Monaghan Ladies Senior League Final

Monaghan Ladies Senior League Final Donaghmoyne 2-15 Emyvale 1-6

ALL Ireland club champions Donaghmoyne wrapped up their fantastic year by claiming the county league title on Sunday when they overcame Emyvale in Aughnamullen in a lively and entertaining encounter.

A strong start and finish to the opening half saw Donaghmoyne take a 2-8 to 1-6 lead in at the midway point. The newly crowned All Ireland champions opened a seven point advantage after just ten minutes with Amanda Casey and Lorraine Daly finding the Emyvale net.

Emyvale though responded and with Grainne McNally driving them on they had reduced the deficit to a single point by the 23rd minute. Melanie Colleran found the net and both Grainne and Brenda McNally rowed in with two wonderfully struck points. Majella Woods stretched the lead to two before both sides missed chances prior to Grainne McNally shown a yellow card two minutes from the break.

With the numerical advantage Donaghmoyne finished strongly with points from the excellent Gina McGowan, Majella Woods and Joanne Courtney to leave five between them at the break.

That lead was extended to eight with points from Casey, Woods and McConnell before Grainne McNally returned from her time in the sin bin seven minutes after the resumption. Woods fired between the posts again but then it was Donaghmoyne were reduced to 14 players when Catriona McConnell was sent to the sin bin midway through the half.

Despite the set back the Fontenoy’s continued to dominate as their greater fitness began to show. Emyvale, who had not played a game in a number of weeks continued to work hard and Melanie Colleran was denied a second major by a fine save by Linda Martin.

At the finish of an entertaining encounter expertly refereed by Paul Swift, 12 points separated the sides with some very impressive individual performances on both sides.

Donaghmoyne: Linda Martin, Sharon Courtney, Hazel Kingham, Niamh Lynch, Fiona Courtney, Joanne Geoghegan, Joanne Courtney (0-1), Amanda Casey (1-2), Cora Courtney (0-2), Eileen McElroy, Majella Woods (0-3), Lisa Kingham (0-1), Gina McGowan (0-3), Catriona McConnell (0-2, 1f), Lorraine Daly (0-1).

Subs: Elaine Martin for M Woods, Annette Duffy for G McGowan, Teresa Comiskey for L Kingham, Arlene Keenan for A Casey.

Emyvale: Catriona McKenna, Aoife McDonald, Aine McAree, Rynagh McNally, Una McNally, Aoife McAnespie, Brenda McNally (0-1), Grainne McNally (0-2), Nicola Fahy, Hanna Hughes, Brenda McAnespie, Therese McNally (0-1, f), Aisling McKenna, Melanie Colleran (1-0), Viara McAnespie (0-2, 1f).

Subs: Sorcha McKenna for H Hughes, Carol Flood for A McKenna

 

Referee: Paul Swift (Monaghan Harps)