THREE IN A ROW FOR ARMAGH

TG4 ULSTER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Derry Centre of Excellence, Owenbeg,
Armagh 2-13 Tyrone 1-15

Armagh claimed their third consecutive TG4 Ulster senior title with just a point to spare over Tyrone in a pulsating final played at sunny Owenbeg. Tyrone had the better start and led by two points after as many minutes. Three points on the trot from Armagh edged them in front and in the 20th minute Aoife Mc Coy netted the first goal of the game. Lauren Mc Convile drove at the Red Hand defense, offloaded to Caroline of Hanlon who in turn set up Mc Coy who palmed calmly to the net.

Tyrone to their credit did not panic and with the next attack the excellent Slaine Mc Carroll finished a solo run from the halfway line with a low drive which quickly canceled Mc Coys goal. Tyrone hit the next four points to regain the lead. Now it was time for calm Armagh heads and that’s what we got. Armagh scored the next three points including a two-pointer from Aimee Mackin. In the dying minutes of the half both sides traded points but it was Armagh who went in ahead 1-9 to 1-8.

Scores were exchanged early in the second half and then Armagh struck their second goal in the 15th minute. Blathin Mackin who was just on the pitch produced a wonderful high catch in the middle of the field and set up Caoimhe Mc Nally who made no mistake from close range.

In the final quarter Armagh introduced a number of subs including Kelly Mallon who fired over three times. Cassie Henderson in her first championship final, was sin binned with six left on the clock and four between them. Tyrone pushed hard and narrowed the score to a single point but ultimately time ran out and Armagh were crowned champions for the third year in a row.

Orchard manager Gregory Mc Gonigle was both delighted and relieved after the final whistle. Asked to sum the game up, he said, “It’s unbelievable – any time you beat a Tyrone team it’s a brilliant day”. Corner back Cait Towe was equally satisfied with the win. She admitted “we were slow to start but finished strong. I’m absolutely knackered now but our hard work throughout the sixty minutes paid off”.

Scorers – Armagh: B Mackin 0-6 (1ft 2p), A McCoy 1-2, K Mallon 0-3 (2f), C McNally 1-0, C O Hanlon and E Druse 0-1each
Tyrone: N O’Neill 0-5 (4f), A Horisk 0-4 (3f), S McCarroll 1-1, C Mccaffrey 0-3 and S Gormley 0-1
ARMAGH: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, C Towe, E Druse, L McConville, G Ferguson, C Reilly, A Donnelly, C Marley, A McCoy, C Mc Nally, A Mackin, C O’Hanlon, L Marsden
Subs: B Mackin for A Donnelly, K Mallon for C Marley, C Henderson for C Reilly, E Melanophy for M Ferguson and M Lennon for C McNally

TYRONE: L Kane; J Hearty, G McKenna, E Quinn, C Canavan, M Corrigan, C Campbell, M Mallon, A. McHugh, S McCarroll, C McCarroll, C McCarroll, C McCaffrey, E Canny, N O’Neill, S Gormley, A Horisk.
Subs: K Ross for Canavan

Referee: Siobhan Kelly (Donegal).