Antrim Minors fall foul of Farney resurgence

It would be too much of a cliché to say the Ulster Minor Championship encounter between Antrim and Monaghan was a game of two halves, but that was unfortunately the case for the Saffron ladies.

Like their Under 14 counterparts, they led Monaghan 0-5 to 0-2 at half time, but a Farney resurgence in the second period saw the hosts register 2-10 to take the win.

Niamh McAllister opened the scoring for the visitors on two minutes before Hanna Donaghy doubled the lead. Áine Maguire for Monaghan struck back but Rossa’s Meadbh Gallagher added a third for Antrim and a further score for Donaghy captain Cliodhna Logan made the gap four. Mairead Cusack scored again before the break but it looked like Antrim were cruising when the teams went in at half time.

The second half didn’t start well for Antrim as Katie McAdam struck a point for the home side. Caoimhe Kelly also registered for Monaghan before McAdam added another levelling the tie and Maguire got her second of the day to put the Farney in front.

Gallagher hit back immediately for Antrim to square the game again, but less than a minute later, substitute Aimee Donnelly added a goal and a point to put Monaghan firmly in control The Antrim heads didn’t drop though, as Donaghy raised the green flag for the visitors.

But then came the Monaghan onslaught. A point from Castleblaney’s Edel Murphy, another from Maguire, two from Kelly and another from goalscorer Donnelly effectively ended the game as a contest. Antrim played well however, as St Paul’s Enya Daye got herself on the scoresheet, but Monaghan added a late goal from captain Aoibhin McCormick to add a little shine to the result.

Antrim Scorers:

N McAllister 0-1 H Donaghy 1-2 E Daye 0-1 M Gallagher 0-2