence to put the ball past Donna Gilroy in the Fermanagh goal. Fermanagh posted a swift reply threw the boot of Caroline Little as she split the Cavan defence in the 17th minute for a fine individual point. It should be pointed out at this stage that the Cavan management had decided to mark Caroline with two players.Ashling Moane was to raise a further white flag for Fermanagh in the 22nd minute of the first half. The score was now Fermanagh 0-4 to Cavan 1-01.Fermanagh missed further chances to create a lead through a series of missed frees,infact the free takers of both teams found the going tough to gauge a wind which was fresh to say the least. Caroline Little was to land a free in the 27th minute of the first half from 30 metres to to give Fermanagh a slight advantage and the industrious Shauna Hamilton increased that lead further in the 28th minute after a great cross field pass from Sharon Little.
Cavan pulled within 1 point of Fermanagh before the break off the boot of Grainne Smith.
The Fermanagh defence had recovered from the setback of the goal midway through the half and held Cavan to 1-02 at halftime. Team Captain and Full back ,Kyla Mc Manus was marshalling her troops well and with Patricia Melanaphy,back from her travels, and Tara Hughes in great form , things looked okay for Fermanagh at half time.
Fermanagh 0-06 Cavan 1-02
The opening 8 minutes of the second half was to prove a fruitless period for both teams as no-one seemed to want take charge of the game. Finally in the 9th minute of the second period a white flag was raised as Cavan brought the game level with a point from Ashling Doonan from a free and Ashling Doonan was to give Cavan the lead in the 12th minute from another free kick. Cavan were now enjoying a period of dominance and further extended their lead in the 15th minute with a goal from Renee Murphy, Renee kicked in a high looping ball from the Pavilion side of the pitch and agonisingly beat Fermanagh net minder, Donna Gilroy at her far post.
Renee Murphy added another point in the 16th minute to further extend Cavan’s lead. The score was now Fermanagh 0-06and Cavan 2-5.
The gauntlet had been thrown down at the feet at the Fermanagh team and management , if they were going to retain their Ulster title it was going to have to be done the hard way, from 4 points down. It was as if this was the shock that the Fermanagh team needed to jolt them into action. Fermanagh got there first score of the second half through Caroline Little and what a score it was as she sent an unstoppable shot past the Cavan keeper into the back of the net after some fine inter-play between herself and Sharon, her sister, and Aine McBrien. Fermanagh had pulled themselves back into the game and resolute defending by Clair woods and Anita Newell in the full back line and Adele Gallagher in the half backs were keeping the Cavan forwards honest.
Fermanagh got themselves to within a point of Cavan in the 20th minute through another Caroline Little free but Cavan were retake the iniative through points from Sharon Cassidy in the 25th minute and Ashling Doonan in the29th minute.
The score entering time added on was now Fermanagh 1-07 and Cavan 2-07 , the fourth official raised the board and signalled 4 additional minutes to be played. Fermanagh introduced Aileen Moane into the forward line for the very hard working Sharon Mc Govern who gave her all for her team and certainly was a credit to herself and her county. Fermanagh had to push forward now in search of the equalising goal, the Cavan goal was under siege but the Cavan rearguard refused to be breached but as quick as they cleared the ball , Fermanagh’s defence which was now to the bare numbers fought to get the ball for their forwards, Donna Maguire wand Patricia Melanaphy were rocks at the back for Fermanagh and with players like Aine Mc Brien and Catherine Murphy and team captain Kyla mc manus carrying the ball forward it seemed that the goal must come but still Cavan held out. The clock now ticked around to the 35th minute and Kyla Mc Manus carried the ball forward from def ence as she had done on numerous occasions in injury time but she had a purposeful stride as she went forward and after a couple of quick hand passes with Sharon Little and Aileen Moane she found herself behind the Cavan rearguard with the goal in front of her, after what seemed like an eternity Kyla unleashed an unstoppable shot to beat the Cavan goalkeeper and bring the game level. There was time for the kick out to be taken and for both teams to launch one more attack each which didn’t result in any further scoring. This game was destined for extra time.
Final score after normal time
Fermanagh 2-07 Cavan 2-07
Fermanagh took the early lead in the 1st period of extra time with points from Caroline Little in the 1st (Free) and 4th minute as they looked to capitalise on their strong finish to normal time but Cavan were finished yet and hit Fermanagh with a sucker punch of a goal. Some good play down along the sideline resulted in a ball being played into the path of the on rushing Deirdre Kelly who finished clinically with a rasping shot . The pendulum had swung back in Cavan’s favour. In the 9th minute Fermanagh were awarded a penalty after Caroline Little had been fouled, Caroline stood up to take the kick herself but was saved by the Cavan goalkeeper, Christine McCutheon.
The Fermanagh players and management gathered themselves in a circle on the field and resolved there and then that they were not going to leave Armagh that day without the Ulster Cup.
Half time score in Extra time
Fermanagh 2-09 Cavan 3-07
This resolve was shown in the 1st minute of the 2nd period of extra time when full forward, Aileen Moane received the ball in front of the goal and lashed it to the net, restoring Fermanagh to the lead. Cavan pulled the lead back to a point in the 6th minute through Grainne Smith but that was to be the last score if the game for Cavan as Fermanagh totally dominated the remaining time with further points from Aileen Moane(9th Minute), Caroline Little(14th Minute) and the very hard working Patricia Melanaphy(16th Minute). As the final whistle blew there were scenes of wild jubilation amongst the Fermanagh players. management and supporters.
With a personal tally of 1-07 Fermanagh’s Caroline Little was named as a very deserved player of the match . In her victory speech , team captain, Kyla Mc manus said that the girls were dedicating the win to an ill team mate, Eimir Martin, who was in the crowd in Armagh to cheer her County on. Eimir is always in all our thoughts and we know whenever we play we are in hers.
The management and players would once again like to thank the Men’s County Board for loaning us a set of jerseys as we are still without a sponsor for the Fermanagh Ladies Senior Team.
We would also like to thank Mr Joe Mc Gurn who is a great friend and supporter of the Ladies team.

Fermanagh Panel

Donna Gilroy,Tara Hughes,Kyla Mc Manus,Claire Woods,Donna Maguire,Patricia Melanaphy,Catherine Murphy,
Adele Gallagher,Caroline Little,Aine Mc Brien,Shauna Hamilton,Sharon Little,Ashling Mc Caughey,Sharon Mc Govern,
Ashling Moane,Sarah Stewart,Eimir Keenan,Roisin Carron,Imelda Mc Govern,Rachel O’ Dolan,Aileen Moane,Mary Smith,
Nuala Curran,Anita Newell,Edel Campbell,Louise Slevin,Shireene Greene,Roisin Gleeson,Emma Burns,Dympna Moane,Catherine Mc Govern.

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