OLSPK 3-3 St. Mary’s 1-6

Our Lady’s and St .Patrick’s Knock won their first ever Ulster U20A title with a three-point victory over St. Mary’s Magherafelt. Both teams deserve credit for serving up an excellent game in very damp conditions.

St. Mary’s Aoife Doherty fired over the first score of the game however their lead was short lived as Grace Guest found the net for OLSPK in the seventh minute. The Knock school then extended their lead when full forward Rose Horisk also rattled the net and Guest sent over another point.

In the second quarter the teams scored a couple of points each. Jemma Shivers scored two frees for the Magherafelt outfit while Evie McHugh and Guest cancelled these scores. Going in at the break OLSPK led by 6 points, 2-3 to 0-3.

Early in the second half Shivers cut the lead to five when she pointed however OLSPK then scored a fortunate goal. Evie Mc Hugh’s free was launched into the square and the wet ball slid of a number of defender hands into the net.

St. Mary’s to their credit never gave up. With 13 left, Ava Hurl found the net with a well taken penalty. Further points followed from Doherty and Shivers to leave just three between the sides. In the final minutes the Magherafelt side piled on the pressure,  however OLSPK stood strong to claim the title.

Grace Guest top scored with 1-2 while Jemma Shivers fired over four points and Evie Mc Hugh contributed 1-1. OLSPK Captain Isa Mc Carron was named MFC Player of the Match.

MFC sponsored jerseys for both finalists. The OLSPK sported a FW inside a star, to commemorate their former teacher Frankie Wilson who was heavily involved in ladies football in the school before his untimely passing. It was also a great night for Cara McDermott who celebrated her 18^th Birthday today.

Lidl National Football League round-up

Compiled by John Fallon

Cork gained a measure of revenge for last year’s Lidl National League Division 2 final loss to Galway when they scored a 1-10 to 2-5 win when the sides clashed in the top flight on Sunday at Páirc Uí Rinn.

A goal from Aine O’Sullivan proved decisive for a Cork side who led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break. Andrea Trill and Leanne Coen found the net for Galway but O’Sullivan’s goal put Cork in the driving seat as they maintained their unbeaten return to Division 1 having drawn against Kildare on the opening weekend.

Kelly Mallon led the way as last year’s runners-up Armagh defeated Kildare by 0-13 to 0-9 as they bounced back from an opening round loss to Waterford.

Mallon kicked five frees for an Armagh side who led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break and they pushed on for victory despite Alannah Prizeman also shooting five frees for Kildare.

There are two games in Division 1 on Monday, as Meath take on Dublin in Stamullen, while holders Kerry entertain Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. Both fixtures get underway at 2pm.

In Division 2, meanwhile, there were wins for Mayo, Donegal, Cavan and Tyrone, with an abundance of goals across the division.

Tyrone, relegated last season, continued their impressive start as they backed up last weekend’s win over Monaghan when they scored seven goals by seeing off Westmeath by 4-15 to 6-6 in a ten-goal thriller at St Loman’s in Mullingar.

Donegal also had three points to spare as they too notched a second win of the campaign as they defeated Monaghan by 2-10 to 0-13.

Tipperary, hoping to back up their opening win over Wexford, fell to a 1-15 to 1-9 loss to a Cavan side who drew with Mayo on the opening weekend in their first match after winning Division 3 last season.

Mayo pushed on from that draw with Cavan to hit the net five times and put Wexford to the sword by 5-14 to 0-7.

In Division 3, there were wins for Louth, Down and Antrim, while Fermanagh and Roscommon drew in a high-scoring game.

Carlow and Leitrim both made it three wins in a row in Division 4, with Longford securing their second win and Offaly getting off the mark with their first victory.

Results:

Lidl Ladies National Football League – Division 1

Cork 1-10 Galway 2-5
Armagh 0-13 Kildare 0-9

Lidl Ladies National Football League – Division 2

Mayo 5-14 Wexford 0-7
Donegal 2-10 Monaghan 0-13
Cavan 1-15 Tipperary 1-9
Tyrone 4-15 Westmeath 6-6

Lidl Ladies National Football League – Division 3

Louth 1-7 Clare 0-6
Fermanagh 4-8 Roscommon 3-11
Down 2-14 Laois 1-14
Antrim 4-16 Limerick 1-4

Lidl Ladies National Football League – Division 4

Carlow 0-14 Wicklow 3-2
Longford 0-10 Derry 0-4
Leitrim 5-10 Sligo 2-7
Offaly 5-19 Kilkenny 0-2

The Dub Arena, Malone Road Playing Fields, Belfast will host the Ulster U20A PPS final on Friday evening at 7-30pm. This year’s final is between Our Ladies and St. Patrick’s College, Knock and St. Mary’s Grammar School, Magherafelt

Bigger, Better, Busier was the theme running through the Ulster Ladies Convention on Friday night last.

After Gerry Doherty welcomed everyone, detailed reports were delivered by Colm Murray (Secretary Report), Paul Swift (PRO Report), Caroline Brady (Cultural and Language Report), Ciaran Murtagh (Development Report), Paul Kelly (Finance Report), Ronan McCarthy (CODA Report), Karen Mc Goldrick (Fixtures Report) and Maria Hinds (Registrar).

The positive reports were crammed full of important figures and details such as

• We now have 46, 511 members
• We have over 25, 000 Facebook followers
• We produced a 52-page full colour programme for our club finals
• CODA dealt with 8 disciplinary matters in 2025
• We have 114 schools and 350 teams competing in our PPS competitions
• Our Development Team organised 500 events
• 17,928 girls participated in Development events
• We have 312 clubs an increase of 7 on last year
• Donegal has the most members, 7, 205
• We had over 130 games in all competitions bar schools
• We have 5 full time staff

National subcommittee representatives were selected and bye laws approved. Gerry Doherty then delivered his final address in which he managed to thank all the people which help make our game a major success. Gerry also had a word for our sponsors, saying that they help us so please help them.

Gerry has been active in ladies football circles since 2001 and during that time he has been President for 7 years and Secretary for 6. It was  no surprise that he received a standing ovation and lots of well-deserved plaudits including one from Down’s Seamus O Hanlon, who thanked him for his support and leadership and reminded us all, that he was source of good counsel.

Gerry then handed over the reins of ULGFA to Dungannon native Eileen Jones-Hardy. In Eileen’s acceptance speech she reiterated that despite being bigger, better, busier we needed to keep pushing. During her tenure she wants to see an increase in volunteer numbers and reminded all present that change is coming but that she will make sure LGF will not be walked over.

The next Ulster meeting will take place on Tuesday night and will ratify the competition rules. Our first games of the season take place in mid-February.

All nine counties are in LIDL National League action on Sunday. Six sides are at home and Monaghan v Tyrone is the first derby of the season.

Antrim v Clare – 1pm Dunsilly

Armagh v Waterford – 2pm BOX-IT Athletic Grounds

Cavan v Mayo – 2pm Breffni Park

Monaghan v Tyrone – 2pm Holy Trinity, Cookstown

Donegal v Westmeath – 2pm O’Donnell Park

Laois v Fermanagh – 2pm Emo

Down v Louth – 2pm Ardglass

Sligo v Derry – 2pm Cloonacool