Ulster Senior Ladies' Football Championship semi-finals: Cavan 1-9 Donegal 1-8; Monaghan 3-17 Armagh 2-4
THE form book was well and truly thrown out of the window on Saturday as Cavan and Monaghan triumphed in their semi-finals to set up an Ulster Senior Championship final derby on Sunday, July 3.
Cavan reached their first senior decider since 1977 when they overcame reigning champions Donegal by the narrowest of margins in a tough and entertaining encounter in the first game of the semi-final double-header at Killyclogher.
The Breffni Blues, inspired by Aisling Doonan who hit seven points in all, were full merit for their win, with a solid all round performance as they finally got one over on their nemesis.
Donegal, who were missing a number of key players who are currently in the United States for the summer, including forward Geradline McLaughlin, were on the back foot for long periods in the second-half, but looked like they might just have snatched the win when they hit the game’s opening goal with nine minutes remaining, but Cavan came roaring back.
There was little between the sides in the opening half of a hard-hitting championship encounter. They were level on three occasions before two late points from Amy Rooney and Caitriona Smith gave Cavan a 0-5 to 0-3 interval lead.
A long range effort from Karen Guthrie reduced the deficit at the start of the second period. However, Cavan moved three clear by the end of the third quarter with a brace from Doonan, but they were also guilty of a number of missed chances as they took the game to Donegal.
The game’s opening goal came nine minutes from time, with a sweeping Donegal move started by Amber Barrett and finished by the Milford player to put Donegal a point clear.
The response was immediate, however, with Cavan netting through Rooney before Yvonne McMonagle (2) and Doonan pointed to leave it a one-point game. Donegal pushed for an equaliser and it took two moments of superb defending in added-time to keep them at bay and send Cavan into the decider against Monaghan.
The victory is a first senior championship win for Cavan since they won the intermediate title in 2013 and manager Conor Barry was delighted with the way they responded to Donegal’s late goal.
“We came here and we said, at all costs, it didn’t matter if we won ugly or well that we were coming off with a win today,” said Barry.
“This bunch of girls have been intermediate for a lot of their lives and it is hard to step up to senior, but they showed they are up to senior level.
"The hits they took and the hits they put in themselves and the effort they put in, a lesser team with 10 minutes to go having conceded that absolute sucker punch of a goal would have just folded away, but that is not this group.”
IF THE first game was nip-and-tuck, the second semi-final was far from it, but this was a stunning performance from Monaghan to blow away favourites Armagh.
Coming into the Championship off a disappointing league campaign, Paula Cunningham’s side were clinical and Armagh simply could not handle their pace and movement.
Monaghan started in lightning fashion, racing 0-4 to 0-1 clear, with Ciara McAnespie very much to the fore and already sending out warnings to Armagh. By the eighth minute, a goal from Amy Mullholand levelled matters but, immediately at the other end, goals from Danica Tavey and Ciara McAnespie had Monaghan back in control.
Monaghan’s Grainne McNally and Armagh’s Sharon Reel were both sent to the sin bin for separate incidents as Monaghan went in at the break 2-5 to 1-3 ahead.
Their dominance continued after the break as they tore Armagh apart, moving the ball at speed. Armagh were to only score twice in the second-half, a point from Mulholland in the early stages and an injury-time goal from the penalty spot by Aimee Mackin.
Between both scores, Monaghan hit an unanswered 1-10, playing some scintillating football. In all, they finished with eight different scorers that included a senior championship debut goal from Rosemary Courtney, who came off the bench for her older sister Sharon.
Monaghan manger Paula Cunningham said key to her side’s victory was the team’s fitness levels: “Nobody outside our circle expected that, but we have been working with these girls since January and I could see that performance in them.
"We have worked hard during the league and, obviously, results didn’t go for our way, but there is a serious bunch of girls there who will work and work for that jersey.
“It’s a semi-final and there is no cup in our hands and we have to knuckle down for two weeks and do the same again, if not rise it up for Cavan, who beat a good Donegal team.”
MATCH STATS
Cavan scorers: A Donnan (0-7, 0-2 frees), A Rooney (1-1), C Smith (0-1).
Donegal scorers: A Barrett (1-1), Y McMonagle (0-3, 0-1 free), K Guthrie (0-2, 0-1 free), K Herron (0-1), P McGroary (0-1).
Monaghan scorers: C McAnespie (1-4), E McCarron (0-5, 0-2 frees), R Courtney (1-1), C Courtney (0-3, 0-2 frees), D Tavey (1-0), L McEnaney (0-2), E McAnespie (0-1), T Scott (0-1).
Armagh scorers: A Mulholland (1-2), A Mackin (1-1, 1-0 penaly, 0-1 free); K Mallon (0-1 free).
Ulster Intermediate Ladies' Football Championship semi-final: Down 3-12 Fermanagh 2-9
DOWN forward Lauren Cunningham scored 2-8 in the second-half as the Mourne county came from a point behind at half-time against defending champions Fermanagh at Galbally on Saturday to book their place in next month’s Ulster Intermediate Championship final against Tyrone on Sunday, July 3.
Cunningham, who was a late replacement for full-forward Aileen Pyers, was instrumental in her team’s victory and finished with a total of 2-9, equal to Fermanagh’s entire contribution in the game.
Down manager Conor O’Neill was delighted with the character his side showed: “I am absolutely delighted for everyone involved with the win and to reach the final,” he said.
“Last year, I was told that Down ladies' was finished for the next five to 10 years. The players are doing their talking on the pitch and I couldn't be more proud.
“Lauren was unbelievable, but the effort of every player on my panel has set us up for this final, the work rate throughout has been superb. We now get back on the training pitch and continue to work hard for the final and look forward to facing Tyrone.”
Fermanagh led 0-6 to 1-2 at half-time and it looked like Down, who grabbed their first goal through Jordan Magee, might rue their 10 first-half wides as they did not turn their possession to their advantage on the scoreboard.
Down put pressure on Fermanagh right from the start of the second-half, levelling matters before Cunningham grabbed her first goal to put them 2-3 to 0-6 ahead.
A couple of frees for the Erne county did keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over as they trailed 2-4 to 0-8, but Cunningham dealt any chance of a comeback another blow, raising the green flag for Down for a third time to extend their lead to seven points, 3-6 to 0-8.
Fermanagh were thrown a bit of a lifeline six minutes from time when Down were reduced to 14, full-back Ciara Kearns sin binned and although substitute Lynne McFrederick found the back of the net twice late on, it was too little, too late.
