TG4 Ulster Ladies Senior Football Championship Final

Armagh 2-14 Monaghan 1-8                                    6/7/14

Monaghan lost the Ulster Ladies SFC title for the first time in five years when they were well beaten by Armagh in Sunday’s final in Clones. Although Monaghan made plenty of chances in the first half, they were unable to make them count and Armagh deserved their convincing win after a dominant second-half display. Caroline O’Hanlon, Louise Kenny, Fionnuala McKenna and Kelly Mallon were to the fore for Armagh, while Cora Courtney and Cathriona McConnell were among few to make much impact for a below-par Monaghan.

A Fionnuala McKenna free gave Armagh an early lead, but Ellen McCarron linked up with Therese Scott to open Monaghan’s account and they almost had a goal when Cathriona McConnell crashed a shot off the crossbar, although she did soon get a point to edge Monaghan ahead for what would prove to be one of just two times in the game. Caroline O’Hanlon replied for Armagh, who struck a critical blow when Sinéad McCleary and McKenna combined to set up Kelly Mallon to slide a low shot into the net. Cora Courtney popped up at the end of a counter-attack started by Gráinne McNally to get a point back for Monaghan, who saw another goal chance passed up when Scott had an effort blocked after a clever pass from Cora Courtney. Niamh Kindlon tapped over a 13-metre free for a foul on Ciara McAnespie, who then clipped over a left-footed point, but McKenna responded and Lauren McConville added a point after linking up with Caoimhe Morgan. Scott was denied by Armagh keeper Katie Daly after she had been put through by Ciara McAnespie; leaving the Orchard County 1-4 to 0-5 up at half-time.

Despite losing Ellen McCarron to the sin-bin early in the second half, Monaghan soon struck a well-taken goal through McConnell, but O’Hanlon hit back with a nice point from play and a 20-metre free after a foul on McKenna. McConnell kicked a good score on the turn, but Aoife McCoy kept Armagh in front and Mallon got on the end of a Mags McAlinden cross to split the uprights. McConnell had another goal-attempt saved by Daly, before a well-worked move involving Niamh Henderson, Louise Kenny and McKenna created a point for McAlinden. McKenna converted a 30-metre free, before Cora Courtney had to settle for a point at the end of a strong run. Kenny then won a penalty, which O’Hanlon confidently dispatched to kill the game off and Kenny soon added a point from play, before McCoy swung over a good effort from the right wing. McKenna latched onto a Mallon pass to tap over and Monaghan’s only response was a point from a 20-metre free by substitute Laura Boylan, after a foul on Scott.

Armagh: K Daly; M Tennyson, C Morgan, S Reel; L Kenny (0-1), N Marley, M McGuinness; N Henderson, C O’Hanlon (Capt., 1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1f); S McCleary, F McKenna (0-4, 2f), A McCoy (0-2); L McConville (0-1), K Mallon (1-1), M McAlinden (0-1).

Subs: S Mackle for McConville (47 mins), D Morgan for Kenny (62).

Monaghan: L Martin; C Reilly (Capt.), Y Connell, J Geoghegan; A McAnespie, S Courtney, G McNally; A Casey, N Fahy; C McAnespie (0-1), E McCarron (0-1), C Courtney (0-2); T Scott, C McConnell (1-2), N Kindlon (0-1f).

Subs: M Atkinson for Fahy (19), N Callan for Kindlon (H-T), E O’Rourke for G McNally (43), L Boylan (0-1f) for McConnell (52).

Referee: E O’Hare (Down).