Errigal Ladies take care of Termon with ease

Errigal Ciaran 3-11  Termon 2-4

A Maria Canavan-inspired Errigal Ciaran took care of Donegal champions Termon in the first round of the Ladies Ulster Senior Club Championship at Dunmoyle on Sunday.

Canavan finished with 3-8 as Errigal played with pace and quality that left the visitors completely blown away.

The Termon goals came far too late to have an impact on the outcome, and they sorely missed the unavailable Geraldine McLaugglin.

Termon, far too physical for their own good at times, had three players sin-binned over the hour, Anna Gallagher, Jodie Mc Fadden and skipper Roisin Friel and only at times did they threaten.

Mc Fadden hit a goal on 52 minutes and followed that up with a penalty with the last kick of the game. That left ten between them, and in truth, it could have been worse.

Leading by nine points at the break Errigal controlled the opening half, the game being played on their terms throughout and only briefly did Termon threaten, a flashing shot from Nicole McLaughlin sailing wide and a penalty midway through the half drilled over the bar from Ciara Mc Garvey, but there was no doubting the quality of Maria Canavan.

The top scorer in the Tyrone championship, Canavan continued where she left of with 2-5 of her side’s first half tally of 2-6.

They started well when Clare Canavan was brought down in the opening seconds with Maria Canavan sending her penalty to the net.

A positive Errigal were encamped in the Termon half for much of the first period, Canavan the perfect foil for the runs of Claire and the talented Meabh Corrigan. Maria tagged on three points in a dominant spell with Shannon Mc Laughlin’s point on six minutes all the Donegal champions could offer.

Mc Garvey steered her penalty over the bar, the spot-kick rather fortunate when Rosin Friel was challenged, and as the half continued Errigal turned the screw. Canavan added a fourth point. Claire Canavan teed up Emile Loughran for a fifth before Anna Gallagher picked up a yellow card, the first of two for Termon before the end of the half. Canavan finished a sixth point from a good Mc Aleer pass and when a high ball launched in by Claire Canavan wasn’t dealt with, Maria Canavan was on hand to push the ball to the net.

McGarvey turned over a point but again they were rocked back when Jodie Mc Fadden’s yellow reduced the side to thirteen players for the remainder of the half.

Termon had a lifeline on the restart when Friel was fouled but Roisin Mc Cafferty drove the penalty well wide, Oonagh Mc Aleer and McGarvey exchanged points and while Termon did press more the Errigal defence dealt well with any suggestions of a comeback.

Canavan tagged on a brace of points and when Bronagh Mc Aleer stole in after a great build up Termon goalkeeper Orla Corry took her out. Canavan slotting home a third goal to complete her hat trick.

Credit to Termon, particularly Mc Fadden who fired in a goal to take the bad look of things . It was just cosmetic as Canavan finished her scoring for the day with a well taken point with five minutes left. Kelly McCaffrey came off the bench to wrap up the Errigal scoring as Friel got her sides third yellow card late on.

There was time for yet another penalty though and this time McFadden made no mistake from the spot, it was scant reward though for the Termon side as they crashed out.

THE TEAMS

Errigal Ciaran: Alise Coyle, Calin Mc Cann, Mary Traynor, Niamh Quinn, Claire Canavan, Meabh Corrigan, Michaela Moore, Elle Mc Namee, Eimear Corrigan, Aoife Horisk, Maria Canavan (3-8), Bronagh Mc Aleer, Emile Loughran (0-1), Shannon Cunningham, Oonagh Mc Aleer (0-1): Subs: Kelly Mc Caffrey (0-1) for E.Corrigan, Aine Quinn for C.Canavan, Hannah Mc Carney for Horisk, Saorla Mullin for O. Mc Aleer.

Termon: Orla Corry, Roisin Mc Cafferty, Niamh Friel, Maria Carr, Niamh Bonner, Emer Gallagher, Aibhe Mc Daid, Nicole Mc Laughlin, Rionach Giles, Chelsea Gorman, Lauren Gallagher, Jodie McFadden (2-0), Anna Gallagher, Shannon Mc Laughlin (0-1), Ciara Mc Garvey (0-3), Roisin Friel. Subs: Meave Brady for Aibhe McDaid, Lauren Gallagher for Gallagher, Evelyn Mc Ginley for Gorman.

Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Down)