AIB Ulster Ladies’ SFC preliminary round
Emyvale (Monaghan) 1-8 Clann Eireann (Armagh) 6-12
ULSTER champions Clann Eireann proved too strong for Emyvale in the preliminary round clash at St Oliver Plunkett Park in Emyvale on Sunday.
The Armagh side were fully in control at half-time thanks to a 5-6 to 1-2 lead.
Facing first time senior champions Emyvale, they made the perfect start and had 1-2 on the scoreboard with the game just four minutes old, Niamh Coleman with a goal in the first minute before captain Niamh Henderson and then Niamh Murray adding quick fire points.
Emyvale found the target through Ciara McClelland (McAnespie) in the ninth minute to get them off the mark but it was Clann Eireann who were to further extend their lead when full-forward Murray found the back of the net in the 11th minute for their second goal
A minute later their advantage was 3-2 to 0-1 when Eimear McConaghy’s free found it’s way to the back of the Emyvale net.
A Holly McQuaid free for the home side momentarily halted the Clann Eireann steam train but they hit 2-4 in the final 10 minutes of the half, 2-3 of that unanswered.
Meabh McCambridge struck for a fourth goal for the visitors in the 20th minute, Murray added a brace of points from frees with one from a McConaghy free before she followed up with her second and her side’s fifth goal in the 26th minute to put 18 between them, 5-5 to 0-2.
McQuaid pulled a goal back for Emyvale but at the break the provincial champions were firmly in control, 5-6 to 1-2.
Emyvale got the first score of the second, McQuaid on target to raise the white flag but for Clann Eireann it was all about keeping their side of the scoreboard ticking over.
Cassie Henderson got their only goal of the half in the 35th minute, as Niamh Henderson, Murray and McConaghy weighed in with further points and with a quarter of the game remaining it was 6-10 to 1-4 before Emyvale finished with a late flurry with points from Aine and Holly McQuaid.
Emyvale’s championship season has come to an end but it was one they will not forget as they finally landed the Monaghan title and they still have a league final to look forward to, to complete the double.
Clann Eireann now go into the quarter-finals where they will face Fermanagh champions Kinawley on Sunday.
