Latest Ladies News

Wednesday 31.07.2013

Club

The Tyrone ladies intermediate football final promises to be another cracker after two keenly contested semi-finals this week. Emerging from those two games are Ardboe and Cappagh to tee up a classic East V West tie. Neither winner had it all their own way in the last four encounters, the Lough shore girls needed extra time to eventually edge out Strabane while Cappagh had to withstand everything that Loughmacrory threw at them.
Cappagh reached the decider minus Clodagh Poyntz while Ardboe too went into their semi-final tussle on Sunday without several key personnel, it would be expected both teams will be up to full strength for the final, the date to be confirmed.

Ardboe 2-8
Strabane 1-10 after extra time

There was nothing between these two in what turned into a thrilling semi-final at Clanabogan Park on Sunday night, no surprise that it took extra time to separate the sides. A last gasp penalty seemed to have secured Strabane’s place in the final, in a frantic climax it was cancelled out by a Kerri Graham point at the death.
It was Strabane who stormed into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead with Conwell, Brennan and Moss all among the early points. Ardboe were living off scraps, Meave Wylie their scorer with Rebeka Forbes and Karen Quinn battling hard.
A purple patch from the O’Donavan Rossas was expected and it came when a well taken Quinn point got the scoreboard moving and Jennifer McGuigan’s crisp pass set Graham up for a crucial goal.
Back in the game Ardboe then took charge. An opportune free kick from the boot of Forbes found its way to the net and after being in the driving seat a shell shocked Strabane trailed by two.
The North Tyrone side were struggling although Conwell went close they failed to trouble the scoreboard again until the 23rd minute. Laura Brennan who had been dominant in the first half struck a point, It would be fair to say that Brennan was tireless while Tori McLaughlin who was superb throughout was left to be the play maker and the driving force of the Sigersons challange.
O’Hagan was struggling with injury and moved to the forward line while Ardboe racked up the pressure when Forbes and Graham hit points.
Conwell’s point left two between them but it was all change when Strabane were awarded a penalty for a foul on McGillion. Under pressure and injured and with two minutes to go O’hagan stepped up and drilled home the spot kick. However there was a futher twist in the tail though as Graham equalised to take the tie into extra time.

Ardboe opened a two point gap in the first period with Graham 0-2 and Wylie points nullifying a Conwell score and in a dogged second period Moss was the only scorer as Strabane tried for an equaliser.
Both teams had given it all but it was joy for the East Tyrone side.

Cappagh 1-13
Loughmacrory 1-10

A blistering opening spell put Cappagh on course to what eventually turned out to be a narrow win over a battling Loughmacrory at Beragh. They dominated the opening exchanges and led 0-5 to 0-2 with McCusker impressive in attack. It took a while for Loughmacrory to settle Gallagher, Toner and Donaghey keeping the scoreboard turning over, yet Cappagh had a three point lead at the break.
The Killyclogher team looked to be in cruise control in the second half and by the mid way point they had found the net through Ashling Porter and added points through McCusker. Leading 1-12 to 0-7 there seemed no way back for Loughmacrory.
Emily Donaghey though got things moving for the Lough side, the young midfielder drove at Cappagh and her workrate produced a yellow card for the Cappagh full back Molly Keenan. A probing ball by Donaghey found Lisa McAleer who was upended.
The free was scored and points from Grimes and McCullagh closed the gap before a penalty call went in Loughmacrory’s favour.
McAleer made no mistake and there was just two between them in the fading light.
Both teams traded chances but despite going close Loughmacrorys challange petered out and a late Cappagh point wrapped up the scoring and a place in another Intermediate decider.

In the senior football championship remarkably the ladies have gone with a Saturday fixture at 3pm in the first of the semi finals as Errigal Ciaran and Carrickmore go head to head. It is of course a repeat of last year’s final and it promises to be every bit as intense. The champions go into the tie with a full complement of players available while Carrickmore will feel they have a point to prove after last year’s narrow defeat.
There will be an abundance of high quality footballers on show and there will certainly be little between the sides.
The action of course in the senior football championship begins on Friday night as Dungannon face Clan Na Gael in the first of the semi finals. The Aodh Ruadh girls will be fancied to get over the line in this one although the North Tyrone side will not just be making up the numbers at Greencastle.
Dungannon have no players distracted by County football and they will have been focused solely on this tie now for several weeks. They look sharp and are keen to return to the senior county final. Clan Na gael beat Donaghmore in the quarter final and have no major injury issues ahead of Friday’s clash.

SENIORS FACE CLARE
The Tyrone senior ladies now know their fate in terms of the all Ireland qualifiers. The beaten Ulster finalists will face the challenge of Clare on August 10th with the venue still to be confirmed. The Munster side beat Kildare with Niamh O’Dea impressive up front, as for Tyrone, Joline Donnelly is ruled out but overall the build up continues with no major problems. The management team hope to have a challenge game this weekend as they focus on the Clare tie
Tyrone Ladies Championship Semi Final Fixtures

Senior Semi Finals

Errigal Ciaran V Carrickmore St Colmcille’s – Sat 3rd Aug 3PM Galbally

Clann na Gael V Aodh Ruadh – Fri 2nd Aug 8.15pm in Greencastle

Junior Semi Finals

Moy Tír na nÓg V Castlederg St Eugene’s – Thur 1st Aug 8.15pm in Loughmacrory

Kildress Wolfe Tones V Aghyaran St Davogs – Fri 2nd Aug 7pm in Greencastle

Junior B Semi Finals

Coalisland Fianna V Owen Roe O’Neill’s – Thur 1st Aug 7pm in Loughmacrory

Edendork St Malachy’s V Badoney – Mon 5th Aug 7.30pm in Kildress