ST MACARTANS 1-14 COALISLAND 1-11
ST Macartans booked their place in the Tyrone Ladies Senior Championship semi-finals after holding off a determined Coalisland fightback to claim a 1-14 to 1-11 victory in Augher on Friday evening.
The hosts led by four points at half-time after making good use of the wind, before Coalisland battled back after the restart. However, a late St Macartans goal ultimately provided the breathing space needed to secure victory.
Chloe McCaffrey opened the scoring from a free inside the first minute before McCarroll doubled their advantage following a quick attack down the left.
McCarroll struck twice more as St Macartans moved 0-4 to 0-0 ahead inside 10 minutes, while Cara McMoran opened Coalisland’s account from a free.
McCarroll landed her fourth point after another flowing move from defence before Cathy Maguire struck impressively from distance to leave the hosts 0-6 to 0-1 ahead.
Coalisland responded emphatically when Caireann O’Neill’s ambitious effort from the right crashed off the post and into the net on 14 minutes.
McMoran quickly followed with a converted free to reduce the deficit to one point, but McCaffrey settled St Macartans with an excellent 35-metre free.
Niamh Hughes replied after bursting through the middle before McCaffrey restored the hosts’ advantage and added two further frees.
McMoran responded at the other end, but another McCaffrey free from a difficult angle sent St Macartans into half-time leading 0-11 to 1-4.
With the wind now behind them, Aoife Quinn immediately reduced Coalisland’s deficit after racing down the right and splitting the posts.
McCaffrey replied with another long-range free before McCarroll registered her fifth point following patient build-up play as St Macartans moved 0-13 to 1-5 ahead.
Coalisland refused to go away, however, with McMoran increasingly influential. She landed a point from play before converting successive frees to leave just two between them.
The game was briefly halted following a heavy collision between Maguire and Coalisland goalkeeper Lynette McShane, but both were able to continue after receiving treatment.
McCaffrey ended a lengthy scoreless spell for the hosts from a free, although McMoran answered from distance before adding another from play as Coalisland kept up the pressure.
On 61 minutes St Macartans effectively settled matters when they broke quickly down the left, with Hannah Meegan delivering into the danger zone. Players from both sides converged at the far post before McCarroll got the final touch amid the scramble to bundle the ball across the line and restore their cushion.
Coalisland almost responded immediately when McMoran went in search of a goal, but Shannon Byrne produced a crucial save to preserve St Macartans advantage.
Caoimhe Quinn landed the final score in added time, but St Macartans had done enough to secure their semi-final place.
Scorers
St Macartans: C McCaffrey 0-8 (7f), S McCarroll 1-5, C Maguire 0-1.
Coalisland: C McMoran 0-8 (0-5f), C O’Neill 1-0, N Hughes 0-1, A Quinn 0-1, C Quinn 0-1.
Teams
St Macartans: Shannon Byrne; Eirinn McKenna, Caitlin Kinsella, Grainne McKenna; Aine Arkinson, Tara Meabh McCarroll (c), Sarah Donaghy; Maura McMenamin, Slaine McCarroll; Tara O’Hagan, Cathy Maguire, Paula McNulty; Cadhla McCarroll, Chloe McCaffrey, Zara McAnespy. Subs: Hannah Meegan for C McCarroll (43), Michaela Woods for McAnespy (43), Shauna O’Hagan for M McMenamin (57), Shauna McGirr for Donaghy (60).
Coalisland: Lynette McShane; Cora Quinn, Darina Campbell, Aisling McCaughey; Aoibheann McWilliams, Grainne McDonald, Natalie Mihadjuka; Caelainn O’Donnell, Niamh Hughes (c); Caireann O’Neill, Milena Mihadjuka, Emma-Jane Gervin; Cara McMoran, Niamh Campbell, Aoife Quinn. Subs: Eadaoin Early for N Campbell (30), Caoimhe Quinn for A McWilliams (58).
Referee: Gary Gormley (Drumquin).
