St Ergnats reach yet another Ulster Final
The reigning Antrim and Ulster champions took control from early in the contest and had matters pretty well in hand when they led 4-9 to 1-4 at the halfway stage.
St. Ergnat’s 6-20 Steelstown 1-5
The mighty St Ergnats girls steam rolled the opposition as they booked their place in yet another Ulster ladies football final. They blew the Derry champions out of the water with a display of brilliant play which resulted in a thirty point thumping.
Goals were the order of the day, all six of them, as they eased past Steelstown in this semi final to set up another shoot out against old acquaintances, Donnaghmoyne.
The reigning Antrim and Ulster champions took control from early in the contest and had matters pretty well in hand when they led 4-9 to 1-4 at the halfway stage.
Cathy Carey set them on their way with a goal after five minutes and further goals from Sarah O’Neill, Maria O’Neill and Leah Stewart put them in total control. Three points each from Orlagh Prenter and Maria O’Neill, two from Ruby Mc Erlain and a single from Cliona Griffin helped them to their fourteen point interval advantage.
Things didn’t get any better for the Derry champions after the break as last year’s All Ireland beaten finalists ran riot and further goals from Ruby McErlain in the fourteenth and sixteenth minutes saw them ready to pack up and go home.
Orlaith Prenter continued to give an exhibition of point taking, adding another four to her first half contribution to take her total to seven for the afternoon while Ruby McErlain, Laura McCann, Cathy Carey, Leah Cassidy and Maria O’Neill shared another seven.
Dara McKeever was Steelstown outstanding performer, kicking three first half points and contributing their only second half score while her mid-field partner, Orla McGeough battled bravely beside her, contributing a goal and point over the hour.
St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass now play former Ulster kingpins, Donnaghmoyne in the decider after the Monaghan champions defeated Knockbride of Cavan in the other semi-final and while they may not be the potent force they once were, they nevertheless will provide a step up in class from the Derry champions.
The final is scheduled for Killyclogher on Sunday 8th November at 2-30pm and a good crowd is expected as St. Ergnat’s attempt to retain their Ulster title and provide them with another opportunity of attaining another attempt at All Ireland glory
Teams: Moneyglass: 1 Aine Devlin, 2 Aoife Leahy, 3 Niamh McIntosh, 4 Caitlion Graffin, 5 Rebecca Bradley, 6 Emma Louise McAreavey, 7 Cliona Griffin, 8 Leah Cassidy, 9 Sarah O’Neill, 10 Leah Stewart, 11 Maria O’Neill, 12 Bronagh Devlin, 13 Ruby McErlain, 14 Cathy Carey, 15 Orlaith Prenter, 18 Laura McCann
Steelstown: 1 Molly McBride, 2 Katy Holly, 3 Niamh Friel, 4 Tara Burns, 26 Molly McDonnell, 6 Kathryn Canavan, 7 Sarah Hunter, 8 Orla McGeough, 9 Dara McKeever, 10 Hannah Danan, 11 Caoimhe O’Kane, 12 Megan Devine, 13 Ellie Williams, 14 Emma Doherty, 15 Ella-Rose Sainsbury, 19 Eva Ferguson, 20 Gemma Duffy, 30 Shannon McCartney