Dungannon Academy Claim Ulster U16 Title

Tuesday 28.01.2025

Junior Player Profiles

St Patricks Academy Dungannon defeated Dean Maguirc 3-16 to 2-10 in the Ulster Ladies Grade 2 Under 16 final on Tuesday afternoon at the Rock but it took extra time and a real battle to do so.

Dungannon led by two at the break 1-4 to 1-2 after a tough opening thirty minutes that saw both sides work hard defensively to keep scoring chances to a minimum. With defences very much on top goal chances were few and far between but Aoife Quinn did well to find the net for the Academy midway through the first half to put her side 1-2 to 0-1 ahead.

However the pacy and elusive Katie Marley got her side back in the game when she found space where there was none before firing to the back of the net. The teams swapped points to go in at the break with Dungannon leading 1-4 to 1-2.

There was no let up in the pace of the game during the second half with both sides enjoying periods of possession and control. Academy points from Lauren O’Neill and Aine Nelis made it a four point game before Marley and Chloe Murphy pointed for the Dean and reduced the gap to two.

A brace of points from the highly impressive Lauren O’Neill stretched the lead out to four again before Jenna Mc Clean bagged a goal for the Dean. The Carrickmore girls then added points from Katie Marley and Lucie Murphy to put the Dean ahead with seven minutes remaining on the clock.

Dungannon replied with scores from Cara Mc Moran and Aoife Quinn to take the lead again but with time running out Katie Marley converted a last minute free for the Dean to make it 2-7 to 1-10 and take the game to extra time.

Extra time saw players going down with cramp as both sides began to show signs of fatigue. Dungannon were very much on top in the opening period with Nelis, Quinn, O’Neill and Cara Mc Moran outstanding for their team. They outscored the Dean 2-6 to 0-4 during extra time and ran out deserving winners on a final score of 3-16 to 2-10.