O’NEILL KICKS SPERRIN OG TO AIB TITLE

Seven points from player of the match Niamh O Neill helped Sperrin Og to the AIB Ulster Junior title at Dunmoyle earlier today. It took the centre forward just 13 seconds to send over her first score. Another point followed from captain Leah Mc Guigan before O’Neill fired over a two pointer in the 15th minute.

Ederney’s first score didn’t arrive until the 22nd minute in when captain Dearbhaile Mc Menamin pointed a free. Sperrin Og finished the half strongest with O’Neill adding two more scores to leave the midway score 0-6 to 0-1 in favour of the Greencastle ladies.

Tia Mc Farland scored the first point of the second half to cut the deficit to four however O ‘Neill quickly cancelled with another fine score and Aileen Doddy extended the lead with her sides eighth point.

Ederney were then reduced to fourteen when McFarland was binned. Mc Menamin and O’Neill then traded scores before the Fermanagh champions were given a lifeline with ten minutes left. After consulting his umpires, the referee awarded Ederney a penalty and captain Dearbhaile Mc Menamin made no mistake, burying the ball past Caoimhe Warnock.

O Neill’s last score left four between the sides, but Ederney finished strong. Points followed from Katie Teague and Mc Menamin however it was too little too late and Sperrin Og were crowned Ulster Junior champions for the second time in their history.

Fifteen years ago, Maureen Kelly missed the Ulster final due to injury, but after ten years in Australia and four kids, her cousin Sean Teague talked her back to play and she was rewarded with being on the pitch as Sperrin Og claimed the title.