23rd April 2007

Cumann Peil Na mBan – Antrim League Division 1

The All Saint’s Ladies Gaelic team were hoping to build on the perfect start to their season. They were buoyant from their previous league victories over Creggan and Moneyglass but knew they had a battle on their hands when they took on last year’s league champions, St Paul’s, at home on Sunday.

Conditions were excellent as All Saint’s got off to a perfect start when Michelle McDonald netted in the first minute. St Paul’s however were unruffled and dominated the following twenty minutes scoring two goals and three points before Shauna Henry drove the ball to the net from twenty metres. The home team regained possession from the kick out and Michelle’s point was followed up by Shauna in a similar fashion. Claire Dowdall and Sonia Toner had the final say in this half with the former scoring her second point and the latter scoring her second goal. This resulted in a half time score line of St Paul’s 3-4, All Saint’s 2-2.

The second half started off in a similar vein to the first, with the home team opening up the scoring with points a piece from Shauna and Michelle. Orla McCall and Grainne Reilly contributed a point each for the visitors before team mate Mairead Cooper went on an attacking run from the half back position. She weaved her way through the All Saint’s defence and powered the ball to the net to leave All Saint’s eight points behind with only fifteen minutes remaining. The home team battled tenaciously with Marion O’Neill, Coleen McCullagh, Lizzie McNicholl and Nicola Stevenson (in her first competitive match of gaelic football) giving no space to their opponents and supplying good ball to their forwards. This resulted in St Paul’s conceding two frees which Michelle converted before Clare Timoney lifted the spirits of the home crowd by scoring a terrific goal with eight minutes remaining. Deirdre Lynch collected the resulting kick out and fed the ball to Sara McLoughlin, she quickly transferred it to Michelle who sent it over the bar. Amy Scullion and Deirdre Lynch added to the total before Clare sent the home team into the lead with two minutes remaining. St Paul’s were stung into action and Mairead Cooper went on another of her zig-zag runs. This time she was fouled by Gabrielle Ervine, who received a yellow card for her over enthusiastic efforts to dispossess her opponent. Claire Dowdall sent over the resultant free to leave the sides level. Gemma McCann was brought back into defence to fill the space left by Gabrielle. This weakened the All Saint’s attack who pressed forward regardless in an attempt to obtain the winning score. The final whistle brought this exciting match to an end with honours even; St Paul’s 4-7, All Saint’s 3-10.

SCORERS

All Saint’s; Michelle McDonald 1-5, Clare Timoney 1-1, Shauna Henry 1-2, Deirdre Lynch 0-1, Amy Scullion 0-1.

St Paul’s; Mairead Cooper 1-1, Claire Dowdall 0-4, Sonia Toner 2-1,     Orla McCall 0-2, Julie Toner 1-0.