Clonduff
Ladies advance in Ulster -12/04/2003
Ulster
Junior Championship Preliminary Round: Clonduff (Down) 4-11 Termon (Donegal) 4-07
Report by Down Ladies P.R.O. P.J. Cunningham
Clonduff Pairc was the venue on Sunday for the meeting of the Down & Donegal junior
ladies champions in this preliminary round Ulster fixture.
Clonduff got
off to a flying start when Karen Gribben pointed a 14 yd free straight in front
of the posts, a minute later the same player was provider as her mazy run saw
the ball fall to Jolene Branagan who toe-poked the ball to the bottom LH corner
of the Termon net. In the 3rd minute Maureen O'Donnell operating at centre half
forward took off on a run & a superb lay-off to Michele McDermott saw the Termon
No 12 shoot to the net. Maureen O'Donnell was giving Clonduff and Onagh Gribben
a torrid time, she equalised with a magnificent 40 yd point and it was all to
play for with still only 5 mins on the clock.
A four minute spell yielded
scores from Karen Gribben (0-02) & Jolene Branagan but Maureen O'Donnell knocked
over another great point and in a magnificent run which left 3 Clonduff players
in her wake, she saw her shot brilliantly saved by the Clonduff keeper Louise
Savage, only for the rebound to drop to the in-rushing Sharon McLoughlin and the
outcome was another Termon goal.
Termon now had their heads up and they
added scores from Maureen O'Donnell (0-02) & Maureen Gallagher to move 4 points
in front. Andrea Gribben stopped the rot briefly with a fine score, but it was
short-lived as Maureen O'Donnell raced through the Clonduff rearguard & her fierce
shot rebounded off the crossbar & the unfortunate keeper to register Termon's
third goal of the afternoon. Deep into first half injury time Jolene Branagan
took off on a 50 yd run before been upended, Christine Branagan knocked in a dangerous
ball and the flick from Lisa Parr plus the help of the crossbar saw the green
flag flying much to the delight of the large Clonduff support. Christine Branagan
then added another point to send the yellows in 2 points adrift at half time.
Clonduff 2-06 Termon 3-05.
A few personnel switches at the restart saw
Karen Gribben moving to midfield, Jackie Gilmore going to Centre half forward,
and Colleen McPolin moving out to pick up the Termon danger woman Maureen O'Donnell
with Colleen McShane dropping onto the edge of the Clonduff square. The restart
was a blitz from Christine Branagan as she kicked 1-03 in a dominant Clonduff
8 minute spell. Again Maureen O'Donnell was the scorer in chief as she single-handedly
dragged her team back into this game with 2 further points (1 free). With 10 minutes
gone Sarah-Louise Carr replaced the injured Michele McPolin and alongside Bridget
Kearney who had an outstanding game at corner back along with Colleen McShane
they mopped up every Termon attack and the next 14 minutes of play saw no further
scores from either side as they battled it out with some delightful fast free
flowing football.
There were 3 minutes of normal time remaining when Angeline
McPolin found herself bearing down on the Termon keeper and an expertly struck
shot rattled the Donegal net to send the home support delirious. Clonduff were
6-points up & 2 minutes into injury time when Maureen O'Donnell broke forward
for the Donegal champions and rifled an unstoppable shot to the net to set up
a tense final few moments. Brilliant defensive play from Bridget Kearney yielded
a free on her 14 yd line, taken quickly it found its way to Lisa Parr who off-loaded
to Jolene Branagan running at top speed and no-one could catch her as she raced
30yds ball on toe and finished with a magnificent insurance point. Maureen O'Donnell
had one last effort that went inches wide of the Clonduff post and with 36 minutes
on the clock referee Kevin Donnelly (Armagh) called time to send Clonduff team,
mentors and supporters delirious. This was a deserved Clonduff win and they will
now face the Derry champions Faughenvale in Clonduff on Sunday 21st September
in an Ulster Q/F clash. The Yellow & white of Clonduff will go marching on with
an air of confidence in their pursuit of Ulster Glory.
Clonduff Team
& Scorers:
Louise Savage, Caroline McComisky, Colleen McPolin, Bridget
Kearney, Michele McPolin, Onagh Gribben(c), Colleen McShane, Fionnuala Walls,
Jackie Gilmore, Jolene Branagan (1-02), Karen Gribben (0-04), Christine Branagan
(1-04), Angeline McPolin (1-00), Andrea Gribben (0-01), Lisa Parr (1-00), Paula
Cairns, Siobhan McShane, Sarah Devlin, Sara-Louise Carr, Rita Kearney, Lorraine
Maginn, Olivia McPolin, Paula Gribben, Grainne Brogan, Lucia Morgan & Janine Branagan.
Subs used: Sarah-Louise Carr for Michele McPolin.
Termon Team
& Scorers:
Margaret Doherty, Patricia Gallagher, Lisa McGlynn, Eilish
McGlynn, Anne McGlynn, Kara Harkin, Paula Gallagher, Patricia Kelly (c), Aoife
Gibson, Grainne McCaffrey, Maureen O'Donnell (2-06), Michele McDermott (1-00),
Helen Helferty (0-01), Sharon Mcloughlin (1-00), Maureen Gallagher, K. Treaty,
M McDaid, D McDaid, C Nugent, M Murray, G McLoughlin, L Nugent, N Collins.
Subs
used: L Nugent for K Harkin & G. McLoughlin for M Gallagher.
