Monaghan Ladies Football

Monaghan senior ladies are back in action this Sunday in round 4 of the National League. Monaghan have won 2 games out of 3, having lost to Cork. A win on Sunday would leave them one step closer to a semi final spot. This is an away fixture for the Monaghan girls.The venue for Sunday’s game is Convoy. Throw in 2pm/ We wish the team and management the very best of luck

There were celebrations in Cookstown on Monday last, when Our Lady’s Secondary school Castleblayney, fought back from being 12 points down at half time, to win the title.

The Castleblayney school side were playing against a very strong wind in the first half, and just couldn’t get into the game. The game looked all but over at half time with the Belfast side leading by 2-9 to 0-3, with Alana O Donohue scoring all three points.

Whatever was said at half time must have worked, because the Castleblayney side came out all guns blazing in the second half and what a turn around. Micheala Mc Quaid was moved back to the half back liine to steady things up and a few points on the board by Alana O Donohue, Megan Atkinson and Ciara Farelll  gave some hope to Our Ladys. Jacinta Brannigan fired to the net and Megan Atkins then netted twice to claw the  Monaghan side back into the game and with just 8 minutes to go, it was a draw, and all to play for. It was a nerve wrecking last 5 minutes with both sides trying to make that all important breakthrough, and in the end it was Our Lady’s, with Niamh Brennan firing to the back of the net, to give the Castleblayney school side the lead for the first time in the game. They held out for the last few minutes to secure victory.

 Final Score    Our Lady’s School Castleblayney  4-8    Our Lady’s & St Pat’s Belfast    2-11

Megan Atkinson  2-2

Niamh Brennan 1-0

Jacinta Brannigan

Alana O Donohue 0-5

Ciara Farrell 0-1

This Saturday they travel to Leitrim to play in the All Ireland semi final. We wish them the very best of luck.

The St Louis Carrickmacross have also been flying the flag for M onaghan schools football. Tomorrow Friday,   they play Athenry from Galway in the All Ireland semi final of the U20 B competition . The venue for tomorrow’s game is Kinnegad. Throw in 1pm. On behalf of the county board we wish the team and management the very best of luck

Last Friday night in Scotstown , Monaghan ladies county board held their annual presentation night. The guests of honour on the night were the 1992 Junior All Ireland champions.

Hugh Devanney presented the U16 girls with their Ulster winners medals and he also presented the senior girls with their Ulster medals and their All Ireland runners up medals.

 2011 was a great year for Monaghan ladies football. Our u16 team won the Ulster championship with Ciara Mc Dermott being named Ulster Young Player of the Year. Our Senior team opened their year winning the O Dowd cup. They went on to finish top of the table in the league before losing out to Laois in the semi final. Aoife and Ciara Mc Anespie were named on the Bord Gais Team of the Year 2011. They retained their Ulster senior championship title beating Tyrone in the final. In the All Ireland quarter final they beat Meath and went on to beat Kerry in the semi final. It was back to Croke Parke once again with their opponents being Cork. And what a display the girls put on. They lost by 2 points in a game that was there for the taking. Their performances earned them 10 All Star nominations,  Christine Reilly, Sharon Courtney, Grainne Mc Nally, Aoife Mc Anespie, Amanda Casey, Cora Courtney, Therese Mc Nally, Catriona Mc Connell, Ciara Mc Anespie, Caoimhe Mohan. 4 All Stars came Monaghan’s way on the night, with Sharon Courtney, Grainne Mc Nally, Therese Mc Nally and Ciara Mc Anespie picking up the awards.

Marie Brady thanked all the county management teams for their hard work and committement all year.

On the club scene, Donaghamoyne once again won the Senior championship, with Moanghan Harps winning the Intermediated title and Inniskeen winning the Junior title. Donaghanmoyne went on the win the Ulster title before being narrowly beat by Cornacon in the All Ireland semi final.

A number of awards were presented on the night. First up was the county underage players of the year.

U14 A   –  Rebecca Hughes (Emyvale)

U14 B   –  Ellen O Brien (Emyvale)

U16      –  Ciara Mc Dermott (Magheracloone)

Minor     –  Caoimhe Mohan(Truagh)

The next awards went to the Divisional Players of the year.

Division 1   – Aoife Mc Anespie (Emyvale)

Division 2   –  Lisa Kingham(Donaghmoyne)

Division 3   –  Isobel Kierans (Inniskeen)

Division 4   –  Brona Byrne (Carrickmacross)

Next award went to the Senior County Player of the Year. This award went to Sharon Courtney, captain and full back. Sharon was an inspirational captain all year and a very worthy winner

Following the awards to the Players of the Year at both county and club, there were 2 awards for clubs. First was the Most Improved Club of the year. This award went to the Sean Mc Dermotts club. The Seans club have put in tremendous work over the past number of years, and 2011 saw them enter teams in each of the competitions. This award was a recognition of this tremendous work that has and is still going on at the club.

The Overall club of they year Award went to the Donaghmoyne club. Donaghamoyne had a number of successes this year and in particular at senior level, winning the Division 2 league, Divsion 1 league and championship and Ulster championship. They also won the U16 championship..

Before the 1992 team were called up, there was a special presentation made to Johnny Kelly from the Aghabog club. Johnny stepped down form both the Ulster council executive and Monaghan Co Board executive after years of outstanding service.. Johnny is a shining example of what is good in ladies football, giving of his time to help out whenever needed. Well done Johnny and thank you for your service over the years. It is really appreciated.

Following the presentation of awards the 1992 All Ireland winning team were introduced . This team was the first ever Monaghan team ever to win an All Ireland title and it was great to see them all back together with some of them still playing. T hey were each presented with a photo of the team.  On behalf of the county board I would like to thank the girls for coming along and in  particular to Bernie Beggan who made such a journey to be there. It was much appreciated.

Ann Gavan, Catherine Finnegan Mary B Hamill , Jennifer Treanor, Mairead Kelly, Aisling Smyth, Jenny Greenan,Linda Farrelly, Brenda Mc Anespie, Margaret Kierans, Eileen Mc Elvaney, Orla Gartlan, Michelle Murphy, Angela Larkin, Mary O Callaghen, Mairead Sheridan, Brenda Macklin, Pauline Woods, Mary Foy , Caroline Tierney, Seanine Mc Connell, Anita Finnegan,Mary Rooney, Bernie Beggan

Management : Owen Mc Nally, Philip Kelly, Raymond Finnegan, Bernie Beggan, Michael Morgan