Under 14s Storm into All Ireland Bronze Final

Antrim Under 14 Ladies brushed Monaghan aside in their All-Ireland Bronze semi-final at St Paul’s Lurgan today with a stunning 15-point victory over the Farney.

Antrim and Monaghan met back in March in the Ulster Festival of Football, and whilst the sun split the stones in Silverbridge that day too, the result was much closer, the Saffs running out 1-8 to 1-5 victors.

Antrim got off to a bright start when Ardoyne’s Ava Le Mahieu raised the green flag after palming in at the back post. Monaghan responded quickly with a point but Antrim went on to hit five unanswered, with two from Sophie Skelly and three from Aoibhea Stanton.

Monaghan though didn’t let their heads drop, and with pressure on the Antrim defence, Corduff’s Ellie King eventually hit the back of the net. The goal didn’t phase Antrim, Ava le Mahieu responding with a point. Five points up, Emyvale’s Aoibheann McCarron could only look on as Skelly shot into her goal to leave Antrim leading 2-6 to 1-1 at the break.

Monaghan would come out a different beast at the start of the second half, but for all the pressure they exerted the Saffs stood strong, the Farney Ladies unable to break through in the final third of the pitch. It would be more than ten minutes before Antrim registered their first score of the second period, Cargin’s Cliodhna McKeever opening her account for the day.

Caitlin Gaffin put in an incredible performance at centre-half back; every time Monaghan cleared their line the Moneyglass woman was on hand to pump the ball straight back into the attacking third. Then the Antrim forwards let loose; Cara Coogan, Anna Lean, Ellie Lynn, Cliodhna McKeever, Caitlin McKee and Sophia Reed all pointing in the final quarter.

Serious attacking firepower from the young Saffs, but huge credit also to the defence who managed to keep Monaghan out for the entire second half. Adrian Mullan, Orla Le Mahieu and Paul McGuigan will now lead their charges into the decider on 9 June with Limerick who dispatched Westmeath in the other semi-final today.

Antrim Scorers

Aoibhea Stanton (1-2), Ava le Mahieu (1-1) Sophie Skelly (0-3) Cliodhna McKeever (0-2) Caitlin McKee (0-1), Anna Lean (0-1), Ellie Lynn (0-1), Saorla O’Halloran (0-1), Sophia Reed (0-1)

Referee: Phillip Conway (Ard Mhacha)