OPENING DAY WINS FOR MONAGHAN AND ANTRIM

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The TG4 Championship got underway yesterday. Four teams from the province were in action with wins for Monaghan and Antrim.

Monaghan, beaten by Cavan in the Ulster semi-final, got revenge when they emerged 2-11 to 1-13 victors at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.

A goal from Aishling Sheridan helped Cavan lead by 1-8 to 1-2 at the break, with Éabha Sherry converting a 12th minute penalty for Monaghan.

Sherry got her second goal of the match after 40 minutes and with interval substitute Holly McQuaid hitting 0-5, four of them from play, Monaghan edged out their neighbours to claim victory.

Westmeath, who defeated Laois in the TG4 Leinster IFC final, got their championship campaign off to a winning start when they defeated Down by 2-9 to 1-10 at Ballynacargy.

Westmeath, with Caoimhe Kilmurray and Sarah Dillon prominent, led by 2-5 to 0-6 at the end of the opening half.

Down hit back with a goal from Niamh Rice early in the second half but Westmeath, with goalkeeper Aoife Temple saving a penalty, held on for victory.

 

Meanwhile, the race for TG4 All-Ireland junior title also got under way this weekend with Sligo repeating their group win over Derry last year with a 2-11 to 2-4 win in Owenbeg.

Limerick scored a facile win over Kilkenny while Antrim also proved far too strong for Longford winning 4-15 to 0-5.

MONAGHAN V CAVAN OPENS TG4 CHAMPIONSHIP

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The TG4 Championship gets underway this weekend with four Ulster sides in action.

First up is the meeting of Monaghan and Cavan in Clones at 1-30pm on Sunday. This is a repeat of the Ulster semi final which the Breffni ladies won. It is also a curtain raiser to the Monaghan v Clare game.

Staying with the intermediate championship and Down will travel to Ballynacargy to play Westmeath. Throw in for that one is 2pm.

In the junior championship both Derry and Antrim are in action. The Oak Leaf girls take on Sligo in Owenbeg while the saffrons are on the road, playing Longford at Pearse Park. Both games throw in at 2pm.

 

O’NEILL INSPIRES ANTRIM

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TG4 ULSTER JUNIOR FINAL

Antrim 3-8 Derry 2-7

Player of the match Maria O Neill contributed 2-2 as Antrim were pushed all the way by Derry in an exciting Ulster Junior decider.

The Oak Leaf side had an excellent first quarter and led by four points thanks mainly to an Aine Mc Allister goal in the 13th minute. Entering the second quarter O’Neill goaled for the Saffons to close the gap. Further points were exchanged but it was Derry who went in at the break ahead 1-5 to 1-4.

Theresa Mellon struck an Antrim goal five minutes into the second half to put the Division 4 league champions ahead for the first time. The saffron continued to press for goals but the Derry defence were brave and prevented three goals. The Antrim girls did manage a third goal with eight minutes left, O’Neill the scorer. While Antrim were now six points ahead Derry kept fighting and were rewarded with an Aine Mc Allister major to leave just three between them. Antrim did have the last say with a Laura Dahunsi and went on to win by four, a lot smaller margin than many expected.

Antrim: A Devlin; A. Kelly, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown (0-1), C McKenna; A Mulholland (0-1), O Todd; T Mellon (1-0), M O’Neill (2-2), A Kelly; B Devlin (0-2)(capt.), L Agnew, Á Tubridy.

Subs Used: L. Dahunsi, D. Coleman, N. Jones and L. Adams

Derry: T Cassidy; C Dillon, G Brewster, J Corr; O McEvoy, S Hargan, B Donnelly; L Brewester, A Crozier (capt.); C Hargan, A Ni Lochlainn (0-4), A Martin; A McAlister (2-0), C Donnelly (0-1), O. Mc Geough (0-1).

Subs Used: A. Donnelly, B. Brolly, N. O’Donnell, C. O’Kane and J. Slevin

Referee: G. Gormley (Tyrone)

DOLAN DOUBLE HELPS CAVAN TO WIN

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TG4 ULSTER INTERMEDIATE FINAL

 

Cavan 6-10 Down 1-8

A personal tally of 2-2 from wing forward and player of the match Catherine Dolan helped Cavan to the Ulster Intermediate title in Omagh this afternoon.

Cavan dominated the first quarter, outscoring Down 2-4 to a single point. Niamh Keenaghan scored the Breffni sides first goal as early as the 4th minute and Dolan netted in the sixth. It took Down ten minutes to register their first score, a point from the excellent Eimear Fitzpatrick. The Mourne girls were much better in the second quarter. Fitzpatrick added another two points and Eva Hicks also fired over however Cavan went in leading at the break 3-5 to 0-4, their third goal coming from Dolan on 25 minutes.

Down started the second half strongly. Fitzpatrick added to her tally however any chance of a revival was scuppered when Aisling Sheridan and Aisling Gilsenan goaled in the 9th and 10th minutes. The Mourne girls then had a small purple patch scoring 1-2 without reply, the goal coming from Fitzpatrick. Cavan where unstoppable in the final quarter. Niamh McCorry added their sixth goal and they also hit another five points while all Down could manage was a point from full back Ciara McCreanor.

Cavan were full value for their win and will go into the All-Ireland series full of confidence that they could go the whole way.

Cavan: E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; M Sheridan, S Lynch (capt.), S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, Christina Charters, E Brady, L McVeety (0-5), C Dolan (2-2); N Keenaghan (1-0), A Sheridan (1-2), A Gilsenan (1-0).

Subs Used: Kerri McCormack (0-1), Niamh Mc Corry (1-0), Deirbhile Lynch and Sophie Daly

Down: C Byrne; A Greene, C McCreanor (0-1), N McClory; C Mulvenna (capt.), A Brogan, E Sands; M Doherty, A Laverty; E Fitzpatrick (1-4), L Duffy, C. Milburn; N King, N Rice (0-2), E Hicks (0-1).

Subs Used: N. McGrath, V. McCormack, S. Fettes, A. Smyth and M. Kelly

Referee – J. Dixon (Derry)

TG4 ULSTER INTERMEDIATE FINAL

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TG4 Ulster Intermediate Final

Cavan v Down

Healy Park, Omagh 3-30pm

Cavan and holders Down will contest this year’s intermediate decider on Sunday next.

Cavan are riding high at the moment. They had a brilliant league campaign winning 6 of their 7 games and securing the Division 3 title with a 2-10 to 0-9 win over Wexford. One of their six victories was against Down however this was back in round two in early February.

A fortnight ago, the Breffni side played Monaghan in the TG4 Ulster semi-final, and one couldn’t help but be impressed by them. After a slow start where they missed a penalty, they found their rhythm and went on to win by 4 points. Captain Shauna Lynch was awesome at centre back and kick started their revival with a goal. Upfront they were immense. Lauren Mc Veety fired over 5 points and corner forward Aisling Gilsenan contributed 1-7. While only scoring a point, the highly experienced Aishling Sheridan caused all sorts of problems with her intelligent runs. Cavan blew Monaghan away and finished the last quarter of the game with nine (1-8) unanswered scores.

Down have also been in fine form and have a fitness level to match any team in the country. Their league campaign was reasonable winning four, drawing one and losing two. One of their defeats as mentioned earlier was a 13 loss to Cavan however that was 13 weeks ago and is long since forgot about.

The Mourne girls are the holders and will not want to surrender that title. In the semi final they played Tyrone who had operated in Division 1 of the league and were favourites ahead of the game. While Down trailed by three points at the break, the match finished level however in extra time Down won it, 2-10 to 1-12. The hero on the day was Eimear Fitzpatrick. The Burren star hit 1-5 including the winning point. Substitute Shanna Fettes also scored an important goal while in midfield former captain Megan Doherty was immense. Down have a very experienced team with most of last years winning side still involved.

VERDICT – this is a hard one to call. Both had impressive semi final wins so don’t be surprised if it finishes all square.

TG4 ULSTER JUNIOR FINAL

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TG4 Ulster Junior Final

Antrim v Derry

Healy Park Omagh 1pm

Sunday’s junior decider sees neighbours Antrim and Derry go head-to-head for the title which Antrim last won in 2022 and Derry in 2018.

Antrim will start the game as red-hot favourites and rightly so. They are the only unbeaten team in the country. In the National League group phase, they won seven games in a row. In the league semi-final against Leitrim, Captain Bronagh Devlin led by example scoring 2-3 to help set up a final meeting with Fermanagh. In the final, which was played in Clones, Devlin was in fine form again, top scoring with 4 points to help her side to a two-point win.

The Safron’s carried their league form into the Ulster championship. Their first-round robin game saw them account for Derry 4-12 to 1-5, the first of the goals coming from Therese Mellon after just 14 seconds. Their second Ulster game was against London. No one knew what to expect as it was their first time in the Ulster championship. Antrim however were ruthless and won the game 4-21 to 0-2, with Maria O Niell contributing 1-9. That victory was the eleventh straight win.

It has been a tough year for Derry so far. Their league campaign didn’t go as well as they expected with only one win, a 5-15 to 0-4 hammering of Kilkenny. They did get to within 4 points of Sligo but also suffered a 4-14 to 2-6 defeat against today’s opposition.

In the Ulster round robin series, they also lost heavily to Antrim however in their last game they defeated London 4-17 to 0-9. That win will give the Oak Leafer’s some confidence ahead of today’s big game. Former captain Joanne Corr will marshal the defence while current captain Annie Crozier will operate in midfield. Upfront there will be a reliance on Aine Mc Allister for scores. The two-time Ulster PPS All Star should give the Antrim defence a lot to think about.

VERDICT – 2025 has come too early for this Derry side. Antrim should win and keep their unbeaten run going, ahead of the All-Ireland series.

Mc Coy Double Helps Armagh to Title

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TG4 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final

Armagh 3-9

Donegal 0-7

By Kieran Lynch

Armagh retained their TG4 Ulster SFC crown with a comprehensive win over Donegal in Clones.

A huge crowd descended upon St Tiernach’s Park as this game was played before the men’s Ulster SFC final between the same two counties.

Two early goals from Aoife McCoy set Armagh on their path to triumph, as they took the lead early and never relinquished it.

Her first goal came on six minutes, as a slick handpassing move which involved Eve Lavery and Caroline O’Hanlon put her through and she drilled the ball into the roof of the net.

Niamh Henderson added to the Orchard County’s lead, before McCoy netted for a second time on 13 minutes. On this occasion it was all down to the Dromintee player as she claimed possession some 30 metres out from goal, went on a driving solo run and slotted past Claire Friel to put Armagh seven ahead.

At the other end, Donegal were plagued by wasteful shooting in front of the posts, with their solitary first half point coming from a Susanne White free.

However, Armagh responded with scores from Emily Druse and Eve Lavery, before Grace Ferguson put the icing on the cake for their impressive first half performance with a superb point from distance.

Donegal were first off the mark in the second half with a White point, but Armagh’s Lauren McConville added her name to the scoresheet as she shrugged her way through a couple of challenges and slotted over with her left foot.

James Daly’s side weren’t going away quietly however, with Cait Gillespie and Katie Dowds finding the mark.

But Armagh put the game beyond all reasonable doubt 15 minutes from the end of time with their third goal. McCoy turned provider on this occasion, supplying a wide-open Niamh Coleman, and she made no mistake in sliding her effort into the bottom corner to put 10 between the sides.

Rhiana McColgan and Eva Gallagher (two) scored in consolation for Donegal, whilst Kelly Mallon (free), Lavery, Maeve Lennon and Caoimhe McNally closed out the scoring for the victors.

Scorers – Armagh: A McCoy 2-0, N Coleman 1-0, E Lavery 0-2, N Henderson, E Druse, G Ferguson, L McConville, K Mallon (1f), M Lennon, C McNally 0-1 each.

Donegal: S White (2f), E Gallagher 0-2 each, C Gillespie, K Dowds, R McColgan 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: A Carr; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, M McCann; E Druse, C Towe, G Ferguson; C O’Hanlon, N Coleman; L McConville, A McCoy, B Mackin; E Lavery, N Henderson, N Reel. Subs: K Mallon for Reel (40), C Marley for L McConville (48), C McNally for C O’Hanlon (51), M Lennon for E Lavery (51), S Quigley for G Ferguson (54).

DONEGAL: C Friel; S McFadden, A Temple Asokuh, S McFeeley; N Carr, E McGinley, C Gillespie; A Walsh, R Rodgers; N Boyle, K Dowds, F McMenamon; J McFadden, M Bennett, S White. Subs: U Boyle for A Walsh (26), B McLaughlin for Temple Asokuh (26), TR Mahon for J McFadden (HT), E Gallagher for F McMenamon (43), R McColgan for M Bennett (43).

Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).

TG4 SENIOR FINAL SATURDAY

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Armagh (holders) v Donegal

Clones 3pm Saturday

 

Since 2017 Armagh and Donegal have been the dominant teams in the province with each winning the Ulster title four times. Armagh are the current holders having seen of Donegal in the 2024 final by just 2 points (0-17 to 1-12). Games between these two are usually tight and go to the wire.

These two are the only senior teams in the province so they come into today’s game with only league form as a measuring stick to where they are at.

Armagh operate in Division 1 of the league had had a fine campaign reaching the league final only to lose to Kerry. In their seven-game, league campaign they racked up 12-84, a scoring average of just over 17 points per game and all without the services of ace forward Aimee Mackin.

In Mackin’s absence Niamh Reel has been impressive, scoring 27 points in the round robin stages and another 5 in the league final. Other major contributors have been Blaithin Mackin, Niamh Henderson and Eve Lavery. They also have 3 current All Stars in their squad, namely Grace Ferguson, Lauren Mc Conville and Aoife Mc Coy.

While the form book would suggest an Armagh victory, Donegal will not be phased by the Orchard girls. Their manager is none other than James Daly, a Armagh native who knows the opposition set up inside out and who will have no problem motivating his new charges.

Daly has lost the services of class acts such as Niamh Mc Loughlin, Katie Heron, Tara Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr but has introduced no fewer than nine young players to his squad. Players like Rhiana Mc Colgan, Ciara Mc Garvey, Ava Walsh and Laoise Ryan got valuable game time during the league.

With so many new faces it was inevitable that Donegal’s league 2 campaign would be erratic. They won 2, lost 2 and drew three, finishing joint third in a competitive group. Their losses were against Cork and Galway who went on to contest the Division 2 league final.

Despite the many new faces, Daly still has a wealth of experienced talent available. Captain Roisin Rodgers has worn the number 8 jersey for several years, while Evelyn Mc Ginley, Niamh Boyle and Shannon Mc Loughlin are all top-class defenders. In the forward line Suzanne White and Jodie Mc Fadden will give the Armagh defence plenty to think about.

The last four Ulster finals between these sides have been exciting and tense affairs that have gone right to the wire. Today we have an experienced and settled team up against a young and fearless side.

Verdict – Armagh

AMAZING COMEBACK SEE CAVAN REACH FINAL

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TG4 INTERMEDIATE SEMI FINAL
Cavan 2-15 Monaghan 3-8
What a game in Smithboro today. We had penalties, sin binings, 5 goals and an amazing comeback.
Corner forward Aisling Gilsenan hit 1-7 as Cavan came from 5 points down at the break to win by 4. It was the Breffni side who had the better start, winning a penalty with their first attack. However, the resulting spot kick was put wide and over the next 15 minutes Monaghan hit 1-4, the goal coming from Jennifer Duffy.
Lauren Mc Veety eventually raised the first white flag for Cavan in the 19th minute. Monaghan’s response was swift, another goal from Duffy and a point from full forward Eabha Sherry to give the home side a 10-point advantage with 5 left in the half. Cavan had taken a while to get to the tempo of the game and when they did, they finished strong notching of 1-3, the goal from captain Shauna Lynch. Casey Treanor fired over a late point For Monaghan to leave the score Cavan 1-4 Monaghan 2-6 at the break.
The Breffni side had a great start to the second half firing over three in a row. Just as they were getting on top, Michaela Fitzpatrick was sin binned. Monaghan capitalised immediately with Sarah Tierney adding their third goal and midfielder Niamh Flanagan pointing. But that was as good as it got for the Farney ladies. Goalkeeper Orna Kelly received her marching orders for pulling down a Cavan attack. Aisling Gilsenan netted the resulting penalty and then Cavan hit eight unanswered points to book their place in the final were they will play Down who needed extra time to see off Tyrone.

TG4 INTERMEDIATE SEMI FINALS SUNDAY

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The TG4 Ulster Intermediate Championship semi-finals are set for Sunday.

Tyrone v Down; Thomas Clarke’s, Dungannon, 2pm 

A repeat of last year’s TG4 Intermediate semi-final pits Tyrone against Down.

This time, it’s in the Ulster Championship and there’s a final place at stake.

Tyrone have Lidl NFL Division 1 experience from this year to call upon but Down are the provincial champions.

Tyrone had to survive a fierce test from Fermanagh last weekend before advancing on a 4-10 to 3-11 score line. That game will have done them the world of good however Down will be in no mood to give up their title. Eight of their starting lineup started last year’s final.

Tyrone: A Coyle; J Lyons, G McKenna, E Quinn; C Canavan, C Campbell, S McCarroll; M Mallon, A McHugh (capt.); M Moore, S Gormley, A Horisk; A McGahan, C McCrossan, N O’Neill.

Down: C Byrne; A Greene, C McCreanor, N McClory; C Mulvenna (capt.), A Brogan, A Sands; M Doherty, A Laverty; E Fitzpatrick, L Duffy, A Smyth; N King, N Rice, E Hicks.

Monaghan v Cavan; Éire Óg, Smithboro, 2pm 

Monaghan lost out in last year’s provincial final and will be anxious to go one step better this time.

But they’ll have it all to do against a Cavan side on the rise.

The Breffni County landed the Lidl National League Division 3 title recently and will be high on confidence.

Monaghan won three of their seven outings in Division 2 of the Lidl NFL. The last time the sides met was in last year’s league when Monaghan won by 3 points. This one could go right to the wire.

Monaghan: O Kelly; C Brennan, S Brady, A Loughman; G Hanratty, J Duffy, A Garland (capt.); A Burns, N Flannigan; C Kelly, L Garland, C Treanor; L Connolly, E Sherry, L Maguire.

Cavan: E Baugh; L Crowe, S Kelly, E Corcoran; M Sheridan, S Lynch (capt.), S Greene; M Fitzpatrick, A Deneher; E Brady, L McVeety, C Dolan; N Keenaghan, A Sheridan, A Gilsenan.

On Saturday the TG4 Ulster Junior Championship continues.

Antrim v London; Tír na nÓg, Randalstown, 1pm

Antrim can book a place in the final with victory here.

The Saffrons, recently-crowned Lidl NFL Division 4 champions, got the better of Derry in Round 1.

London will provide stiff opposition but Antrim will start as favourites to advance.

Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, C McKenna; A Mulholland, O Todd; T Mellon, M O’Neill, A Kelly; B Devlin (capt.), L Agnew, Á Tubridy.

London: H Dike-Lawlor; M Jordan (capt.), L Harrold, O Reilly; C Flanagan, A Spain, N Cunningham; E McCarthy, A Healy; E Gray, A Molloy, D Snow; E Bartley, A Ryan, E Phelan.