Fermanagh overcome a strong Derry side

Fermanagh over came a strong Derry side on Sunday in Ballinascreen
and now advance to the semi final stages of the National
League. Derry began in a determined manner and Fermanagh
were 3points down at half time. However Fermanagh produced
a good second half display and even missed a penalty to
over come Derry and with it a place in the National League
semi-final. Derry opened the scoring in the first minute
with points from Shauna McCallion and Natasha McEldowney.
Fermanagh replied two minutes later with points from Caroline
Little and Aine McBrien. After hard work and pressure from
Derry they were rewarded with a goal from Natasha McEldowney.
A free was then awarded to Derry after a foul was committed
on Alisha Wilkinson and Victoria Mallett took the free and
lobbed it into the square and Alisha Wilkinson was quickest
to react and blasted the ball to the back of the net, giving
her team a two goal advantage.

A Fermanagh kick out was won by Donna Maguire who played
the ball to Aine McBrien who laid it off too Sharon Little
who finished the ball expertly to the back of the net. Derry
replied with a point from Ashlene Kealey. However Fermanagh
began to get more into the game and were rewarded with another
well worked goal between Eimir Martin and Sharon Little,
with the latter putting the ball into the back of the net
and Fermanagh only trailed by a point with 18 minutes gone.
Derry finished the half stronger and added on two more points
from Ashlene Kealey and Shauna Vanelly (free) giving their
team a three point advantage going in at half time. Half-time:
Derry 2-5 Fermanagh 2-2 Derry were first to score in the
second half with a goal from Victoria Mallett in the first
minute. However this spurred Fermanagh into action and a
cunning pass from Eimir Martin played in Caroline Little
who finished the ball to the back of the net. Little then
pointed a free kick, which let Fermanagh two points behind.
A foul on Marcella Connolly in the small square gifted Fermanagh
with a penalty kick. However this opportunity wasn’t ceased
upon as Caroline Little’s kick went narrowly wide.

Fermanagh continued to work hard and points followed from
Sharon and Caroline Little and Marcella Connolly. Ashlene
Kealey pointed for Derry but Marcella Connolly replied with
a point giving Fermanagh the lead for the first time in
the match. A long range shot from Aine McBrien lobbed the
goalie and ended up in the back of the net with 27 minutes
played. The final score of the game was a point from Caroline
Little. Fermanagh had to fight hard for the full sixty minutes
in order to come away with a win as Derry were very strong
and fit. Fermanagh are now through to the Semi-Final of
the National League which will be played on the weekend
of the 21st/22nd April.

Full Time: Derry 3-6 Fermanagh 4-8

Fermanagh: Frances Maguire, Claire Woods, Nuala Curran,
Edel McGovern (Capt), Kyla McManus, Donna Maguire, Louise
Slevin, Shauna Woods, Aishling Moane, Aine McBrien, Marcella
Connolly, Sharon Little, Eimir Martin, Caroline Little,
Glenda Fitzpatrick. Subs: Adele Gallagher, Claire O’Harte,
Sabrina McGovern, Lynne McFredrick, Tara Hughes, Mary Smith

Derry: Julie McLoughlin, Clare Doherty, Nuala Doherty, Clare
Lagan, Naomi McMullen, Kathy Conway, Dervla McMaster, Tracey
Kelly, Victoria Mallett, Natasha McEldowney, Alisha Wilkinson,
Shauna McCallion, Clodagh Gormley, Ashlene Kealey, Shauna
Vallelly. Subs: Emma Kelly, Catriona Convery, Catherine
Donaghy, Louise Glass.