YVONNE MCMONAGLE SCORED four goals as Glenfin retained the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Tír Chonaill in Glenties today.
Glenfin 4-9 Termon 3-6
Significantly, the sight of the McLaughlin sisters Geraldine and Nicole going off injured and leaving in an ambulance with be a concern to Donegal ladies manager Michael Naughton with his side due to face Westmeath in the Lidl Ladies Division 2 final at Parnell Park on Saturday.
The Termon duo’s withdrawal had a serious impact on their side’s hopes of winning the title they won at national level last year but didn’t lift on the county stage – and in the end it was Glenfin who retained the county title they won last year.
It was Joanne McKenna’s Glenfin side that opened the brightest with three points on the spin, with Karen Guthrie scoring all from placed balls.
Termon got back level when a free from Geraldine McLaughlin took a deflection before hitting the net, which meant the side managed by Trevor Alcorn were on terms at 1-0 to 0-3.
But that was the exception and not the rule. Glenfin continued with their forward momentum with another three points, this time with Yvonne McMonagle scoring twice and Guthrie on target.
Again, though, Termon took the shortcut to level through a Geraldine McLaughlin goal again, this time from a Roisin Friel pass to make it 0-6 to 2-0.
Glenfin managed to get a green flag waving themselves through a McMonagle penalty.
Termon, though, were economical and from their next attack, mustered a third goal when Lucy O’Flynn palmed home a centre from Friel.
Glenfin, though, finally managed to put some daylight in it in the last five minutes of the first half. McMonagle scored two goals at the end of the half to ensure a 3-7 to 3-0 lead.
The trend of the contest continued in the second half with Glenfin holding the upper hand.
The side from the Burn Road never got back into it and another McMonagle penalty sealed the deal.
The McLaughlin sisters were a worry at the finish with Nicole looking concussed and Geraldine landing awkwardly and she was down for 10 minutes before being stretchered off in separate incidents.
[adrotate group=”37″]Glenfin: Tara Martin; Ciara Ward, Katy Herron, Dianne McGlynn; Rachel Ward, Sinead McGinley, Annie Logue; Karen Guthrie (0-6,5f), Kathy Ward; Grainne Houston, Colleen McGinty, Mary Ward; Maggie Farrelly, Yvonne McMonagle (4-3,1f), Karen Ward. Subs: Annie McGlynn for C Ward (45), Mary Martin for R Ward (47), Bridín Bonner for K Guthrie (58), Aine Ward for M Farrelly (60).
Termon: Maureen O’Donnell; Niamh McDaid, Emer Gallagher, Niamh Friel; Petra McCafferty, Therese McCafferty, Jamie Lee Murray; Shannon McGroddy, Nicole McLaughlin; Emily O’Flynn, Roisin Friel, Lucy O’Flynn (1-0); Lauren McElwaine, Geraldine McLaughlin (2-6,5f), Sharon McLaughlin. Subs: Shannon McLaughlin for N Friel (ht), Niamh Friel for Lucy O’Flynn and Holly McDaid for E O’Flynn (both 40), Riona McMenamin for G McLaughlin (52), Elenor Trearty for N McLaughlin (60).
Referee: Declan Callaghan (Kilcar).
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