Ladies Football

Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round

Monaghan 4-16 Armagh 0-4

MONAGHAN GIRLS COAST TO VICTORY IN THEIR OPENING CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

The Monaghan girls got their championship campaign off to the perfect start with a comfortable but impressive result against Armagh. With very wet conditions at Healy Park Omagh, the Monaghan girls played some exhibition football with nine players including all of their six forwards getting on the scoresheet.

It was Laura mc Eneaney making her first competitive start of the year, who opened the scoring for Monaghan with a point. This was followed with points from Ciara Mc Anespie and Caoimhe Mohan. Amanda Casey added a fourth with just 5 minutes on the clock gone. Monaghan had their first goal chance when Cora Courtney found Catriona Mc Connell whose shot just went wide of the post. Another goal chance followed with Ciara Mc Anespie’s shot being well saved by Catherine Mc Alinden. Mags Mc Alinden finally got Armagh off the mark in the 8th minute with a free. Kelly Mallon reduced the deficit to two points with an excellent point from an acute angle but Monaghan responded with another fine point to put Monaghan 5 points to 2 up with 10 minutes gone. Then came Monaghan’s first goal of the game. The hard working Cora Courtney found Aoife Mc Anespie whose pin point pass found Ciara mc Anespie who fired to the back of the net. Therese Mc Nally converted a free for Monaghan before Mags Mc Alinden added another for Armagh, also from a free. Armagh had a couple of wides before a great run from Caoimhe Mohan resulted in Ellen Mc Carron getting her first point of the game. Monaghan were causing the Armagh defence real problems and another surging run from Ciara Mc Anespie saw her fouled with Therese Mc Nally once again converting for Monaghan leaving the score at half time

Monaghan 1-8 Armagh 0-3

Christine Reilly came on for Monaghan at the start of the second half and it was Monaghan once again who got off to a blistering start. Ciara Mc Anespie was fouled with Catriona Mc Connell converting the long range free. Laura Mc Eneaney got her second point of the day and with 7 minutes of the second half gone, Catriona Mc Connell drove the ball to the back of the net to increase Monaghan’s lead to 2-10 to 0-3. Another great point from Ciara Mc Anespie , this time with her left foot put them further ahead. Natasha Mohan replaced Caoimhe Mohan who picked up an injury and Catriona Mc Connell grabbed another goal and point to put the game beyond Armagh’s reach with just 11 minutes of the second half gone. It was all Monaghan now with their half back line of Nicola Fahy, Lavina Connolly and Aoife Mc Anespie surging forward. Indeed Monaghan’s full back line of Christine Reilly, Sharon Courtney and Grainne Mc Nally all pushed forward when given the chance. Niamh Kindlon was introduced for Monaghan and it was great to see Niamh back for the championship as it was against Armagh in the championship last year when Niamh picked up her injury. Laura Mc Eneaney, Therese Mc Nally and Aoife Mc Anespie all added further points for Monaghan to put Monaghan 3-15 to 0-3 up with just 5 minutes remaining. Another blistering goal from Ciara Mc Anespie, her second of the day and a great long range point from Niamh Kindlon wrapped up Monaghan’s scoring. Substitute Amy Hughes gave Armagh a small consolation with a point, their only score of the half, with the last kick of the game.

Final score Monaghan 4-16 Armagh 0-4

This was an impressive result from the Monaghan girls. After their disappointing result in the league semi final, the girls have been training away in preparation for the championship and on Sunday they played some excellent attacking football. What was very noticeable, was their work rate right from the full back line up. They drove forward at every opportunity making it very difficult for Armagh, and once again the speed of Monaghan’s forwards proved too much for Armagh to handle. Amanda Casey and Cora Courtney worked tirelessly in midfield helping out in defence and also supporting the fowards. Sunday’s win sets up a semi final with Down which is down to be played on Saturday 18th June. There are still things to work on. The number of chances they missed on Sunday could on another day prove costly but that’s something they can work on.

Monaghan’s line out

Linda Martin, Margaret Treanor, Sharon Courtney, Grainne Mc Nally, Aoife Mc Anespie (0-1), Nicola Fahy, Lavina Connolly, Amanda Casey(0-1), Cora Courtney, Ellen Mc Carron(0-1), Therese Mc Nally(0-32f), Caoimhe Mohan(0-1),Catriona Mc Connell (2-32f), Ciara Mc Anespie(2-2) Laura Mc Eneaney (0-3)

Subs used Christine Reilly, Natasha Mohan, Niamh Kindlon (0-1), Niamh Lynch

Results

U14

Division 1 15 a side

Donaghmoyne 3-6 Monaghan Harps 2-8

Division 2 13 a side play off

Inniskeen 5-13 Eire Og 5-7

Division 3 11 a side

Truagh 5-9 Doohamlet 0-7

Fixtures

U14 Division 1 15 a side

Scotstown V Carrickmacross – Tonight Thursday at 7