Down Final: Bredagh 2-12 Carryduff 0-6
Nine-in-a-row now for Bredagh in Down - and opponents Carryduff can have little complaint after a strong second half showing from Mark Doran’s side.
The Tyrone man came back to manage the side this year having previously won four titles with the perennial Down champions before taking a break.
“It was if I was never away”, quipped Doran. “I am happy and relieved. Carryduff had a chance to beat us last year and they were really gunning for us this year.
“But now we can focus on Ulster and a really tough group with Errigal Ciaran and Donaghmoyne - it’s out of the frying pan into the fire, you could say”.
Bredagh led by four points at the break after a solid start had them four up but Carryduff rallied and came back at their illustrious opponents, making a real fist of things in the opening half, with Aishling Cull among their scores.
Two goals on the re-start, though, set the scene for a Bredagh win. A fortunate strike from Sophie Short, who finished with 1-3, kick-started the half before Eilish Ward slotted home a penalty.
From then they continued to drive home their advantage, showing lots of the experience gathered in that nine-year unbeaten ‘domestic’ run.
Evie McHugh and Cara Donnelly joined Cull with Carryduff scores but it was Bredagh who eased over the line, winning by 12 points in the end.
Bredagh scorers: Sophie Short 1-3, Eilish Ward 1-1, Aoibhinn McCarville 0-2, Viv McCormack 0-2, Meabh Kelly, Erin Watson, Orlagh Blaney, and Grace Guest 0-1 each.
Carryduff Scorers: Aishling Cull 0-4, Cara Donnelly 0-1, Evie Mc Hugh 0-1.
Monaghan Final: Donaghmoyne 5-17 Magheracloone 1-2
Ulster be warned- Donaghmoyne are back! Their return to the top table in Monaghan came in emphatic style on Sunday as Magheracloone were quite literally blown away.
This was powerhouse football from a side that had dominated the Farney for 21 years in a row until two years ago. Their hunger was evident from the start.
Lauren Garland was superb, not only did she finish with 2-6 , 2-2 in the second half, but she was the conduit that all that was good about Francie Coleman’s side came through.
Their dominance was underlined in the first half, storming into control, leading 1-10 to 1-2, with Leanne Maguire only getting Magheracloone’s first score, a point, on 18 minutes.
Maguire also got their goal before the break but even by then they looked well-beaten. Garland hit four points, Catriona Murnaghan, and the Courtneys, Cora and Rosemary, scored points, Rosemary netting a brilliant first half goal too.
Donaghmoyne maintained their control and turned the screw tighter in the second half despite having Emer Treanor sin-binned just before the break. Her absence mattered little for those opening 10 minutes.
The scores flowed as Catriona Murnaghan hit 1-3 including a penalty, player of the match Garland hit 2-2, while Nicole Kearney added a second point to her first half score, and Amy Garland hit a stunning point raiding from the back. Maguire was on target with Magheracloone’s second point as Donaghmoyne were never troubled.
Cora Courtney and a good 1-2 from Aoife Burns ensured a more than easy day at Gavin Duffy Park.
Donaghmoyne scorers: Lauren Garland 2-6, Catriona Murnaghan 1-4, Rosemary Courtney and Aoife Burns 1-1 each, Nicole Kearney and Cora Courtney 0-2 each, Amy Garland 0-1.
Magheracloone Scorers: Leanne Maguire 1-2.
Derry Final: Steelstown Brian Ogs 1-10 O’Donavan Rossa, Magherafelt 0-6
Another senior ladies title for the Brian Ogs at Lavey, despite the sides being level at the break, 1-2 to 0-5. Jeanette Slevin was on target for Magherafelt while the champions showed real nerves despite Orla McGeough’s goal.
It hadn’t been a good half and corner-forward McGeough admitted they had work to do: “We had to up our game in the second half and control what we could control”.
Her manager Thomas Cusack explained the players had their issues sorted: “We gave them a bit of time in the changing rooms at the break before we came in to talk to them and by that time they had sorted a lot out themselves and we built through the second half.”
The Rossas managed just a single point on the resumption as McGeough added to her tally, McKeever, Ellie Williams and Ella Rose Salisbury among the Steelstown scorers as they secured a seven- point win.
