No ‘Silver’ success for Tyrone Minor Ladies

Tyrone 1-8  Armagh 2-8

THERE was disappointment for Tyrone at breezy Crossmaglen on Saturday as Armagh managed to stave off a second half assault from the visitors to claim the Ulster Ladies Minor Silver Championship honours.

Despite leading by five points midway through the first half with the wind at their backs it was Tyrone’s inability to keep the score board ticking over during this spell that would eventually cost them dear.

A well organised Armagh defence was tough to penetrate and despite the best efforts of Keeva Owens, Erin McGinn, Catherine Moohan and Amy Sheehy the Tyrone attack failed to breakthrough the orange wall regularly enough to get among the scores.

Tyrone opened the scoring through Cara McMoran with a tidy point, before Alanna O’Neill levelled things up. While Armagh had plenty of ball it was Tyrone who pulled away with the help of the elements Cora Quinn’s ball was turned to the Armagh net by Sheehy from distance, with Owens and McGinn, finishing off sweeping moves with points.

That latter point scored on ten minutes was to be their last in the half despite the breeze. Critically, they dropped in a couple of balls short that were dealt with easily and also saw Laura Duff pick up a harsh enough yellow card.

The impressive Evie McCafferty teed up Mallaidh Loughran for a goal as Armagh took a grip on the game. Drumragh’s Rihanna Mullin made a couple of big saves to deny McCafferty again but she couldn’t stop Armagh captain Aoibhin Donohue striking a goal on 24 minutes when Mullin’s initial save was eventually bundled over the line.

Elsie Druse then broke through to pop the ball over the bar to leave Armagh two points clear at the break. Tyrone enjoyed plenty of ball on the resumption but Armagh were resilient at the back. Owens cut the gap to one when McMoran and Sheehy combined to tee up the opportunity.

The Red Hands were guilty of carrying the ball into trouble far too often and were punished when turnovers produced a brace of Orchard points from O’Neill and Ellie Duffy. Pressure mounted on Tyrone.

Anna Lavery crashed a goal chance wide and points from O’Neill and Duffy had Armagh five clear with fifteen minutes left. Credit to the visitors they made a real fist of things with Beragh’s Owens leading the charge.

Tagging on two points she tried her best to create an opening and despite another Lavery point to leave the gap four it was Tyrone who threw everything at Armagh. McMoran and Sheehy added points though the Cookstown attacker nearly found the net with her goal bound effort.

With Tyrone pushing up as they chased the game they were vulnerable to Armagh counter-attacks. Loughran and McCafferty won several kick outs for the hosts to instigate the moves.

Tori McMullin and the Daly twins battled hard in the Red Hand defence although there was little they could do when Loughran slammed over a late point to ensure a three point win for the Orchard County.

Tyrone Scorers: Keeva Owens 0-4, Amy Sheehy 1-1, Cara Mc Moran 0-2, Erin Mc Ginn 0-1

Armagh Scorers: Mallaidh Loughran 1-1, Alannah O’Neill 0-3, Aoibhin Donohue 1-0, Ellie Duffy 0-2, Anna Lavery 0-1, Elsie Druse 0-1.