Ulster round-up

ULSTER SHIELD FINAL

Eglish claimed the Ulster Premier Shield title for the first time with an impressive display against Ballymacnab.

“”It was a great team performance, all the girls worked hard for this game and hopefully now we’ll be able to carry this experience into our championship,”” Eglish captain Shauna Jordan said.

Tony Austin’s side enjoyed a great run into the final overcoming Portaferry and Granemore along the way; remaining unbeaten in the process. Indeed their League match against Ballymacnab was a much closer contest with Eglish edging it by one point, 3-7 to 3-6.

This time there was six points between the sides with Eglish taking their chances from the set ball and it was the accuracy shown by Captain Shauna Jordan and Anette Jordan that proved the difference between the sides.

Grainne O’Neil provided Eglish with the springboard for their attacks with an excellent performance in midfield while upfront Susan McCann was on fire scoring 1-3 from play.

Ballymacnab put the Eglish back-line under pressure with Michelle McGuigan finding the net for the Armagh side and they continuously tried to find a way back into the game but Brenda Horsfield and Siobhan Hughes stood firm. æKeeper Kelley Fay was the star for Eglish as she pulled off some fine saves to deny Ballymacnab a comeback.

“”We’re disappointed but the better team won on the night no doubt about that. We gave away a couple of silly frees and they punished us for it. Hopefully we’ll be able to bounce back because we have a championship semi-final against Keady coming up,”” said Ballymacnab’s Shauna McKee.

The Ulster Premier League Final between Slaughtneil and Eoghan Roe, Coleraine which was to be played on Saturday was called off at the last moment and will be rescheduled for a later date.

Mid-Ulster League Final: Doiretreasc 5-03 vs 2-08 Derrylaughan

In the Mid-Ulster League Doiretreasc were the victors over Tyrone rivals Derrylaughlin in a hotly contested match.

The match opened with both teams exchanging scores but it was Doiretreasc who held a narrow two point lead at half-time.

Doiretreasc came out determined to build on their lead but Derrylaughlin battled well but in the end the strength and spirit of the Doiretreasc team proved the difference as they held on for a famous four point victory.

Aisling Corr and Caoimhe Rafferty both had an excellent game scoring 2.01 and 2.00 respectively.

Captain Emma McErlean had the honour of lifting the trophy to the delight of the home crowd.

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