LETTERKENNY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S ladies made it two wins from two with a battling win over St Mary’s College, Belfast.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 2-10 St Mary’s College, Belfast 2-08
Eamon O’Boyle’s team, who lined out without their Termon contingent – including ace markswoman Geraldine McLaughlin – ahead of their Ulster final against Donaghmoyne on Saturday-week, opened brigthtly and were 1-3 to 0-1 ahead by the 10th minute.
McLaughlin had scored 4-4 in their emphatic opening day win over University of Ulster, Coleraine.
They made rather harder work of it at O’Donnell Park this afternoon but it was, nevertheless, a useful win for the Port Road students.
Gemma Glackin, Sarah Jane McDonald and Roisin McGloin swung over the points and Donegal player McCroary netted when she made no mistake after taking a magnificent pass from the in-form McDonald.
The Moville woman scored four points in the opening half, with McCroary also firing over after Hannah Loughran and Eve Lavery responded for the visitors.
Hannah Lydon scored twice in two minutes and there was only the goal between them, but LyIT were undeterred.
Midfielder Aine Higgin was a lick of paint from a goal, but a blistering effort cannoned off the crossbar. McCroary picked up the pieces and drilled over a point.
Higgins wouldn’t be denied in the final minute of the first half when the Tuam woman riffled to the net after a high ball broke into her path.
Lauren Hegarty extended the lead early in the second half, but St Mary’s roared right back into it when Cara Morgan pointed and Eve Lavery blasted powerfully to the LyIT net.
Loughran came close to another St Mary’s goal, but she prodded just wide under close pressure from Sarah O’Boyle.
St Mary’s brought goalkeeper Anna McCann out the field for the final seven minutes with Maggie Hagan trading places. Although she converted a late free, it wasn’t enough to inspire a comeback.
Emma McCroary stemmed the tide with a fine point from distance and McDonald capped an influential display with her team’s final point, a score that meant they had enough breathing space when Loughran fired in a goal in added time.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Niamh Radigan; Arlene Gallagher, Aine Brennan, Lauren Hegarty (0-1); Annie Rose Quinn, Gemma Glackin (0-1), Sarah O’Boyle; Shannon McDonald, Aine Higgins (1-0); Annie O’Gara, Sarah Jane McDonald (0-4, 1f), Rachel McGee; Niamh Briody, Emma McCroary (1-3), Roisin McGloin (0-1).
St Mary’s College, Belfast: Anna McCann (0-1, 1f); Vanessa Boyd, Eve Lavery (1-1), Fiona McAteer; Saorlaith Kearney, Megan Kerr, Maggie Hagan; Aislinn McFarland, Niamh McElduff; Hannah Magarrin, Aimee Lavery, Hannah Lydon (0-2); Lauren Harrigan, Hannah Loughran (1-2), Cara Morgan (0-2). Subs used: Nicola Donnelly, Aine Kerr.
Referee: Michael Mulhern (St Eunan’s).
Tags: