TYRONE SENIOR FINAL

Horrendous conditions at Greencastle failed to put out the St Macartans engine, they drove at Glenelly at every oppourtunity and with wins over Errigal and Carrickmore behind them was anything going to stop them. Despite the dominiance of the Clogher valley side St Josephs held on to the coat tails of their illustrious opponents in the opening half. St Macartans leading 1-7 to 0-3, Hicks , Morris and O Kane on the scoresheet for the underdogs after Macartsnas had rattled up five points unanswered. Cathy Donnelly lashing in the first goal of the night mid way through the half.

Any hopes though of a comeback by Glenelly were soon nullified as Lynda Donnelly, and Seanan Loughran drove St Macratans from the engine room at midfield. While the defence closed the door on the odd Glennelly sortie.

Captain Deidre Kelly. Maura Kelly and Maura Owens impressive.

A measure of St Macrtans potency in attack was borne out as every forward scored., Their pace and ability to score from every angle saw gallant Glenelly chasing shadows at times..

The Donnelly and McQuaid sisters were prominent alongside Mary-Louise McGirr and Niamh McKenna up front and last years beaten finalists swept into a commanding second half lead. Niamh McKenna hit the net and points courtesy of Joline Donnelly and Mary-Louise McGirr increased their advantage inside the first seven minutes of the turnaround.

Patricia Morris almost made a goal breakthrough as Glenelly counter-attacked but Niamh McKenna set up Cathy Donnelly for the latter to plant the ball in the roof of the net 42 minutes in as St Macartans put further daylight between the sides.

Katriona McQuaid fired home the final goal of the game in the closing stages, St Macartans chipping over additional points to put the icing on the cake of a convincing victory, years of hurt and tears swept aside in the rain of Greencastle.

Match Stats

Scorers

St Macartans: Cathy Donnelly 2-2, Katriona McQuaid 1-2, Joline Donnelly 0-5(1f), Niamh McKenna 1-0, Shauna McQuaid 0-3, Mary-Louise McGirr 0-2, Lynda Donnelly 0-2, Colleen McQuaid 0-1

Glenelly: Eva Hicks 0-1(f), Patricia Morris 0-1, Aisling O’Kane 0-1

Teams

St Macartans: Siobhan McCarney, Deirdre Kelly, Aileen Owens, Maria Donnelly, Kirsty McCaughey, Maura Kelly, Grainne Kelly, Seanan Loughran, Lynda Donnelly, Cathy Donnelly, Mary-Louise McGirr, Shauna McQuaid, Niamh McKenna, Katriona McQuaid, Joline Donnelly. Subs: Clare Woods for K McCaughey, Mairead Holland for ML McGirr, Paula Donnelly for C Donnelly, Colleen McQuaid for J Donnelly.

Glenelly: Kellie Morris, Carmel McBride, Orla Harkin, Patricia-Anne Kearney, Mairead O’Hagan, Eimear McConnell, Catherine Morris, Claire Kildunne, Nicola Sheerin, Fiona-Marie Kearney, Aisling O’Kane, Grace McCullagh, Mary-Carmel Kearney, Eva Hicks, Patricia Morris. Subs: Anna Hicks for MC Kearney, Aine Conway for C Morris, Eilis Kearney for P Morris.

Referee: Brian McCallion, Castlederg.