Senior Ladies Rue First Half Display Against Glenravel

Antrim Ladies Intermediate Football Championship

Con Magee’s 7.05 v 3.11 St.Joseph’s

Played at Tir Na nÓg on a cold wet August evening before a large crowd who saw a game of two proverbial half’s. The North Antrim side bossed their South West cousins all over the pitch in the first half and indeed only for some wayward shooting would have been much further in front at halftime. The second half was a carbon copy of the first only this time it was the girls in orange ruled the roost.

Con Magee’s got the perfect start with a goal on their second attack quickly followed by two points. Midfielders Megan McGarry and Ana Mulholland were winning the midfield battle at the stage. Then we had a turnaround with Glenavy scoring 1.03 to go in front. The fullforward line of Fionnuala Connor, Orlagh Clinton and full forward Ellen Morgan who was on fire were giving their opposite number a torrid time. Former All Ireland junior winner with Antrim Fionnuala Connor scored a beautiful goal to stop the rot. Grainne McLoughlin showed her class when she split the posts while under pressure. Young Ellen Morgan showed why she is such a great sportswoman when she raised the white flag on two occasions. The Chapel Hill side were in front for the one and only time.

With determination and an abundance of skill the green and white clad girls soon reeled in their opponents with Victoria Edgar scoring a goal and a point to put her side in a lead they never lost. Cathy had their opponents in shackles. Ellen Morgan pounced on a loose ball to raise her third white flag. Once again the Glen’s side’s stretched the lead with a two goals and two points to leave the halftime score 4.05 v 1.4.

Whatever was said in the Glenavy dressing room at halftime worked? From the throwin Grainne McLoughlin gained possession and closed the gap with a magnificent point. From the kickout Glenravel gained possession and worked a hard earned goal. With the Glenavy midfield gaining the upperhand a lot of ball was being fed into the half forward forwards Bronagh Cunningham, Grainne McLoughlin and Orla McCambridge who took advantage of this. Megan McGarry stole through from midfield to bring her side right back into the game when she gave the keeper no chance with a piledriver to the net. The Lough view girls had now found their second wind and were putting their opponents under severe pressure. Ellen Morgan used all her strength to break through to score a spectacular goal to leave six between the sides. The hard working Grainne McLoughlin was rewarded with an excellent two points. Ellen Morgan closed the gap again with a point. Bronagh Cunningham another All Ireland winner added more pressure on the opposition when she took her point. The defence was finding it difficult to curb the onslaught up stepped Ellen Morgan to put the minimum between the sides. Completely against the run of play Glenravel broke and were awarded a penalty for a pull down. To her credit Fiona Matthew’s stood tall and saved the penalty in trying to break clear the ball was in the net. Glenavy didn’t give up and were rewarded with Fionnula Connor splitting the posts to leave the score 6.05 v 3.11. The St. Joseph’s side were flat out on their feet and from the kickout Glenravel drove down the pitch to score their seventh goal. From the kickout referee Brendan Toland, who did an excellent job blew the fulltime whistle. Fulltime score Glenravel 7.05 v 3.11 Glenavy.

Both sides deserve great credit in keeping the supporters happy with an excellent brand of football.

Glenavy:  Fiona Rogan; Mary McStravick; Edel Christie; Elise Cafolla; Chloe Cassidy; Cathy Scannell; Chloe Doone; Megan McGarry; Ana Mullholland; Bronagh Cunningham; Grainne McLoughlin; Orla McCambridge; Orlagh McClinton; Ellen Morgan; Fionnuala Connor;.

Panel: Emma O’Neill; Cristin Magennis; Maeve Hamill; Courtney Murray. Eve McCartney; Beth Hamill