Macs Stun Carrickmore In Comeback Win

Sunday 06.10.2024

Intermediate Championship

St Macartans sit proudly at the top of Tyrone Senior Ladies roll of honour by securing their 14th title following an absorbing game with Carrickmore, under the lights at Healy Park. A St Macs victory looked highly unlikely with eight minutes of normal time remaining they trailed by five points. Using all their experience, resilience and refusal to lose they clawed their way back into the match and forced extra time.

St Macs opened the scoring through Joline Donaghy and although they played with a significant breeze, two points in a row from Aimee Grimes and a Gemma Begley free gave Carrickmore the lead for the first time, by the end of the first quarter.

Joline Donaghy levelled from a free before the same player found the net in the 17th minute, eventually finding the net after St Macs spurned several attempts in the same passage of play. The lead only lasted three minutes, Claire McGurk was quickest to react to a Gemma Begley free which dropped short, driving the ball to the net. Begley and Donaghy exchanged points, before Colleen McQuaid gave St Macs the narrowest of leads at the interval.

Carrickmore completely dominated the third quarter, with the electric Sorcha Gormley to the fore. Gormley fired to the net after Begley, Caitlin Gormley and herself had all been on target. Joline Donaghy got her sides first score of the half in the 46th minute, but by then they trailed by four. A fourth Begley free extended the lead with the game in its final ten minutes.

St Macs introduced Chloe McCaffrey, unable to start due to injury and her impact was telling. McQuaid converted a second free, Slaine McCarroll’s influence was becoming more obvious and as they drove forward a long delivery saw Cathy Maguire bravely beat keeper Dearbhla Donaghy to the punch and the ball nestled in the net. McCarroll levelled the game in the 59th minute and incredibly Joline Donaghy kept her nerve to kick a free to lead the game. Sorcha Gormley showed all her quality to equalise and send the game to extra time.

St Macartans ruthlessly took the game away from Carrickmore in the opening five minutes of extra time. McCaffrey and McCarroll gave the victors the perfect start with points and a fantastic McCaffrey finish gave the Macs a four point lead at the break.

Sorcha Gormley reduced the deficit to a goal but Macartans didn’t allow Carrickmore the chance to create a goal and fittingly Murphys Gloves player of the match Slaine McCarroll wrapped up victory with a lovely solo effort.