Tyrone left to rue missed chances

Tyrone were left ruing missed chances and a refereeing decision
that baffled Tyrone boss Jimmy McCloughan, a decision that produced
a third goal that Tyrone could just not recover from. With Cathy
Donnelly down injured and Lucy Meehan assisting her, Monaghan
official Sean Gilsean allowed the play to continue and Armaghs
Maebh Moriarty found the gaps and beat goalkeeper Mallaghan. Manager
McCloughan was annoyed “ Its disappointing that something out
of your own teams control had such a bearing on the game, the
referee said he didn’t see Donnelly down injured, but I cant believe
he didn’t as the play went past her twice, it’s a blow for us
but we are young and we will bounce back.”

Tyrone got of to the best possible start when Begley found the
net after good work by Connolly down the right, Tyrone went 1-1
to no score ahead but when Linda Donnelly upended Brown Alma O’Donnell
drove home the spot kick and Armagh were alive at last. They dominated
for a seventeen minute spell, Tyrone looked like being swamped,
bulldozed aside in this first meeting of the two in the provincial
decider. Seven unanswered Points from Aileen Matthews 0-3 . Mairead
Tennyson, Maebh Moriarty, Shauna O Hagan and Alma O Donnell leaving
Tyrone in dire straits. They pulled things around in the closing
minutes of the half Cathy Donnelly and Sarah Connolly hitting
Tyrone’s first scores in some twenty minutes to leave four between
the sides at the break. Tyrone stormed into the second half, the
previously quiet Joline Donnelly cut the gap to three with a fine
point . Cathy Donnelly and the impressive Aileen Matthews traded
points before out of nothing Tyrone drew level with a cracking
Joline Donnelly goal. The vision of captain Anne Dooher setting
up Donnelly down the right for a stunning strike. The joy was
shortlived though as Matthews added to her points haul and Alma
O’Donnell strolled through a static Tyrone defence to fire home
her second goal.

An uphill battle again for a stung Tyrone, they rallied though,
Neamh Woods showing experience well advanced of her 18 years drove
Tyrone on and they created several chances before that killer
Moriarty goal with nineteen minutes on the clock. Oguz and Murphy
hit Tyrone points and the Aodh Ruadh forward saw her blistering
shot rise over the bar with the goal at her mercy. In the end
too much for Tyrone to claw back and Armagh were crowned champions
again. A spirited Tyrone display punctuated by some fine individual
displays but also pointing to some more work needed to be done
in some areas.. Jimmy McCloughan admitted it was a work in progress
as Tyrone go on in the new format series but he says Tyrone have
learnt a lot. “ We showed today that we can match anyone, the
next phase holds no worries for us, many didn’t give us a chance
against Armagh and I know few will give us a chance in the rest
of the competition but I know we have a bright future and we had
some of the best performers at Clones”

Tyrone – Elaine . Mallaghan, Eimear Teague, Maura Kelly, Marie
Gallagher, Siobhan Mc Garvey, Linda Donnelly, Neamh Woods, Sarah
Donnelly, Lucy Meehan, Joline Donnelly (1-2), Cathy Donnelly (0-2),
Ann Dooher, Gemma Begley (1-0), Katrina Murphy (0-1), Sarah Connolly(0-3)
Subs: Claire Mc Aliskey,For McGarvey, KatrinaDaly For J Donnelly
Sinead Mc Laughlin For Teague Selina Oguz (0-1) for C Donnelly

Armagh – F. Mc Atamney, C. Marley, D. Toal, O. Murtagh, R. O Mahony,
B. O Donnell, S. Mc Cleary, A. O Donnell (2-1), C. O Hanlon, M.
Tennyson (0-2), M. Moriarty (1-1), S. O Hagan (0-1), M. Mc Alinden,
L. Brown, A. Matthews (0-7) Subs: S. Duncan (0-1)

Referee S. Gilsenan (Monaghan)