Our Lady’s Castleblayney 4.11
St. Mary’s Magherfelt 1.05
Our Lady’s Castleblayney made it three Ulster Senior titles in five years with hugely impressive win over Derry kingpins St Mary’s Magherfelt in Garvaghy last Thursday.
In truth the Blayney girls dominated the game from start to finish and were full value for their comprehensive victory. Our Lady’s opened the scoring with a well taken point by Sorcha Mc Cague, followed by a brace of scores by three time All Star Muireann Atkinson who was dominating the midfield exchanges. Niamh Kerr added a trademark score from all of 35 metres and when Muireann added a goal in the 20minute Our Lady’s were in the ascendancy. Magherfelt staged a mini revival with a goal and a point in the closing stages of the first half but Blaney responded with a well taking score by Aoife Mc Bennett to lead at half time 1.08 to 1.01.
The second half began with a well taken score by another of Our Lady’s All Stars Celine Nally. Scores were at a premium for the next ten minutes with both defences on top with Our Lady’s corner backs Orlaith Maguire and Ashling Callan being particularly effective. The Magherafelt girls were then awarded a penalty with ten minutes remaining however Sorcha Mc Donald pulled off a great double save to deny Magherfelt All Star Orlaith Prenter. Our Lady’s introduced Jayne Drury who made an immediate impact on proceedings hitting 1.01 to effectively end the game as a contest, further scores were added by Eimear Conlon and Ellen Tibby who hit two late goals and in so doing collected her third Ulster senior title. The game ended in a blizzard of snow but even the inclement weather couldn’t dampen the euphoria of the large Our Lady’s support at the final whistle. Corner back Orlaith Maguire deservedly picked up the player of the match and team captain Eimear Finnegan lifted the Ulster U/20 Cup amid scenes of great jubilation. Our Lady’s now enter the All Ireland series against the Munster championship on a date to be confirmed.
The team and scorers were: Sorcha Mc Donald, Aisling Callan, Emma Kerr, Orlaith Maguire, Megan Byrne, Eimear Finnegan (C), Sarah Boyd, Muireann Atkinson 1.03, Andrea Duffy, Saoirse Boyd, Niamh Kerr 0.01, Jennifer Duffy, Aoife Mc Bennett 0.02, Celine Nally 0.02 Sorcha Mc Cague 0.01 subs used Eimear Conlon 0.01 Jane Drury 1.01 Ellen Tibby 2.00, Saoirse Duffy Other panel members Aoife Bannigan, Lauren Casey, Shauna Coogan, Sheena Mc Keena, Aoife Toner, Ceara Finnegan, Eleanor Fitzpatrick & Ellen Mulholland. Team management Roisin O Keeffe, Tony Graham.
On FridayJanuary 15th evening four members of Our Lady’s Senior Ladies GAA team collected Ulster Colleges All Stars at a well attended function at Kelly’s Inn Ballygawley. Orlaith Maguire, Muireann Atkinson Eimear Finnegan and Celine Nally will represent Ulster at the Schools Interprovincial series in Kinnegan this weekend.
