U14 A ALL IRELAND SEMI FINAL
BRAVE MONAGHAN GIRLS LOSE OUT AFTER THRILLING ENCOUNTER IN BALLINAMORE
MAYO 6-8 MONAGHAN 5-7
Both Mayo and Monaghan served up an excellent game of football on Saturday last in the U14 A All Ireland semi final. It was end to end action throughout, but in the end Mayo held on after a spirited Monaghan comeback in the final 8 minutes to claim a place in the All Ireland final against Cork.
Mayo opened the scoring after just 2 minutes when Tara Mc Phillips converted a free and it was Tara Mc Phillips who was on target again a minute later to add another point for the Westerners. Indeed Mayo missed a few opportunities to go further ahead before Rebecca Waldron gave Mayo a 3 point lead with 5 mins of the half gone.
Monaghan were under a lot of pressure, but they soon started to settle into the game and Emma Clerkin fired over a fine point to get them off the mark. Hannah Cleary responded almost immediately for Mayo with a point on the other end but the impressive Sarah Capaldi narrowed the gap for Monaghan to leave just 2 between the sides with 10 minutes gone. Mayo missed a wonderful goal opportunity to extend their lead but then Rebecca Waldron pointed again to leave 3 between the sides once again. It was fast, exciting football and on the 14th minute the first goal of the game came when a fine move by Monaghan resulted in Sarah Capaldi firing to the net to square matters up. Monaghan had the momentum now and 2 points in succession by Sarah Capalda and Micheala Mc Cabe put Monaghan 2 up. Rebecca Waldron pulled one back for Mayo but Monaghan continued to push forward. Eimear Mc Anespie put pressure on Mayo’s goalkeeper Gemma Murphy whilst clearing her line , the ball broke loose and Linda Mc Meel slotted into the net to put Monaghan 2-4 to 0-6 in the lead. Mayo started to gain the momentum again in the final 10 minutes of the half and 2 goals in succession by Saoirse Ludden and Micheala Walsh gave Mayo the lead once again. Monaghan responded with a goal from their captain Eimear Mc Anespie to leave just a point between the sides. The resulting kick out saw Mayo win possession and a high lofting ball into the Monaghan square saw Saoirse Ludden add another goal to put Mayo into a 2 point lead once again. There were sounds of disapproval from the Monaghan spectators as they believed it was a square ball, but the goal was allowed and going into the break the scoreline read
Monaghan 3-4 Mayo 3-6
The second half opened in lively fashion with both sides showing that hunger to win. It was Mayo once again who opened the scoring with Saoirse Ludden firing over the bar and she added another soon afterwards to increase Mayo’s lead to 4 points. Micheala Mc Cabe pulled one back for Monaghan with a wonderful point and Sarah Capaldi was very unlucky not to reduce Mayo’s lead when her shot on goal just missed the target. Then came the turning point of the game when Mayo were awarded a penalty much to the dismay of the Monaghan defenders, but Tara Mc Phillips stepped up and slotted to the corner to leave the score going into the last 15 minutes, Monaghan 3-5 Mayo 4-8.
Sarah Capaldi found the net again for Monaghan on the 20th min to give the Monaghan girls a lifeline, but the dangerous Micheala Walsh who was a real threat throughout scored goal number 5 for Mayo. Monaghan’s midfielder Micheala Mc Cabe went down injured but unfortunately for them, play didn’t stop and the resulting attack saw Mayo score goal number 6 , with Rebecca Waldron the scorer this time. With just 7 mins remaining Monaghan were down by 9 but all credit to the Monaghan girls. That final 7 mins saw that never say die attitude from the Monaghan girls as they tried their hardest to pull themselves back into the game and their efforts paid off when Shannon Donnelly fired over a point. They continued to push forward piling pressure on the Mayo defence. Eimear Mc Anespie was through on goals but was fouled and awarded a penalty. Dolores Hughes stepped up and fired to the corner to reduce Mayo’s lead to just 5 points. With just a few minutes remaining it was all Monaghan and Dolores fired over another point to leave 4 between the sides. Sarah Capaldi was so close for another goal with her shot just off target, but it just wasn’t to be for Monaghan as the final whistle blew much to the relief of the Mayo supporters.
Monaghan had put up a battle in those final minutes but in the end Mayo held out to win by 4.
Final score Mayo 6-8 Monaghan 5-7
Line Outs
Mayo
Gemma Murphy, Chloe Mc Hale, Claire Flatley, Diane Tierney, Aoife Gilmartin, Stacey Mangan, Zoe Burke, Sarah Lavelle, Ciara Moran, Tara Mc Phillips (1-2 1 penalty )Hannah Cleary (0-1) Rebecca Waldron (1-3), Saoirse Ludden (2-2), Micheala Walsh (2-0), Eilis Ronayna Subs used Roisin Durkin
Monaghan
Niamh Kierans, Hannah Mc Skeane, Megan Boylan, Caitlin Carolan, Siobhan Keenan, Shauna Hetherington, Rosemary Courtney, Micheala Mc Cabe (0-2) Celine Nally, Eimear Mc Anespie (1-0), Emma Clerkin (0-1), Orlaith Hamill, Sarah Capaldi (2-2), Saoirse Treanor, Amy Coyle.
Subs used Linda Mc Meel (1-0), Emer Mc Nally, Shannon Donnelly (0-1), Dolores Hughes (1-1)
It has to be said that the Monaghan girls gave everything they had in Ballinamore last Saturday. From start to finish they give it their all and even when they went 9 points down with only 7 minutes remaining, they never gave up and with a bit of luck they could have pulled it off. Each and every player must be commended for their efforts on Saturday last, the players who started and indeed the players who came on. This is a great panel of players. It has been quite a while since our any of our underage teams came so close in the All Ireland stages of their competition so this augurs well for the future. I am sure if this team stick together it won’t be the last we hear of them.
So on behalf of the county board I would like to say well done to all the team and management for their valiant efforts over the past few months.
Aughamullen v Carrick Saturday 23rd June 7.30 pm
St Brigids v Killanny Sunday 24th June 3.00 pm
Donaghmoyne B V Latton Tuesday 26th June 7.30 pm
Corduff v Magheracloone Wednesday 27th June 7.30 pm
ONeills v Aghabog Saturday 23rd June 7.30 pm
Abbey Fanning Memorial 7 A Side Tournament
Sponsored by the Squealing Pig Bar
Hosted by Monaghan Harps Ladies on Saturday 30th of June 2012
Proceedings will begin at Gavan Duffy Park, Rooskey, Monaghan Town on Saturday the 30th of June at 10:00a.m.
Following on from the success of last year, we are hoping to achieve the full quota of 16 teams in the 2012 competition.
Any teams wishing to participate please contact Jennifer Treanor on 086 8773447 as soon as possible, as places in this competition are on a first come first served basis.
Ten players only are permitted on each panel, to be named at registration on the morning of the 30th of June. Following the initial round robin games, the top 2 teams in each group will enter into the cup competition and the bottom 2 teams will enter the shield competition. Therefore, if the full quota of 16 teams is reached, every team is guaranteed a minimum of 4 games prior to the knock out quarter final stages.
Each referee will select a player of the match for each game played on the day. These results will be collected following each game. The player with the highest number of votes will receive the cup and shield players of the tournament. Daena Clerkin of Knockbride won the Shield Player of the Tournament in 2011 and Cora Courtney of Donaghmoyne won the Cup Player of the Tournament in 2011.
Donaghmoyne won the Squealing Pig sponsored Abbey Fanning Memorial Cup at the sun drenched Monaghan Harps GAA Club in Gavan Duffy Park, Rooskey last year. In the final they defeated Scotstown convincingly. Knockbride of Cavan became the first ever winners of either the cup or shield competition from County Cavan after a thrilling shield final against Magheracloone. So last years Cup Winners Donaghmoyne and Shield Winners Knockbride will be hoping to be in the title race again this year but there is 14 other teams who on the day could take home some silverware.
So onwards and upwards for the Monaghan Harps Ladies Annual Abbey Fanning Memorial 7 a Side Tournament. Hopefully even more teams will enjoy participating in this competition which all of the Monaghan Harps Ladies have great pride and honour in running and hosting, in memory of Abbey, our team mate who is gone but not forgotten.
Abbey Fanning Memorial Seven a Side Competition Roll of Honour
Cup Winners Shield Winners
1998 Monaghan Harps 1998 Aghabog
1999 Monaghan Harps 1999 Clones
2000 Monaghan Harps 2000 Tyholland
2002 Aghabog 2002 O’ Neill Shamrocks
2003 Donaghmoyne 2003 Donaghmoyne
2004 Donaghmoyne 2004 Castlewellan, Co. Down
2005 Donaghmoyne 2005 Tyholland
2006 Donaghmoyne 2006 Latton
2007 Donaghmoyne 2007 Glen, Co. Derry
2009 Donaghmoyne 2009 Aghabog
2010 Emyvale 2010 Donaghmoyne
2011 Donaghmoyne 2011 Knockbride, Co. Cavan
Best of luck to all teams participating in what should be a great day’s football.
Finally, remember reply early to avoid disappointment.