Termon ladies overcome Naomh Conaill to win Under-13 championship

Harry McGlynn, a name synonymous with ladies gaelic football in Termon and indeed in Donegal, and his daughter Lisa guided Termon’s talented U-13 girls team to success on Friday evening.  

Termon 8-12 to Naomh Conaill 2-4

An evening ideal for a county final in O’Donnell park saw Termon overcome Naomh Conaill.

With the U-14 A title, U-12 silverware in the bag and having already overcome the likes of St Eunan’s and Glenfin en route to the final Termon entered the game as favourites and didn’t disappoint.

From the throw-in Termon’s hunger was evident as Mya Alcorn won the ball and bolted straight up the pitch shooting just wide of the mark.

Subsequently Ciara McGarvey won the kick-out to open the scoring with a point.  

The Naomh Conaill defence worked hard with Karla Doherty and Orla O’Donnell winning some good ball and working forward but Sarah Kho and Katie Mellett were impassable in the Termon defence.

And after Sinead McGettigan broke down a Naomh Conaill attack she passed to Lauren Mullen who fed full forward Aoife Kelly the ball to slot home the maroon and white sides first goal of the day, 1-1 to 0-0.

Termon continued their blitz attack with Mya Alcorn adding a further three points and Aoife Kelly another 1-1.

  The Glenties youngsters settled and dug deep as Natalie McDaid broke free to fire over Naomh Conaill first point of the day.  

Lauren Furey added another point and Grainne Agnew scored a fine goal.  

Referee Mickey Mulhern awarded a penalty to Emma Doherty and Naomh Conaill called on their captain and goalkeeper to strike from the spot.  Despite taking the penalty well, hitting toward the bottom right corner of the goals Termon’s Orla Corry pulled off an amazing save, diving across the goalmouth and quickly clearing the ball.

Eimeair Alcorn was fantastic in midfield for the burn road outfit as she carried the ball 50 metres up the pitch, passed to cousin Mya Alcorn who split the posts once again.  Amy McGettigan cut out the following Naomh Conaill kick-out and scored a magnificent goal to widen the gap before half-time, 4-6 to 1-2.

 Naomh Conaill began the second half well but the Termon defence of Sarah Kho, Maeve Doherty and Sinead McGettigan proved too experienced and strong for the young Naomh Conaill girls and denied them any scores.

However Termon notched up a further five points through Casey Gallagher, Sarah Kho, Aoife Kelly, Ciara McGarvey and Amy McGettigan.  

Naomh Conaill never gave up and Maria Bonnar continued to work hard for her team and got a goal her efforts.

Unfortunate for Naomh Conaill though hopes of a comeback were dashed as Termon introduced super sub Orla McLaughlin who quickly  bagged herself 3-1.

Aileen Doherty and Grainne Agnew added another two points for Naomh Conaill but it was Termon’s Mya Alcorn who got the final say with a goal after some great play from team mate Ciara McElwaine. 

 Termon’s experience had proved too much for the young promising Naomh Conaill side. Captain Mya Alcorn accepted the trophy from LGFA county secretary Siobhan Coyle. Termon will now represent Donegal in the Feile Peil na nOg 2016.

 Termon: Orla Corry, AmyMcGettigan(1-1), Maeve Doherty, Katie Mellet, Lauren Russell, Sarah Kho(0-1), Sinead McGettigan, Mya Alcorn(2-4), Eimeair Alcorn, Ciara McElwaine, Ciara McGarvey(0-2), Aoife Giles, Jodie McFadden, Aoife Kelly(2-2), Niamh McBride. Subs used: Casey Gallagher(0-1) for N McBride, OrlaMcLaughlin(3-1) for Aoife Giles, Aine Gallgher for Aoife Kelly, Kelly Ellis for Katie Mellett, Ella McGlynn for Lauren Mullen, Michaela Gallagher for Ciara McGarvey, Aibhe McDaid for Amy McGettigan, Rebecca Steel for Maeve Doherty, Saerlaith Gallagher for Ciara McElwaine, Latisha McGarvey for Sinead McGettigan.

Naomh Conaill: Bronagh Gallagher, Emily McDaid, Karla Doherty, Niamh Kelly, Shauna Boyle, Maria Bonnar (1-0), Orla O’Donnell, Natalie McDaid (0-1), Grainne Quinn, Aileen O’Donnell, Ciara Molloy, Grainne Agnew (1-1), Emma Doherty, Laura Furey (0-1), Niamh de Bruin. Subs: Aideen Doherty (0-1)

Referee: Michael Mulhern (St Eunan’s).