Derry LGFA Outfield Junior Football Championship Final
Eoghan Rua 0-8 Desertmartin 0-7
EOGHAN Rua claimed the Seonaidh Mullan Memorial Cup when an Anna Frizelle point in added time earned them victory in Ballerin.
With extra-time looming, Frizelle raced onto a loose ball to fire over the winner to end a closely fought contest throughout. The Coleraine side led at the break, 0-3 to 0-2, after playing with the aid of the wind. However, they found themselves two adrift with five minutes of the game remaining when a late burst with three unanswered points saw them prevail.
Desertmartin entered the final as the reigning champions and had overcome their opponents just three weeks ago in their final group game. This contest was a defensive one as both rearguards turned in a very solid performance. Desertmartin rattled the crossbar early on, as they settled the better but it was Eoghan Rua who opened the scoring through Louise McIntyre. Tori Donnelly brought the sides level but with points from Lucy O’Kane and Shauna Doherty, the eventual winners moved two clear.
Aislinn McElhennon was on target before the interval while she also saw a free come back off the crossbar. A brace from Cara Donnelly on the resumption, saw Desertmartin hit the front for the first time in the game.
McIntyre and McElhennon traded points as the deficit remained at one as we entered the final quarter. Doherty with her second of the game levelled matters again but with McElhennon landing two in a row it looked as if the reigning champions were going to pull clear.
With five minutes remaining, Eoghan Rua dug deep and showed the character of the side. McIntyre, with one from play and a free, made it seven points apiece. The Coleraine side were looking the more dangerous and pinning Desertmartin back and with almost a minute of added time played Frizelle raced onto a knockdown by McIntyre to blaze over with the goal at her mercy but it mattered little as the point was enough to begin the celebrations.
They will now enter the Ulster campaign which will begin with a home fixture against the Fermanagh champions.
Special mention also must go to the Ballerina club who hosted this junior final for the first time on a very special occasion with the cup named after a former club player and member Seonaidh Mullan. The late Seonaidh’s husband and children made the presentations after the game to player of the match Sorcha Duggan and joint captains Eve Lundy and Anna Frizelle.
Eoghan Rua: Isabella O’Kane; Brona McGonigle, Megan Coyle, Marie Hamilton; Bethany Duffy, Eve Lundy, Niamh McGarry; Anna Frizelle (0-1), Sorcha Duggan; Aoife Boorman, Shauna Doherty (0-2), Hannah Eastwood; Lucy O’Kane (0-1), Louise McIntyre (0-4, 2f), Isla Duggan. Subs used: Cara McLaughlin, Dearbhla McCrossan.
Desertmartin: Emily Higgins; Tori Donnelly (0-1), Clare Burns, Niamh Fullen; Orla Martin, Anna Henry, Erin Kelly; Leah McGovern, Cara Donnelly (0-1); Roisin McElhennon, Kate McCann, Aislinn McElhennon (0-4, 1f); Ciara Scullion, Grace Kelly, Enya Doherty. Subs used: Ava Bradley, Hannah Scullion.
Referee: Rory O’Hara
Desertmartin
Mullan family with Cup dedicated to mum Sionaidh
