TG4 ULSTER SENIOR FINAL

TG4
ULSTER SENIOR FINAL

Monaghan 1-9 Armagh 1-11

 

Monaghan’s dream of three Ulster titles in a row
was shattered by classy Armagh IN Clones yesterday. Unlike their
men the Armagh ladies turned in a brilliant second half performance
to pip Monaghan by two points and claim their first Ulster senior
title.

Armagh started brightest with Sharon Duncan firing over in the first
minute. Monaghan then raced into a three point lead. Catriona Mc
Connell cancelled the orchards early score before Charlene Graham,
Grainne Mc Nally and then Mc Connell pointed for Monaghan. Armagh
to their credit then levelled. Firstly Aileen Matthews fired over
a close range free. Sharon Duncan then doubled her tally and Matthews
from play left it four points each after thirteen minutes. The Farney
side then went ahead when Slainey Murray brilliantly fielded a high
ball and turned quickly to fire over from thirty metres.

There were only four scores in the second quarter but yet you couldn’t
take your eye of the game. In the seventeenth minute Monaghan scored
a cracking goal. Niamh Kindlon made a wonderful pick up in the middle
of the field were she off loaded to Grainne Mc Nally. The Tyholland
youngster then carried the ball all of fifty metres and planted
the ball brilliantly by the out coming Finnoula Mc Atammney. Mc
Nally then extended the lead with a super point. In the 20th minute
Armagh then found the net themselves. Good interlink play in Armagh
forward line found Shauna O Hagan and the Clann Eireann player fired
to the net through Linda Martins legs. Sharon Duncan had the last
say of the half firing over from close range when she could have
went for goal. When the half time hooter went Monaghan were just
ahead 1-6 to 1-5.

Monaghan struck first in the second half with substitute Aisling
Tierney firing over in the second minute however the score was quickly
cancelled with a fine point from Maria O Donnell. In the eight minute
Mairead Tennyson levelled the game firing over after a great run
however Monaghan came straight back and a good point from Catriona
Mc Connell put them ahead by a single point.

Entering the final quarter Armagh levelled the game courtesy of
Mairead Tennyson. Caroline O Hanlon then hit a super point to put
Armagh in front for the first time since the second minute. Armagh
now had the bit between the teeth and pushed forward at every opportunity.
Their efforts were rewarded with excellent scores from O Hanlon
and substitute Mags Mc Alinden to give them a three point lead with
nine minutes left. Armagh were then dealt a blow with six minutes
left as Rhona O Mahony was sin binned. Monaghan tried to use their
numerical advantage and in the last few minutes forced two brilliant
save from Finnoula Mc Atammney and earned a couple of 45’s. Aisling
Tierney did have a great chance to level but while her shot did
beat the Armagh keeper it hit the crossbar and went over. Armagh
lived on their nerves in the dying minutes but hung on to win by
two points.

Armagh: F. Mc Atamney, C. Marley, F. Quinn, A. Murphy, R. O Mahony,
B. O Donnell, S. Mc Cleary, A. O Donnell, C. O Hanlon (0-2), M.
Tennyson (0-2), S. Duncan (0-3), S. O Hagan (1-0), M. O Donnell
(0-1), P. Mc Avoy, A. Matthews (0-2) Subs Used: M. Mc Alinden (0-1),
O Murtagh

Monaghan: L. Martin, S. Courtney, M. Grimes, C. Reilly, J. Courtney,
F. Courtney, H. Hughes, A. Casey, C. Brady, C. Graham (0-1), N.
Kindlon, G. Mc Nally (1-2), C. Mc Connell (0-3), N. Lynch, S. Murray
(0-1). Subs Used: A. Tierney (0-2), H. Kingham

Referee: E. Jones (Tyrone) 

 

TG4 ULSTER JUNIOR FINAL

Fermanagh 1-9 Cavan 2-9

A personal tally of 2-2 from Breffni captain Grainne Smith helped
Cavan to their first ever Ulster junior title in Clones yesterday.

Fermanagh had a dream start with Aisling Moane capitalising on
a defensive error to blast to the net with only four minutes gone.
Cavan responded with two good points. The first from Sharon Cassidy
from a tight angle and then Bronagh Sherdian eloquently sent over
a free taken off the ground. Fermanagh then had two let offs.
Firstly Grainne Smith fired wide from close range and then Sherdian
hit the crossbar with another free. Fermanagh’s Caroline Little
then opened her account, firing over a free from twenty meters.
Cavan then pulled another point back when Brid Boylan reacted
quickest to a shot that came off the post to send over. Cavan
then drew level through Elaine Costain but so easily could have
been ahead. Fermanagh keeper Una Collins making a brilliant save
from Grainne Smith however the Breffni captain did send over a
point a minute later to give Cavan the lead for the first time.
Fermanagh responded with points from Caroline Little and Donna
Maguire however another Sherdian free left the side level at the
break Fermanagh 1-3 Cavan 0-6.

Caroline Little sent over her third free of the afternoon in the
fourth minute but Cavan’s Grainne Smith levelled again with their
next attack. Then there was another let off for Fermanagh as the
lively Sherdian hit the woodwork for the third time. The Erne
girls went back in front when Little fired over another free in
the ninth minute. Points from Aisling Traynor and Bronagh Sherdian
gave Cavan a single point advantage entering the final quarter.

Cavan had midfielder Laura Corrigan sin binned with 14 minutes
to go however the Breffni side extended their lead when Grainne
Smith finished a super run with a rocket of a shot to the Fermanagh
net. The Erne girls responded with Caroline Little firing over
her fifth point but once again Cavan came right down the field
and captain Smith found the net. The goal was somewhat fortunate
as Fermanagh keeper Collins initially made a great save but Smith
followed up her on the parried shot to slot to the net. Little
then sent over a couple of points and Rose Mullally also pointed
but it was much too little to late as Cavan held out for their
first ever Ulster title at junior level.

Fermanagh: U. Collins, C. O Harte, N. Curran, C. Woods, K. Mc
Manus, T. Hughes, A. Mc Brien, R. Mullally (0-1), A. Moane (1-0),
S. Woods, C. Little (0-7), D. Maguire (0-1), S. Hamilton, A. Gallagher,
E. Martin Subs Used: S. Little, T. Mc Girr, P. Melanophy

Cavan: K. Baxter, P. Lynch, C. O Reilly, S. Kieran, P. Crowe,
A. Croyn, A. Clarke, C. Rodgers, L. Corrigan, G. Smith (2-2),
A. Traynor (0-1), E. Costain (0-1), S. Cassidy (0-1), B. Sherdian
(0-3), B. Boylan (0-1) Subs Used: J. Mc Nally, R. O Keefe, E.
Galligan

Referee: Mary Foy (Monaghan)

TG4 ALL IRELAND QUARTERFINAL DRAWS

TG4 SENIOR DRAW

Galway v Meath

Armagh v Waterford

Laois v Monaghan

Cork v Mayo

TG4 JUNIOR DRAW

Wexford v Sligo

Cavan v Longford

Clare v Fermanagh

Leitrim v Limerick