Donegal……………………………..1-10
Armagh…………………………….. 0-9
DONEGAL are champions again and what a battle they came through to get their hands back on the Ulster title in Owenbeg on Sunday afternoon.
A performance that ended Armagh hopes of a fourth successive title. Two players, Niamh Hegarty and Tanya Kennedy were late additions and both were immense in this success. It was a display that was brilliant throughout and in every sector of the park Donegal were outstanding. Against the wind in the opening half they laid the foundations but as Armagh came back to edge in front they showed wonderful character to come back and grind out a fully deserved victory.
Hot favourites Armagh with the aid of a stiff breeze at their backs raced into an early advantage and led 0-4 to 0-1 after 11 minutes, Aimee Mackin with three of those. In those early stages Donegal were finding it difficult to clear their lines as Armagh pressed up on their kickout.
Niamh Hegarty, who was a surprise starter, got Donegal off the mark on four minutes when she was fouled. Donegal were playing the better football with their captain Niamh McLaughlin a leading example as she dictated their play. Niamh Hegarty and Karen Guthrie, another late admission to the starting side, combined for the Glenfin girl to split the posts.
Moville’s Hegarty with a free and then a fine score from Katie Dowds had the sides level on 19 minutes. Donegal playing all the football continued to bring the game to Armagh and took the lead for the first time when Katie Long pointed on 22 minutes. Continuing to pass the ball around with confidence, Maxi Curran’s side stretched the lead out when Amy Boyle Carr came forward to fire over a beauty with Niamh Hegarty again on hand to lay the ball off to Boyle Carr.
The driving runs out of defence from the returning Tanya Kennedy were also key and she was involved in her sides next score when Boyle Carr notched her second of the day and the same player found herself in position again but this time she fired wide for her sides first of the day as the clock ticked into added time. Aimee Mackin with another free reduced the deficit on the stroke of the half time hooter, the Orchard sides first score since the 11th minute as Donegal went in leading 0-7 to 0-5 after a very impressive display.
Kelly Mallon opened second half scoring with a free following what looked a harsh call against Niamh McLaughlin as she was adjudged to have charged as she tried to turn away from an Armagh player. Long restored the two point advantage. Donegal wasted a few good opportunities by over playing the ball and taking the wrong option instead of having a shot. They were punished when Niamh Coleman reduced it back to a single point at the end of the third quarter and then substitute Catriona O’Hagan levelled. A third in a row edged the Orchard county in front with seven minutes remaining after a long stoppage.
A superb move saw Donegal create a goal chance but Niamh Hegarty saw her effort denied by Carr in the Armagh goal. Hegarty was on hand to level with two minutes of normal time left when she collected a delightful pass from Guthrie. The Glenfin girl then converted a free following a foul on Niamh McLaughlin and Donegal were back in front and then in the dying seconds Ciara McGarvey sealed it with the games only goal to signal the start of the celebrations.
TEAMS
Donegal: Claire Friel; Niamh Carr, Abigail Temple Asokuh, Nicole McLaughlin; Amy Boyle Carr (0-2), Tanya Kennedy, Tara Hegarty; Niamh Hegarty (0-3, 2f), Niamh McLaughlin; Roisin Rodgers, Katie Long (0-2), Katie Dowds (0-1); Emer Gallagher, Katy Herron, Karen Guthrie (0-2, 1f)
Subs: Shannon McGroddy for Long (49), Suzanne White for Rodgers (60), Ciara McGarvey (1-0) for Guthrie (70).
Armagh: Anna Carr; Shauna Grey, Clodagh McCambridge, Catherine Marley; Grace Ferguson, Lauren McConville, Cait Towe; Niamh Coleman (0-1), Eve Lavery (0-1); Blaithin Mackin, Aimee Mackin (0-4, 3f), Emily Druse; Niamh Marley, Kelly Mallon (0-2, f), Aoife McCoy.
Subs: Catriona O’Hagan (0-1) for Lavery (38), B Hendron N Marley (49), Niamh Reel for A Mackin (52), L Kenny for C Marley (62), Tiarna Grimes for Druse (65).
Referee: David Hurson (Monaghan)
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