MMI Interprovincial Championships
ULSTER became the first province to win the prestigious Mick Talbot Cup for the sixth year in-a-row with victory over Munster in the MMI Interprovincial Championship final at Monaghan Harps on Saturday.
It was an extra special victory too, with Ulster hosting the competition as part of their 25 years of ladies' football celebrations.
This is now a 10th title for Ulster. Their first was won in 1999 and, impressively, eight of the following nine have come in the last 10 years.
Under the helm of Armagh man Gary Mallon, Ulster had four points to spare over Munster in the final, winning 1-15 to 1-11 but it wasn’t until the last 15 or so minutes of this game that the defending champions pulled away.
Level on four occasions throughout the 50 minutes, Ulster hit seven unanswered points to draw level and then pull away from their opponents, whom they defeated 1-12 in 3-4 in the dead rubber third round robin game earlier that day after both teams, defeating Connacht, had already qualified for the final before they met.
With Leinster absent because of inter-county championship this weekend, the three remaining teams were battling it out for a place in the final.
Munster led 0-2 to no score early on, but a seventh minute Aisling Doonan goal put Ulster into the lead before Ailish Considine levelled matters. Munster then led 0-5 to 1-1 but four Ulster points in-a-row put the champions 1-5 to 0-5 in the lead and at half-time they had a two-point advantage, 1-6 to 0-7.
Munster levelled for the third time five minutes into the second half, but Ulster edged back in front before Michelle Ryan from Waterford put Munster in front again 1-9 to 1-7 in the 34th minute.
However, Ulster responded in the true form of champions with those seven consecutive points. Donegal’s Niamh Hegarty, with her third point of the final, levelled the game for the fourth time before player of the tournament Caroline O’Hanlon put them in front, 1-10 to 1-9, with a point from a free.
From there, Ulster never looked backed and four minutes from time had established a 1-14 to 1-9 lead.
Munster did hit the last two of three points but Ulster were in control and duly celebrated an impressive sixth title in six years at the final whistle.
Ulster: Linda Martin (Monaghan), Treasa Doherty (Donegal), Ailish Cornyn (Donegal), Ciara Hegarty (Donegal), Neamh Woods (Tyrone), Sharon Courtney (Monaghan), Grainne McNally (Monaghan), Caroline O'Hanlon (Armagh), Karen Guthrie (Donegal), Cora Courtney (Monaghan), Ellen McCarron (Monaghan), Ciara McAnespie (Monaghan), Yvonne McMonagle (Donegal), Geraldine McLaughlin (Donegal), Aisling Doonan (Cavan), Alice McColgan (Donegal), Josie Fitzpatrick (Monaghan), Sinead Greene (Cavan), Rachel McKenna (Monaghan), Eimear McAnespie (Monaghan), Meabh Mallon (Tyrone), Donna English (Cavan), Niamh Marley (Armagh), Niamh Hegarty (Donegal), Caoimhe Mohan (Monaghan), Emma Doherty (Derry), Mona Sheridan (Cavan)
Results
Round 1: Munster 5-9 Connacht 2-11
Round 2: Ulster 1-17 Connacht 0-8
Round 3: Ulster 1-12 Munster 3-4
Final: Ulster 1-15 Munster 1-11
