Minor ladies storm to Ulster title in premier grade with convincing victory

Ulster U16 Platinum final

Cavan 2-9

Donegal 0-7

Aideen Coyle at Silverbridge

A storming first-half performance by the Cavan minor ladies saw them claim the Ulster title in the premier grade in some style against a strong Donegal side in the final at Silverbridge, Co Armagh on Saturday last.

Cavan ladies football is flying high at underage and schools level and the county has now completed a clean sweep of Platinum Ulster titles in the U14, U16 and Minor (U18) grades, coming off the back of Loreto College retaining their U16 All-Ireland A title and the county U16 team winning their All-Ireland last year in a replayed final against Cork.

Cavan progressed to the Ulster Platinum final after a dominant and unbeaten run in this year’s Ulster Minor Championship. The Breffni side, managed by Gerry Charters (Crosserlough), deservedly entered Saturday’s final with the favourites tag but knew they would need a top performance to dispatch a strong Donegal side, whom Cavan got the better of in round 2 of the competition.

The first half, played in wet, wintry, and difficult conditions, was controlled and dominated by the Cavan side who were outstanding in the opening half, the defence limiting Donegal to just two scores.

At the other end of the field, the direct ball into the inside forwards Kate Fegan and Katie O’Meara troubled Donegal, with the forwards each picking up a goal and an assist to leave Cavan ahead 2-6 to 0-2 at the break.

The sides traded the opening points with Katie O’Meara opening the game before Ava Walsh equalised the teams for the first and only time in the tie.

Cavan, playing a fast and direct style of football, hit three on the bounce. A brilliant tackle in the Cavan backline from Lurgan’s Cora McDonnell set defence into attack with Mullahoran’s Kate Fegan landing a point at the opposite end to give Cavan back the lead, which they would hold for the remainder of the tie in Silverbridge.

Emma Tolan pointed from the resulting kick-out before Ella Sheridan hit one from a free following a foul on Fegan. Trailing by three, Donegal responded with one from a free of their own from taliswoman Eva Gallagher but the remainder of the half was commanded by Charters side who finished strongly with 2-2 without reply.

With 17 minutes on the clock, Fegan rattled the Donegal net after an outstanding crossfield pass from O’Meara. The team captain Ellie Brady was superb in the first half and a foul on the midfielder resulted in another scoreable free for Sheridan.

Twelve minutes after their first, Cavan had a second goal; this time Fegan turned provider for the Cavan Gaels woman O’Meara, who fired Cavan into a nine-point lead. The final score of the half was an O’Meara free with the move being created by excellent defending from Ailbhe Kennedy, leaving Cavan ahead by 10 at the break.

Donegal started brightest after the restart with three on the bounce from freetaker Gallagher who once again was exceptional from the dead ball.

With 11 minutes played and the deficit now at seven, Cavan hit their opening point of the second half. Sinead Kelly brilliantly intercepted Gallagher to set Cavan on the attack with hardworking midfielder Lauren Miney (Arva-Killeshandra) opening their second-half account with a well-taken effort.

Five minutes later Sarah Clarke pointed their second after an interception in the backline from Katie Mai Reilly, another player who worked tirelessly all game.

Gallagher hit another two from frees as Donegal pressed to get a much-needed goal to give them a lifeline in the tie. As they put Cavan’s backs to the wall, a brilliant block from full-back Blanaid Smith denied Mia Bennett a score.

As the game drew to a close, the final score of the day went to Cavan captain and Player of the Match Ellie Brady, who pointed at the end of a driving run.

Speaking after the game a delighted Brady commented: “With the work and dedication the girls have put in so far, this is exactly what we deserved.

“The girls inside were just unreal, the movement was just brilliant and then our work from the backline to the forwards also.

“I just thought the girls were all unreal considering the conditions. It was a group effort more than any single individual.”

Cavan now have a 10-week break before they take on the All-Ireland series with a semi-final on July 11 and Brady and team have their eyes firmly set on the competition.

“Two years ago with a similar squad we were put out of an All-Ireland semi-final after we didn’t play our best. But we have a long break now to regroup ourselves, play a bit with our clubs. Without our clubs we wouldn’t be here. We will give a bit back to the clubs and come back together, regroup and eyes on the All-Ireland.”

This victory sets Cavan up for an assault on the All-Ireland. The county have won top honours nationally at U14 and U16 level over the last decade but a minor All-Ireland has thus far proven elusive so hopes are high that they can buck that trend when the All-Ireland series commences in 10 weeks’ time.

For now, though, they are entitled to savour this one, a job well done.

Cavan: Abbey McDermott, Sinead Kelly, Blanaid Smith, Kristina Grigorenko, Ailbhe Kennedy, Alex Peters, Cora McDonnell, Ellie Brady (C) 0-01, Lauren Miney 0-01, Sarah Clarke 0-01, Emma Tolan 0-01, Ella Sheridan 0-02 (2f), Kate Fegan 1-01, Katie O’Meara 1-02 (1f), Katie Mai Reilly

Subs used: Kayla Bartley for E. Sheridan, Muireann Daly for K. Fegan, Holly McPhillips for K. O’Meara, Mia Lynch for S. Clarke

Donegal: Kerry McCready, Ellie Ward, Siobhan Cameron, Tara Rose Mahon, Niamh Bonner, Sarah McGinley, Ava McCaulfield, Ulitah Boyle, Rhíana McColgan, Eva Gallagher 0-06 (6f), Aisling O’Neill, Cora Doherty, Katie Dowds, Ava Walsh 0-01, Mia Bennett

Subs used: Rhianna McCready for A. Caulfield, Alisha Gallagher for N. Bonner

Ref: Garry Gormley (Tyrone)