ULSTER and All-Ireland champions Donaghmoyne will face St Macartan’s in the 2016 Ulster Senior Club Championship decider on Sunday, October 30.
It is a repeat of the 2009 final, which Donaghmoyne won, but on yesterday’s 2-13 to 2-10 victory over Donegal champions Moville, St Macartan’s will feel they have a real chance of pushing the champions all the way.
Donaghmoyne had 10 points to spare over their Armagh counterparts Clann Eireann in their home 3-7 to 0-6 victory, Cathriona McConnell with a goal in each half.
At half-time, after leading from the start, Donaghmoyne were well in control 2-5 to 0-1, corner-forward Louise Kerley grabbing her side’s second goal.
Clann Eireann did hit the first two points of the second half but McConnell struck for her second goal as Donaghmoyne increased their lead 3-5 to 0-3 midway through the second half to end any thoughts of a Clann Eireann comeback.
The other semi-final in Augher was a closer affair, the home side hanging on to edge their Donegal opponents by three points in a high-scoring game.
The Tyrone champions got off to the perfect start, top-scorer Chloe McCaffrey, who finished with 1-5, finding the back of the net after just 30 seconds to put Moville on the back foot early on, chasing a 1-4 to no score deficit, McCaffrey with 1-3 of that St Macartan’s haul.
Their first half dominance, thanks to some great defensive work from Ryan McMenamin’s side was rewarded with a half-time 1-11 to 1-3 lead, Cara McGuinness with Moville’s goal in the 18th minute.
The real action of the second half came in the final 10 or so minutes. Shauna McGirr made it 2-13 to 1-6 with her side’s second goal in the 50th minute as it looked like there was no way back for the Donegal champions, appearing in their first provincial campaign in seven years.
However, they are not about to give up without a fight and hit St Macartan’s for an unanswered 1-4, but time and some superb defending were on the side of the home team and they hung to set up a final date with champions Donaghmoyne.
