St Tiernach’s Park
TyroneArmagh 3-17 – 2-19 Donegal
Late Mallon strike sees Armagh overcome Donegal
Kelly Mallon’s goal, 90 seconds from the end of extra-time, gave Armagh the most dramatic of wins in the final of the TG4 Ulster Ladies SFC against Donegal at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
By Alan Foley
Maxi Curran’s side had seen a four-point lead disappear right at the end of normal time as Armagh somehow forced extra-time.
Then with Donegal looking in control once more and Geraldine McLaughlin kicking 1-11, they were holding Armagh at arm’s length before Aimee Mackin found an unmarked Mallon with a peach of a pass and the Armagh skipper cut inside to slam home the winner.
It’s an Ulster three-in-a-row for Armagh.Mackin’s goal right at the end of normal time brought Armagh back from four down to just the one, when she picked up possession following some loose Donegal possession.
Mallon’s fifth free then forced extra-time at 2-14 each.McLaughlin, an All-Star at last in 2021, managed to hook a shot over Anna Carr on 58 seconds when completely surrounded by Armagh players, when she was found by Niamh Hegarty to give the side managed by Maxi Curran the dream start.
Although far from an ideal start, it didn't seem to ruffle Armagh, who soon found their groove to post 1-2 without reply by the 11th minute, with the goal coming when Aoife McCoy rammed past Roisin McCafferty when set up by Aimee Mackin’s pinching of possession from Niamh Carr.
However, Niamh McLaughlin’s goal for Donegal made it 2-5 to 1-8 at half-time.Karen Guthrie, the former Donegal skipper, was introduced at the break having missed the semi-final win over Cavan.
She immediately began chipping in on the scoreboard, with Donegal looking the most likely with a four-point lead three minutes from time.
Armagh, through Mackin and then Mallon’s free, pulled it from the fire to produce extra-time, where there, they did the same thing again.
Scorers – Armagh: K Mallon 1-8, 8f; A Mackin 1-5, 2f; A McCoy 1-2; C Marley 0-1; C O’Hanlon 0-1.
Donegal: G McLaughlin 1-11, 4f; Niamh McLaughlin 1-1; K Guthrie 0-4, 2f; N Hegarty 0-2, Y Bonner 0-1.
Armagh: A Carr; S Grey, C McCambridge, C Towe; N Marley, L McConville, G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O'Hanlon; E Lavery, N Coleman, C Marley; A Mackin, A McCoy, K Mallon. Subs: T Grimes for Marley (52), N Reel for Laverty (55), F McKenna for Coleman (58).
Donegal: R McCafferty; N Carr, E McGinley, T Kennedy; S Twohig, R Rodgers, A Boyle Carr; K Herron, Nicole McLaughlin; N Hegarty, N McLaughlin, S White; Y Bonner, B McLaughlin, G McLaughlin. Subs: K Guthrie for White (ht), T Hegarty and N Boyle for Herron and Rodgers (full-time), E McCroary for N Hegarty (75), Herron for B McLaughlin (77).
Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).
DonegalDonegal 3-19 – 1-11 Cavan
White raises green flags for Donegal
Susanne White was a last minute introduction to the Donegal side that took on Cavan in the semi-final of the TG4 Ulster Ladies Football Championship – and she took the opportunity with both hands.
From Alan Foley at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones
With Karen Guthrie ruled out, Donegal manager Maxi Curran gave White the nod and by half-time the Killybegs forward had scored two goals, which helped her side lead 2-10 to 0-6 at the break, before Yvonne Bonner added another goal in the second half.
In the Clones sunshine, it was 0-2 to 0-2 when White netted her first goal on ten minutes, slamming into an open goal after an ambitious Niamh McLaughlin lob had crashed down off the crossbar when she pinched a kick-out from Elaine Walsh.
Then, four minutes later, White grabbed her second goal with a fine finish across Walsh, when she was found on the right of the Cavan square by Yvonne Bonner, for a 2-4 to 0-3 Donegal lead.
TG4 All Star Geraldine McLaughlin posted five first half points for Donegal, with two points apiece from Aisling Gilsenan and Lauren McVeety for Cavan.
Cavan have traditionally proven to be difficult opponents for Donegal, with the Breffni County running into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead at the same stage last year, before Maxi Curran’s side found their shooting boots to run out winners on a 6-16 to 2-17 scoreline. In 2019, Donegal came through after extra-time.
White continued her fine form in the second half, shooting two more points – the second of which came after a flowing move. After 41 minutes, Donegal were 2-14 to 0-8 ahead.
Donegal’s third goal came 15 minutes into the second half, with Bonner taking on a pass from Geraldine McLaughlin when Walsh tried to find the wing. Cavan pulled a goal back a minute later from a penalty by McVeety before Walsh turned a dipping effort from skipper Niamh McLaughlin onto the inside of the post in the last minute, with the ball coming back along the line. Donegal will face Armagh, who have won the last two Ulsters, in the final.
Donegal scorers: G McLaughlin 0-9, 6f; S White 2-3; Y Bonner 1-4; N Hegarty, K Herron and E McCrory 0-1 each.
Cavan scorers: A Gilsenan 0-3, 2f; L McVeety 1-3, 1-0 pen, 3f; G Smith 0-2, N Keenaghan, A Cahill and A Walls 0-1.
Donegal: R McCafferty; N Carr, E McGinley, N Boyle; T Kennedy, Nicole McLaughlin, A Boyle Carr; K Herron, N McLaughlin; Y Bonner, N Hegarty, S Twohig; B McLaughlin, S White, G McLaughlin. Subs: S McFadden for Boyle (39), E McCrory, D Foley and T Hegarty for Carr, Herron and Twohig (54), K Long for B McLaughlin (57)
Cavan: E Walsh; R Doonan, S Lynch, Z Fay; S Greene, L Fitzpatrick, E Halton; M Sheridan, N Byrd; N Keenaghan, L McVeety, A Gilseanan; G Sheridan, A Reilly, G Smith. Subs: A Cahill and K McIntyre for Fay and Reilly (half-time), A Walls for Keenaghan (49), K McLaughlin for Sheridan (56), E Longair for Halton (57)
Referee: Brendan Rice (Down)
CavanArmagh 5-21 – 0-5 Monaghan
Armagh cruise to Ulster Final
Aimee Mackin and skipper Kelly Mallon were in good scoring form as ruthless Armagh cruised into another TG4 Ulster Senior decider with a comprehensive semi-final victory over Monaghan in Clones.
By Ladies Gaelic Football Association
The Orchard County will meet Cavan or Donegal in the Final following this big win at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.
Monaghan managed just five points over the hour but can have no complaints as a hungry Armagh bounced back from their recent Lidl NFL Division 2 semi-final loss against Kerry with an impressive display.
The provincial champions dominated the first half, leading by ten points at the break.
They signalled their intentions within ten seconds when Macken sent Aoife Lennon in for the opening point.
The Monaghan defence battled gamely but when Aoife Mc Coy was fouled, Mackin slotted home the penalty and Armagh built on that with slick passing, assured defending and a display full of confidence.
Mackin added a brace of points and hit the post with a second penalty as Armagh went on to lead by 1-10 to 0-3 at half-time.
The second half saw no let-up from Armagh, who attacked at will as further goals followed from Mackin, Mallon (2) and Niamh Reel.
Armagh Scorers: Aimee Mackin 1-5, Kelly Mallon 2-2, Niamh Reel 1-1, Eve Lavery 0-4, Caroline O’Hanlon 0-4, Aoife Lennon 0-2, Aoife Mc Coy 0-2, Catriona O’Hagan 0-1.
Monaghan Scorers: Jodie McQuillan 0-2, Rosemary Courtney 0-2, Amy Garland 0-1.
Mayo 1-9 – 2-12 Meath
D1 Semi – Magical Meath mastermind win over Mayo
Orlagh Lally scored 1-2 as Meath advanced to the Lidl NFL Division 1 final at the expense of Mayo at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
BY AISLING CLERY
It’s a first Division 1 decider for the Royals since 2006 on a day where Kelsey Nesbitt scored their other goal.
In a highly contested semi-final, it was Michael Moyles’ Mayo side that led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the half-time break.
However, a strong wind that blew throughout the contest was best used by the reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions. Meath hit 2-8 in that second half to ensure the success story continues.
Lisa Cafferky got the game’s opening score but a Stacey Grimes free cancelled that out two minutes later. Mayo were dominating possession and a long range point from Shauna Howley saw them take the lead.
Meath were unlucky not to get back in front as a quick Grimes free to Nesbitt forced a save from Aisling Tarpey. Mayo were reduced to 14 when Aoife Geraghty was sin binned for a challenge on Vikki Wall but a Howley free sent Mayo into the water break leading by 0-3 to 0-1.
Megan Thynne reduced Meath’s deficit to one after a team move involving Lally, Maire O’Shaughnessy and Wall. Shauna Howley converted her second free but on the resumption this was cancelled out by Emma Duggan.
A Howley free and a second Lisa Cafferky point pushed Meath into a four-point lead on 22 minutes before Duggan got her second point of the contest from distance. A Sinead Cafferky point meant Mayo led by three at half-time.
But the floodgates opened as the second half got underway with Meath hitting 2-5 unanswered in the first 10 minutes to seize control. Nesbitt finished to the net for Meath’s first goal on 35 minutes while a super pass from Wall set up Lally and she rifled to the net on 40 minutes to push the Royals into an eight-point advantage.
Mayo refused to give in and they got back into contention when Lisa Cafferky fired scored a goal in the 43rd minute. Points from Aoife Geraghty and substitute Ciara Needham reduced the deficit to three points. Duggan tagged on her fourth point and at the second half water break Meath led by 2-10 to 1-9.
In the final quarter, Mayo piled on the pressure but the Meath defence was unrelenting and with Katie Newe, Mary Kate Lynch and Shauna Ennis smothering Mayo attacks, they held on. Late points from substitute Emma White and Lally ensured the Royals march on to Croke Park once more.
MeathDublin 1-10 – 2-8 Donegal
D1 Semi – Donegal book first final since 2017
Late goals from Emma McCrory and Yvonne Bonner booked Donegal their place in a first Lidl National Football League Division 1 final since 2017 after victory over Dublin.
BY AISLING CLERY
Donegal led by 0-7 to 1-2 at half-time but Dublin hit back and were four in front with 57 minutes on the clock at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
However, substitute McCrory was first to the loose ball when it ricocheted off the bar for Donegal’s first goal, before Bonner fired to an empty net a minute later securing a last gasp win for Maxi Curran’s side.
Dublin attacked early and spurned two chances before Lyndsey Davey got her side’s only point of that quarter on six minutes. Thereafter, Donegal dominated and Geraldine McLaughlin levelled the game from a free.
Two Karen Guthrie frees in as many minutes pushed her side into a two-point lead. Donegal continued to dominate possession and McLaughlin converted another score on 14 minutes after Guthrie was fouled.
As Dublin turned defensive, Kate Sullivan excelled but it was Donegal that went into the water break the happier as Guthrie added her first point from play to ensure Donegal led by four at the break.
Dublin went on the attack immediately when play resumed and were unlucky not to score when a terrific run from Jennifer Dunne right at the heart of the Donegal defence resulted in a free for Sullivan. Then there was a mix-up in the defence, Hannah Tyrrell intercepted and the TG4 All Star made no mistake with the finish for Dublin’s goal.
Sullivan scored too but Donegal persevered and a point from play for Bonner, along with a third Geraldine McLaughlin free sent Donegal in with a 0-7 to 1-2 lead at the break.
Sullivan converted a free within two minutes of the restart to reduce the deficit. They didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser as Davey converted her second point on 37 minutes to level up the scores.
Nicole Owens kicked Dublin in front on 37 minutes only for Bonner to level it again, but Dunne grabbed her first score to send Dublin into the second half water break one point ahead.
Orlagh Nolan added a point, as did Sinéad Aherne on her seasonal reappearance. A free from Tyrrell and a terrific score from Owens handed Dublin a four-point lead late on.
However, Donegal weren’t finished yet and goals from McCrory and Bonner meant they advanced.
