Tyrone Under-14 Ladies win Ulster Platinum Final

Tyrone 2-10  Derry 1-4

TYRONE’S Under-14 girls delivered a dominant, all-round performance to capture the Ulster Platinum title on Saturday, overpowering Derry in a one-sided final at Garvaghey.

From the first whistle, Barry Collins’ side set the tone with slick, expansive football and complete control in every area of the pitch.

Determined to make amends for last year’s Gold final disappointment, Tyrone were relentless, securing a commanding victory – and could have won by more.

Captain Ella Boyd led by example, supported by the razor-sharp Emma Owens Duddy and Roise O’Neill in a formidable full-forward line that proved too hot for Derry to handle.

Owens Duddy carved out an early goal after a flurry of saves from Derry keeper Mollie Doyle, with Boyd, Erin Hetherington, and Cara McVeigh adding to the scoreboard to give Tyrone a comfortable lead.

Midfield pairing Caoimhe McKeown (Ardboe) and Aislinn Harley (Tattyreagh) dictated the tempo, while the Red Hand defence, marshalled by Ava Muldoon and Lucy Meenan (Cappagh), remained rock-solid. Freya McAnespy’s link-up play from half-back added another dimension to Tyrone’s attack.

Derry struggled to break down the Tyrone wall, managing just a single point in the first half through Amy Deighan.
Despite improved intensity after the restart, including points from Ava McPeake and Faye Callaghan, the Oak Leaf girls were always chasing shadows.

With rolling substitutions keeping legs fresh, Tyrone’s strength in depth shone through. Catherine McGinley, one of the new introductions, made an instant impact by smashing home a second goal to reassert Tyrone’s dominance.

Keeva McKeown, Faye Daly, and Boyd added late points, while Derry earned a consolation goal through Swatragh’s Rose Quinn after a determined run from midfield.

In the end, Tyrone’s clinical edge, tactical discipline, and squad depth proved too much. The performance was hailed as one of the best by a Tyrone team at this level in recent years. With the All-Ireland series up next, this group heads forward full of confidence and momentum.

Scorers
Tyrone: Ella Boyd 0-5, Emma Owens Duddy 1-0, Catherine McGinley 1-0, Keeva McKeown 0-2, Erin Hetherington 0-1, Faye Daly 0-1, Cara McVeigh 0-1.

Derry: Rose Quinn 1-0, Amy Deighan 0-2, Ava Mc Peake 0-1, Roisin Mc Elhinney 0-1.

Teams
Tyrone: Alice Fox, Ava Muldoon, Annabel Fox McGlone, Lucy Meenan, Erin Hetherington, Lisa McAleer, Freya McAnespy, Caoimhe McKeown, Aislinn Harley, Cara McVeigh, Sarah O’Donnell, Cara McGlinchey, Emma Owens Duddy, Roise O’Neill, Ella Boyd. Interchange Subs: Faye Daly, Catherine Mc Ginley, Croibhe McCullagh, Shannon Lynch, Maggie Quinn, Niamh Doyle, Neamh Gormley, Brid Sweeney, Megan Skeffington, Annie Kate McNeill, Emma Conway, Charlotte Daly, Sinead Jordan, Meabh Harley, Shannon Woods.

Derry: Mollie Doyle, Lucy McWilliams, Kaitlin Green, Kaitlin Green, Finnula Murray, Grainne Doherty, Niamh Duggan, Kaci Deighan, Rose Quinn, Faye Callaghan, Molly Gray, Aimee Mullan, Ava Mc Peake, Amy Deighan, Roisin Mc Elhinney. Interchange Subs: Isla O’Kane, Ava Higgins, Cara Mc Nally, Ella Doherty, Eimear McErlean, Lily Fitzpatrick, Blaithnaid McElhinney, Aoife McGinley, Caragh McNicholl, Clodagh McCrystal, Caoimhe Feeney, Sophia O’Neill, Ellie Gilligan, Jane Tancred, Catherine Lee.

Referee: Chris Morgan, Down.