Our Lady’s Castleblayney 2-10
Coláiste Oiriall 2.08
Our Lady’s Castleblayney qualified for their fourth Ulster Senior Final in five years following a narrow two point victory over Coláiste Oiriall in the Peace link Clones on the 12th December.
The all-Monaghan clash was eagerly anticipated and a large attendance watched an enthralling contest which was keenly contested throughout. The form guide suggested a close encounter with Coláiste Oiriall who comprehensively defeated a highly fancied St Paul’s Bessbrook in the group stages, adding to this they had won Ulster titles at Senior and U/16 C level in 2015. Castleblayney for their part were backboned by four Ulster Colleges All Stars and have become a major force at Ulster Colleges at both A & B levels in recent years.
Three times Ulster All Star, Muireann Atkinson opened the Blayney girls account with a well taken score in the opening minutes and her duel with O’ Neill Shamrocks club mate Hannah McSkeane was to prove the contest of the game. Aoife McBennett increased Our Lady’s lead with a well taken goal, however the hugely impressive Caoimhe Ward responded for the Monaghan girls with a well taken goal. Atkinson & McBennett added further scores from frees as aided by a strong breeze Our Lady’s stretched their lead with scores from team captain Eimear Finnegan and full back Emma Kerr. Sorcha McCague increased Our Lady’s lead with a well taken goal but on the stroke of half time the Monaghan town girls replied with a goal by Emma Clerkin. Our Lady’s had an eight point cushion at the break but had to play the second half into a strong breeze.
Coláiste Oiriall dominated early proceedings of the second half with Emma Clerkin, Morgan Mc Kenna and Caoimhe Ward all narrowing the deficit with well taken scores from distance. With the lead now reduced to one point, injured Ulster All Star Celine Nally entered the fray hitting Our Lady’s only score of the second half. A combination of some wayward shooting and some heroic last ditch defending by Orlaith Maguire, Emma Kerr and the ever- dependable Sorcha Mc Donald ensured that Our Lady’s defence was not breached in the closing stages. Our Lady’s ran out deserving two point winners to set up an Ulster final date with St Mary’s Magherafelt on the 14th January in Garvaghy.
The Our Lady’s team and scorers were Sorcha Mc Donald (O’ Neill Shamrocks), Orlaith Maguire (Castleblayney), Emma Kerr 0.01(O’ Neill Shamrocks), Ashling Callan ( Donaghmoyne), Megan Byrne ( Doohamlet), Sarah Boyd (Latton), Eimear Conlon ( Aughnamullen), Andrea Duffy ( Aughnamullen), Eimear Finnegan 0.01 ( Donaghmoyne), Jennifer Duffy 0.01(O’ Neill Shamrocks), Niamh Kerr (O’ Neill Shamrocks), Saoirse Boyd (Latton), Aoife Mc Bennett 1.03 ( St. Bridget’s), Muireann Atkinson 0.03 (O’ Neill Shamrocks), Sorcha Mc Cague 1.00 (O’ Neill Shamrocks). Subs used Celine Nally 0.01 ( Scotstown)
