Ulster U14 Final

 

Tyrone won their first ever Ulster U14 title when
they beat holders Donegal by a single point. The winning score came
from the boot of substitute Jane Ward in the final minute of the
game.

Both teams deserve credit for an entertaining encounter that could
really have went either way. Donegal opened the scoring with Geraldine
Mc Loughlin finding the net. Her namesake Niamh then pointed but
Tyrone quickly levelled with Paula Donnelly hitting the goal and
the lively Emma Jane Girvan firing over. Niamh Mc Loughlin then
put the Tir Chonnail side back in front with a second goal but the
lead was short lived a Tyrone’s Girvan also found the net.

The Red hand county then took the lead for the first time when corner
forward Aine Canavan fired over. Further points from Girvan and
raiding midfielder Nicola Rafferty extended their lead to three.
Ger Mc Loughlin pulled a point back for Donegal before Tyrone’s
Girvan brought her tally for the half to 2-2 with a sweet strike
to the Donegal net. The girls from the North West responded brilliantly
with Kate Keaney netting goal six of the half. Tyrone captain Nicola
Rafferty fired over in injury time to leave the interval score 3-5
to 3-2 in favour of Tyrone.

Early in the second half Rafferty (2), Jane Ward and Aine Canavan
fired over to give Tyrone a comfortable seven point lead. Donegal
then had their own purple patch and a second goal from Keaney along
with four points from the Mc Loughlins Ger and Niamh brought the
sides level with ten minutes to go. A fifth point from Tyrone midfielder
Niamh Rafferty appeared to have won the game but Donegal’s Amy Martin
fired over late on to level the game for the fourth time. Then in
the final minute scenes of jubilation were sparked when Tyrone’s
Jane Ward sent over to give her side a 3-12 to 4-8 victory.

Afterwards manager Paddy Donnelly was full of praise for his hard
working team. “These girls fully deserve this title as they
have put in an enormous effort since last October. They have improved
with every game and we can now look forward to an All Ireland semi
final against Dublin”.

While Tyrone won the title with a last minute point there was no
such luck for their second string. They were beaten by Down in a
high scoring Ulster B final 7-6 to 5-9.