Ulster News

The Armagh final again served up a great game with Keady breaking free of Ballymacnab in the last 10 minutes to record a fifth successive title win.

As in this same fixture last year it was veteran full-forward Collette McKeever who broke Ballymacnab’s hearts.

She stabbed home a goal in the 50th minute to put her side ahead for the first time in a very tight final in Granemore.

Then her niece Lucy Conway scrambled home a second goal in the fourth minute of injury time to secure a 2-7 to 0-7 victory.

Ballymacnab though will be very disappointed that they got nothing out of this game as they made all the early running.

They led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, thanks to four frees from Michelle McGuigan and superb play from inter-county referee Una Kearney, who later sustained a bad head injury.

Although Michelle added another free on the restart, Keady free-taker Claire Kinsella brought her tally to five points in the 45th minute and the game was level.

Laura Gribben responded with a fine point for Ballymacnab a minute later, but the game’s turning point came in the 50th minute with Collette McKeever’s goal.

Keady’s greater experience came into play during the last ten minutes and with Caitriona Kinsella in superb form at centre-back, they took control.

Claire Kinsella added another free and Lucy Conway’s late scrambled effort sealed victory and put the south Armagh side through to another provincial campaign, where they play the Tyrone champions on the first weekend of September.

The Tyrone decider, between Eglish and Ardboe, fell victim to the rain, but will be decided this week.

Keady : C McKeever 1-1, L Conway, C Kinsella 0-6 frees.

Ballymacnab : M McGuigan 0-5 frees, E McParland 0-1, L Gribben 0-1.

Player of the Match : Caitriona Kinsella (Keady).

The Tyrone finals were postponed but the senior final between Ardboe and Eglish has been re-fixed for this evening (Monday) at 7.15pm in Derrylaughan.

The Down final between Clonduff and Ballycran was also postponed and the date for the re-fixture will be announced after tonight’s County Board meeting.

Meanwhile Portglenone, Loughgiel and Dunloy are through to this weekend’s Casement Park semi-finals in the Antrim senior camogie championship after comfortable quarter-final victories over the weekend.

The fourth game between Rossa and Creggan had to be postponed but may now take place tomorrow evening.

Portglenone beat St John’s by 3-12 to 0-2 at home in heavy conditions after leading by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break.
Early in the second Chrissie Doherty’s long free dropped into the net and substitute Ciara Duffin added two late goals to line-up a semi-final meeting with Dunloy who beat TÝr na nËg on Thursday evening.

Two first half goals from Emma McMullan set Loughgiel on their way to an eventual 2-9 to 0-1 victory over neighbouring Ballycastle.

Loughgiel led by 2-5 to 0-0 at the break and despite a point from Claire Neill, the Shamrocks have set up a semi-final with either Rossa or Creggan.

Loughgiel : Emma McMullan 2-4, Racquel McCarry 0-1, Joanne Campbell 0-1, Una McNaughton 0-1, Roisin McMullan 0-1, Noelle Connolly 0-1.

Ballycastle : Claire Neill.

Portglenone : Kiara Duffin 2-0, Christine Doherty 1-1, Mairead Graham 0-3, Carla Doherty 0-2, Siobhan Doherty 0-2, Brenda Clarke 0-2, Jane Carey 0-1, Therese McAleese 0-1.
St John’s : Rhona Torney 0-1, Helen Wilson 0-1.

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