Match Report Antrim v Donegal U14 Championship
9th April 2018
The fixture was a repeat of the U13 county final from last year and due to the circumstances in the group it had that final feeling. Both teams lined out on a fine afternoon at Pairc Naomh Éanna with nothing else other than a win on their minds.
It was the travelling side that started the better with 2 unanswered points, Antrim were then awarded a penalty but failed to capitalise and Donegal replied with another point. The score was 0-3 v 0-0 in favour of Donegal until the ball fell kindly to Jemma McCullagh and the full forward making her championship debut rattled the ball into the bottom corner. The Antrim ladies now had their tails up and with some great movement in the forward line once again Jemma got free to score another goal to make the score 2-0 v 0-3. Maria O’Neill slotted the ball over in style to make it 2-1 v 0-3. Donegal replied with a brilliant individual goal from their number 10 who travelled 30 yards and found the bottom corner. A free won by and converted by Bláithín Nic Cathail made the score line 2-2 v 1-3 at the break.
The second half started and Aimee Meenan scored a beautiful point to put Antrim 3 points to the good. Donegal tagged another point to be quickly cancelled out by a well taken score from Carla McKenna. The score was now 2-4 v 1-5 to the saffron County. Donegal pressed but some unreal defending from an Antrim back unit of Rachel Norney, Mollai Mulholland, Niamh Matthews, Alyssa Davidson, Ailbhe Kane, Broghan Crossan and Saorise McErlain saw of the danger on several occasions. This defence unit was propped up by Caoimhe Finucane and Maria O’Neill who both covered every blade of grass on the Hightown pitch. Suibhne Gibney was on so many occasions the outlet that shifted the ball from midfield into our full forward line and after another fine move found Carla McKenna who struck a fine shot into the roof of the net. Again, Donegal pressed hard but the rock-solid defence of Antrim stood tall. A goal and absolutely brilliant point both from Maria O’Neill ended the scoring and guaranteed the win!
Final Score Antrim 4-5 v 1-5 Donegal.
Aontroim Abú!
