Classy Knockbride cruise to provincial Intermediate title

Ulster Club IFC final

Knockbride 3-13

Brigid O'Neills 1-6

Aideen Coyle at Brewster Park

Twenty-three years after securing their first Ulster Intermediate Club title, Knockbride Ladies delivered again on the provincial stage, making it back-to-back Ulster crowns for Cavan following Mullahoran’s triumph in 2024. Their emphatic victory sends them through to the All-Ireland series, where they will meet Cork outfit Naomh Abán in two weeks’ time.

The Cavan champions produced a commanding and ruthless performance, leading for the entirety of the tie and never allowing the Monaghan reps any foothold in the contest. Knockbride made the perfect start to the clash, registering 2-4 without reply in the opening 10 minutes and, from that point on, never looked back.

A third goal before the interval sent them into half-time 10 points clear, and they maintained complete control in the second half, ultimately running out deserving 12-point winners.

When Machailla McCabe opened Brigid O’Neills’ account in the 13th minute, her side were already trailing by 10 after a prolific start by Knockbride. Abbi Connor was temporarily replaced by Ellie Reilly in the opening minute, with the youngster making her mark off the bench, hitting three points (two frees) and contributing to a further 1-1 during her short cameo.

Rebecca Davey opened the scoring in the fourth minute, followed by a pointed free from Reilly, created by Gia McCabe. Reilly then turned the resulting kickout into a goal chance, finding Katie Rogers, who unselfishly delivered a beautifully weighted pass across the square for Davey to finish into an open net.

Two more points from Reilly preceded Knockbride’s second goal, as captain Sarah McCabe calmly slotted home from the penalty spot following a foul on the industrious Rogers.

Trailing by ten, Brigid’s full-forward McCabe hit two much-needed scores in quick succession at the other end as Connor re-entered the game for Knockbride with a pointed free. Another excellent dispossession from Gia McCabe created a score for Aoife Nulty as Knockbride continued to dominate proceedings in Brewster Park.

At the other end, scores were harder to come by thanks to a resolute Knockbride backline. Brigid O’Neills worked hard for two more points from Erin Cassidy and Jane Drury, both created by excellent work from Molly Keenan. Sarah McCabe finished a well-worked team move with a point before Katie Mulvey brilliantly denied Michaela Linden a goal with a fine save.

However, Mulvey could do nothing to keep Lorna McGuirk’s effort out in additional time as McCabe played through the forward to reduce the deficit to six. However, Knockbride made the perfect reply as Gia McCabe won the resulting kick-out, launching yet another attack. Rebecca Davey played a precise long ball into Connor, who perfectly judged the bounce ahead of her marker before rocketing her shot to the top corner of the Monaghan net.

A pointed free on the brink of half-time from the player of the match left the score 3-8 to 1-4 at the break.

Scoring proved more difficult in a stop-start second half. Knockbride added a further five to their tally, while Brigid O’Neills managed just two more scores early in the second half.

Moments after the resumption, Connor continued her consistent influence with another routine free after another driving run from Gia McCabe.Michaela Linden made a direct reply, followed by another pointed free from McCabe in the ninth minute, her side’s final score of the game, with Knockbride finishing with four on the trot.

A pointed free from Connor was followed 15 minutes later by an excellent score from the hardworking Gia McCabe after yet another crucial turnover from midfielder Katie Mai Reilly.

As the conclusion, Player of the Match Abbi Connor added a further two points to her tally to finish with an eye-catching 1--6.

Knockbride: Katie Mulvey, Grainne Smith, Amie Lynch, Nicola Rogers, Ellen Lynch, Sinead O’Reilly, Niamh Smith, Katie Mai Reilly, Tara Rogers, Gia McCabe 0-01, Sarah McCabe 1-01 (1-00f), Aoife Nulty 0-01, Rebecca Davey 1-01, Katie Rogers, Abbi Connor 1-06 (0-04f).

Subs used: Ellie Reilly 0-03 (0-02f) for K. Rogers, Aoife Rogers for G. Smith, Diane Donohoe for A. Nulty.

Brigid O’Neills: Andrea Leer, Mary Quinn, Aideen Drury, Nuala McGuirk, Abbie Leer, Sadhbh McElearney, Anoala Roche Smith, Molly Keenan, Olivia McSkean, Lorna McGuirk 1-00, Megan Millar, Erin Cassidy 0-01, Teigan O’Neill, Machailla McCabe 0-03 (0-02f), Jayne Drury 0-01.

Subs used: Michaela Linden 0-01 for L. McGuirk, Lauren Casey for T. O’Neill, Julie McGuirk for O. McSkean, Sarah Macklin for M. Quinn.

Ref: Eddie Cuthbert (Down).

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