AIB Ulster Junior B final: Lacken (Cavan) 2-10 Naomh Treasa Dungannon (Tyrone) 1-4
LACKEN avenged defeat by Naomh Treasa in the 2020 decider by taking control just before half–time in this AIB Ulster Junior B final in Middletown on Saturday and remaining in front through until the final whistle.
Róisín McErlean gave Naomh Treasa an early lead and, although Róisín Galligan and Róisín O’Keefe edged Lacken ahead, the Dungannon side re-took the lead after some good saves from goalie Eimear Colton and a goal from Cara Little.
McErlean added a point to that lead, before Lacken hit their purple patch which resulted in them taking a lead of 1-6 to 1-3 into the break. O’Keefe fired over a couple of fine points and also scored the goal after Colton had saved her initial effort.
Early in the second half Joanne Moore hit the net for a second Cavan goal and with points from Eimear Brady and O’Keefe they pulled away. Dungannon finished the game with 14 players after full-forward Gráinne Rafferty picked up a straight red in the 42nd minute.
Player of the match went to Lacken midfielder Lucy Crowe who worked hard at both ends of the pitch. Others to stand out for the winners were Roisin O’Keefe who top-scored with 1-5, Joanne Moore, and Rosie Crowe-McKeever at the heart of their defence.
Naomh Treasa cannot have any real complaint about the result as they struggled for scores during the second half. Eimear Colton was easily their best player with a number of good saves, best supported by Bronagh Barker, Cáitlín McNulty and Beth Jones.
Lacken: M Ellis; Áine Crowe, N McInerney, N Murray; Aoife Crowe, R Crowe-McKeever, C O’Reilly; L Crowe, R Galligan (0-1); A O’Brien, J Moore (1-1), L Murtagh; R O’Keefe (1-5), T Hogan, E Brady (0-3).
Subs: E Smith for R O’Keefe, T Carr for L Murtagh, S Rudden for R Galligan, H Murray for A O Brien, K Riley for T Hogan.
Naomh Treasa: E Colton; M Barker, B Barker, D Ó Faoláin; C Casey, C McGrath, Á McNulty; Caitlin McNulty, C Ferran; B Jones, C Kelly, R McErlean (0-3); Cora McNulty, L Casey, G Rafferty, C Little (1-1)
