Aghyaran Ladies Through To Ulster Club Final

Sunday 13.10.2013

Club

Aghyaran 3-14 Emyvale 0-7.

On a weekend that saw Cappagh crash out of the Ulster Club series and St Macartans win the Division One league title North Tyrone side Aghyaran continued their push for provincial honours.

The St Davogs are in the Ulster final after this comprehensive victory over Monaghan champions Emyvale on Saturday in Gavan Duffy Park Monaghan.
It was a power-packed display from the St Davog’s girls. A ten point lead at the interval illustrates the extent of the dominance of the Tyrone champions. Aimee Coyle with two points and Nichola Mc Menamin and Shannon Skelton with points apiece inside the opening five minutes put Aghyaran in control. Sasha Byrne raced through from wing back to fire to the net with only six minutes on the clock before Emyvale got their first score a pointed free from Michaela Mc Quaid.
Lucy Mc Menamin and Nichola Mc Menamin exerted a stranglehold in
midfield over the Mc Quaid girls while Shannon Skelton and Aimee Coyle were causing major problems for the Monaghan team’s defence. Twenty minutes in and Aghyaran were awarded a penalty which Kellie Meehan slotted to the net. That goal seemed to inspire the St Davogs who proceeded to dominate for the rest of the game.
Lucy Meehan, Shannon Skelton and Aimee Coyle kicked three more
points before Michaela Mc Quaid one of Emyvale’s best players landed a brace to leave the score at the interval Aghyaran 2-7 Emyvale 0-3.
The Tyrone champions maintained their intensity and cohesion on the restart. Nichola Mc Meniman hit two points after good approach work from Bronagh Mc Hugh Sasha Byrne and Shannon Skelton. Aghyaran controlled the game for the remainder of the match with superb displays in the middle of the field from Lucy Mc Menamin and Nichola Mc Menamin while a superb half back line of Sasha Byrne Kellie Meehan and Carol Ann Byrne kept a tight rein on the Emyvale forwads.
Behind them Ciara Logue, Bronagh Mc Hugh and Phenah O Neill give good cover to a very reliable goalkeeper Cathy Gallen who was safe throughout.
With ten minutes left Emyvale brought on a couple of subs
Dolores Hughes for Edwina Mc Kenna and Holly Mc Kenna for Amy Hamill. They also brought their full forward Niamh Treanor out around the middle in an attempt to win possession.
Both subs Mc Kenna and Hughes did manage to kick over a couple of points but that was as good as it got for the Monaghan girls.
One of Aghyaran’s best moves of the game ended with
Shannon Skelton colliding with goalkeeper Sinead Mohan and picking up a nasty injury which led to her being taken to hospital. All involved wish Shannon a speedy recovery.

Shannon had kicked five points and made an immense contribution from centre half forward before injury ended her involvement. After play resumed another goal from Aimee Coyle and a point from Nichola Mc Menamin left the Tyrone side an amazing sixteen points ahead and that was how the game ended.

Aghyaran can now look forward to an Ulster final clash with Shane O’Neills of Armagh in Emyvale on Saturday.

Aghyaran team and scorers:
Cathy Gallen, Bronagh Mc Hugh, Phenah O Neill Ciara Logue, Sasha Byrne (1-0) Kellie Meehan (1-0 pen),Carol Ann Byrne, Lucy Mc Menamin(0-2) & Nichola Mc Menamin (0-3) Niamh Gormley, Shannon Skelton (0-5),Fionnuala Mc Hugh, Aimee Coyle (1-4),Roisin Temple, Stacy Dolan.
Subs Emma Lynch for Shanon Skelton, Annette Mc Menamin for Niamh Gormley, Roisin Moss for Fionnuala Mc Hugh.

Emyvale Scorers: Michaela Mc Quaid (0-4) Holly Mc Kenna (0-2) Dolores Hughes (0-1) Referee- Kieran Mc Keever (Armagh).