ST NAUL’S LANDED their second ladies Gaeltacht title in as many years following their victory over Ardara in the Intermediate Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Tír Chonaill.
St Naul’s 4-8 Ardara 4-6
But it was close. In injury time, Carol Breslin of Ardara – who already had 2-4 to her name – worked an opportunity for herself and her effort rammed off the St Naul’s crossbar.
Both sides contributed to a very entertaining contest, one which would have gone either way. But in the end it was St Naul’s who were celebrating adding the intermediate crown to the junior title they won 12 months ago.
In fact, it was Ardara who made the brightest start as they posted 1-3 without reply to get off to an excellent start. Their goal in that period of dominance came from Breslin, who poked past Yvette Armstong at the second time of asking on 15 minutes.
Glen Campbell’s St Naul’s took their time simmering before coming to the boil but finished the half strongly.
First Donna Kelly goaled following a pass from Denise Breslin to get the side from Mountcharles a footing. They’d almost scored a goal a minute beforehand but Rosa Kelly in the Ardara goal saved well from Annaleigh Breslin.
St Naul’s finished out the half on the front foot, with Eilish Ward, the Donegal senior panellist, having a growing influence.
Ellen Campbell scored a second St Naul’s goal on 27 minutes and her side went in 2-4 to 1-3 in front with Ward scoring a top-class free from ling range right before the whistle.
A well-worked Ardara goal on 38 minutes gave the Kentucky team something to work on – that brought the score to St Naul’s 2-6 to Ardara’s 2-5.
Ward was continuing to lead by example and she scored another fine point on the run.
However, St Naul’s saw full-back Sarah Shovlin sin-binned and during her absence, Ardara scored a third goal when Carol Breslin slammed home after a ball in from Tanya Barrett was contested for on the ground by Sarah Harkin and St Nauls netminder Armstrong on 49 minutes.
So, it was level again – St Naul’s 2-8 Ardara 3-5
[adrotate group=”54″]The momentum swung back towards St Naul’s – albeit a little fortuitously – when Annaleigh Breslin went for a dropping Ward free and although not getting the catch she might’ve wanted, Breslin’s touch was enough to change the direction of the ball and it beat the unlucky Kelly in the Ardara goal.
A minute later – now the 54th minute – St Naul’s scored a fourth goal when Donna Kelly grabbed her second of the game after a pass from Niamh McGeoghan.
At 4-8 to 3-6 in front, there was finally some daylight between the teams but when Ward was sin-binned in the closing stages, there would be a nervous wait for St Naul’s.
[adrotate group=”61″]Ardara instantly played on that nervousness when Maria Diver shot a fourth goal for their side with two minutes left and suddenly, there was just two in it, 4-8 to 4-6.
Annaleigh Breslin broke away for St Naul’s in injury time and came within a whisker of finally settling it, only to see her shot at goal rebound off the post.
Then, deep into stoppage time at the other end, Ardara’s Carol Breslin was denied a hat-trick of goals and most likely a match-winner when he shot rammed off the St Naul’s crossbar.
[adrotate group=”38″]St Naul’s: Yvette Armstong; Ally McGready, Sarah Shovlin, Shannon White; Emer Breslin, Amy Shovlin, Michaela Breslin; Eilish Ward (0-5, 1f), Ellen Campbell (1-0): Niamh Boyle, Emer Shovlin (0-1), Denise Breslin (0-1); Donna Kelly (2-1), Annaleigh Breslin (1-0), Niamh McGeoghan. Subs: Laura Fuery for Kelly (60)
Ardara: Rosa Kelly; Roisin Maguire, Stephanie Sweeney, Grace Watters; Stacey Sweeney (0-1), Lara Sweeney, Grace Feeney; Una McLaughlin, Ciara Mooney (1-0); Natasha McCole, Maria Diver (1-0), Rachel McNelis; Carol Breslin (2-4,3f), Aoife Watters. Subs: Sarah Harkin for N McCole (ht), Tanya Barrett (0-1) for M McHugh (35), Chelsea Bennett for R McNelis (53).
Referee: Robbie O’Donnell (Naomh Muire).
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