Under 14 League Titles For Loch And Aghaloo

Thursday 04.07.2019

Club

Loughmacrory and Aghaloo both claimed under 14 league titles on Thursday evening at Beragh following two excellent games of football played on a superb surface.

Aghaloo were first up and after a high scoring game they saw off the challenge of a very determined Loughmacrory side in the ladies Grade 3 decider.

There was little between the teams throughout but Aghaloo’s full forward line of Erin Mc Ginn, Áine Sherry and Erin O’Hara managed to get key scores at vital times to swing it in favour of the Feile champions.

After an entertaining first thirty minutes Aghaloo led 3-4 to 2-2 with Sherry, Paris Douglas and Katie Mc Ginn among the scores. Sherry finished the first half with 2-3 to her name. Loughmacrory’s Maeve Heaney, Dearbhaill Fox and Cora Donaghy got the scores which kept them in the game at the break.

Loughmacroy worked hard to reduce the deficit after the break and with seventeen minutes of the second half played the gap was down to a single point following well worked goals from Heaney and Fox.

That however was as good as it got for the Loch. Aghaloo ace Sherry bagged two goals and the momentum swung very much in their favour and Aghaloo pulled away to add the league title to their list of honours this year.

Following that first game Loughmacrory Under 14s locked horns with the all conquering Donaghmore side and after an incredible game of football that had it all, underdogs Loughmacroy claimed the Grade 1 League Title on a scoreline of 3-13 to 3-9.

Team captain Eoin Mc Elholm will receive many of the plaudits for the win having scored 1-8 of his side’s total. However this was no one-man show with every player on the team contributing to the win.

Loch had stars all over the field as they fought for every ball. Their teamwork and support play were a treat to watch and a disappointing Donaghmore side just could not match the intensity the winners brought to the game. Time and time again they turned the ball over, blocked, tackled or intercepted and when they won possession they broke with pace and purpose.

The first half was close and competitive and with half time approaching the Loch led 0-7 to 0-3 following scores from Mc Elholm and Ruairi Mc Cullagh. Conan Mc Garvey and Ronan Molloy were on target for a misfiring Donaghmore side. One final attack saw the ball played into the Donaghmore defence and first to react was Mc Elholm. As the ball came into the square he finished it to the net to put his team in a strong position at the break.

Those watching this enthralling game were expecting a different Donaghmore team after the break. They enjoyed much more possession but could not penetrate the Loch defence who were being made to work overtime.

Midfielder Eoin Donaghy was on the end of a fast break from defence to extend his team’s lead and in spite of persistent pressure all Donaghmore had to show for the first sixteen minutes of the second half was another three points. Mc Elholm added a third goal, and should have had a fourth as the lead was extended to fourteen points with fourteen minutes remaining.

However it was at this stage where Donaghmore went for broke. Loughmacrory began to tire and spaces began to open up. Molloy, Rory Mc Gee, Mc Garvey and Hackett created chance after chance. Something had to give and in spite of some heroic defending from the Loch defenders Donaghmore began to eat into the lead. Molloy hit 1-3 and James Mulgrew added another point to leave nine points between them.

With the game heading into injury time Donaghmore piled forward and goals from Conan Mc Garvey and Ronan Molloy suddenly had the nerves jangling for Loughmacrory. However one final breakaway attack saw the ball fall to Mark Mc Dermott and the diminutive corner forward sealed the win for his team with a fine score.

The full time whistle saw huge celebrations for the Loch contingent as they celebrated a deserved but hard fought league title following a super game of football between two very talented sides.

Final score: Loughmacrory 3-13, Donaghmore 3-9.