WE’VE HEARD IT before and we’ll hear it again but it was a case of goals winning games at Pearse Park as Ardara exited the Ulster Ladies’ Intermediate Football Championship.
Ardara 0-11 St John Bosco’s (Down) 5-4
Ardara saw plenty of the ball against St John Bosco’s from Down in the quarter-final and kept the scoreboard ticking over for the most part, but the Newry outfit’s abilities to grab goals was vital in creating a cushion.
Carol Breslin put in a fine performance at full-forward for Ardara, kicking six first half points and one more in the second. However, St John Bosco’s Orla McLogan had a great presence in the full-forward line and score a hat-trick of goals.
The first of those St John Bosco goals arrived on 45 seconds when an underhit free-kick from Lauren Carnegie was palmed by Ardara goalkeeper Rosa Kelly only for Orla McLogan to bat the ball home.
But Ardara’s response was praiseworthy, kicking three points in the next five minutes to get back on terms with Breslin pointing two frees, either side of Grace Feeney’s point.
It was soon 0-4 to 1-1 with Ardara’s Breslin levelling after Carnegie had edged the visitors in front.
From their next two meaningful attacks though, St John Bosco’s goaled twice. On 11 minutes, Kirsty McKevitt finished off a move that also involved Alex Shortall and Carnegie.
Then, eight minutes later, from another direct attack, McKevitt made the most of a high ball in from Dearchla Quinn to turn and rasp a shot past Kelly for her second goal, to make the score 3-1 to 0-5.
Kelly made a good save moments later to dent McLogan a fourth goal and at the other end, Una McLoughlin was unfortunate not to score a goal herself when her shot got past goalkeeper Danielle McCourt, only for wing-back Laura Dolan to block on the line.
Breslin’s two late points – her fifth and sixth of the half – meant Ardara were 3-1 to 0-7 behind at half-time.
The second half was more of a slow burner, with Feeney opening the scoring for Ardara on 38 minutes and Lauren Carnegie scoring twice in reply by the 49th minute for a 3-3 to 0-8 lead for St John Bosco’s.
Ardara needed a goal and were out of luck when Mairead Watters swiveled only to see her shot got wide. Then, as had been the case all afternoon, St John Bosco’s took their chance when, on 53 minutes McLogan added their fourth of the day. With three minutes left, following a long-ball in, McLogan again won the ball above his head and smashed her third goal of the afternoon.
Ardara: Rosa Kelly; Sharon Kilbane, Stephanie Sweeney, Alanna Sweeney; Roisin Maguire, Mairead Watters, Grace Watters; Aoife Watters, Ciara Mooney; Claire Maguire, Lara Sweeney; Grace Feeney (0-2), Maria Diver, Carol Breslin (0-8, 4f), Una McLaughlin. Subs:Claire Maguire for T Sweeney (29), Niamh Gallagher (0-1) and Regina Shovlin for Diver and Feeney (60), Therese Gallagher for G Watters.
St John, Bosco: Danielle McCourt; Aishling Fox, Ashling Turley, Shannon Carroll; Sinead O’Hare, Mary Adegbamye, Laura Doran; Nicola O’Gorman, Alaex Shorthall; Terri Quinn, Laura Carnegie (0-3, 2f), Kirsty McKevitt (2-0); Carly Gibney, Orla McLogan (3-1, 1f), Dearbhla Quinn. Subs: Hannah McKevitt for Quinn (43), Siobhan Carnegie for T Quinn (57), Niamh Tumilty for McKevitt (59).
Referee: Kevin Bogle (Tyrone).
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