TERMON PRODUCED A magical final quarter to see off the challenge of a plucky St Eunan’s in this evening’s County Ladies Under-14A Championship final in Convoy.
Termon 6-19 St Eunan’s 7-6
In the end, a nine-point winning margin looks comfortable but that somewhat masks the truth as St Eunan’s led by five points midway through the second half, 6-5 to 3-9. Termon goalkeeper Orla Corry made three vital saves beforehand.
Photo caption: Termon celebrate their dramatic victory over St Eunan’s in the County Ladies Under-14A Championship final in ConvoyÂ
However, the Burn Road side are accustomed to success in the various ladies brackets and they refused to lie down and eventually their diligence was rewarded with a late scoring spree.
It was a blink and you’ll miss it type of evening.
The first goal came after just three minutes when Orla McLaughlin was on hand to tuck home a rebound and put Termon in front.
However, St Eunan’s Shannon Cunningham was a constant threat and would score 4-2 on her own. She bagged the first of those goals on eight minutes following a ball in from Niamh Harkin. Then, a minute later Harkin was again playing the role of creator as Cunnigham drove low past Corry.
Termon, though, were back level at 2-1 apiece on 10 minutes when Ciara McGarvey blasted high into the St Eunan’s net past Shannon Doherty.
Control was switching hands at an incredible rate and Termon, on 15 minutes grabbed a third goal through a fine individual effort from McGarvey, who had an excellent game.
Termon added points then – four in a row – to go 3-5 to 2-3 ahead and when St Eunan’s lost Cunningham to a 10-minute sin bin the alarm bells might’ve been ringing for the team from O’Donnell Park.
Their response, however, was credible and Ciara O’Donnell lobbed a goal and at half-time Termon held a slender 3-6 to 3-5 advantage.
The St Eunan’s side who played their part in an entertaining County Ladies Under-14A Championship final in Convoy this evening
The second half started just as frenetically as the first had ended. A fourth St Eunan’s goal – with O’Donnell on target again following a give and go with Laoise Ryan – meant it was 4-5 to 3-8 on 34 minutes.
It was at this juncture that Corry, the Termon goalkeeper, made her second stop to deny Cunningham, who had re-entered the field of play.
Two goals in a minute – in the 41st and 42nd minutes – through Cunningham and Marie Kealy – meant that St Eunan’s had manufactured some daylight, 6-5 to 3-9 in front.
[adrotate group=”38″]Again Termon were not to be denied. Following a handful of injuries – which would result in referee Soibhan Coyle’s watch being stopped for 12 minutes in all – when play resumed the maroon and white were almost unplayable.
They started by chipping over points, with Jodie McFadden, Orla McLaughlin and Mya Alcorn scoring. Then Alcorn beat two defenders to strike a goal on 51 minutes and it was St Eunan’s 6-5 Termon 4-12.
[adrotate group=”46″]Aine Gallagher then slapped another Termon goal and although Cunningham grabbed one at the other end for St Eunan’s it was Termon – the reigning champions – who kept the forward momentum.
They continued to knock over points and Aoife Kelly got her name on the scoresheet when she took responsibility upon her shoulders before shooting a sixth goal for Termon, to make it 6-16 to 7-5 late on.
Termon saw it out with Mya Alcorn, McFadden and McLaughlin adding scores in the latter stages. They know how to win things ’round their way.
Termon: Orla Corry; Amy McGettigan, Maeve Doherty, Casey Gallagher; Lauren Russell, Sarah Kha, Sinead McGettigan; Eimear Alcorn (0-2, 2f), Mya Alcorn (1-4); Ciara McGarvey (2-4), Cara McElwaine (0-2), Aoife Kelly (1-0); Jodie McFadden (0-2), Aine Gallagher (1-2), Orla McLaughlin (1-3). Sub: Ailbhe McDaid for McGarvey (60).
St Eunan’s: Shannon Doherty; Ailbhe Cannon, Emma Logue, Kim McGrath; Coleen Hume, Sinead McIntyre, Ailisha Tobin; Caoimhe Kelly (0-1), Aaliyah McCormack (0-2); Marie Kealy (1-0), Niamh Harkin, Laoise Ryan (0-1); Shauna Higgins, Shannon Cunningham (4-2), Ciara O’Donnell (2-0). Subs: Niamh Walsh for Higgins (half-time), Annie McClintock for Kealy (60).
Referee: Siobhan Coyle (Gaeil Fhánada).
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