Donegal find the going much too tough against Armagh in Ulster LGFA decider

Armagh have held onto their LGFA Ulster SFC crown following a convincing 11-point win over Donegal in Clones. 

The experienced Orchard outfit were always in control of this one having raised the first of three green flags just seven minutes in. 

And youthful Donegal just couldn’t get a foothold in matters after that initial setback as the holders cruised to victory.

The opening exchanges were nervy at both ends but it was Armagh that settled first and, it has to be said, in some style. 

With veteran Caroline O’Hanlon looking to pick holes, she spotted Eve Lavery on the overlap and with Aoife McCoy ghosting in on her right, the Armagh centre half-forward blasted high and to the back of the net. 

Niamh Henderson then followed that up with the game’s first over as the Orchard girls led by four, ten minutes in. 

Nearing the quarter-hour mark, McCoy decided to put the burners on and with the Donegal defence opening up in front of her, she glided through to ram home her and her side’s second three-pointer. 

Donegal were finding it hard to make any significant yards into the reigning champions’ final third and when they finally did, Susanne White was forced to snatch at that opportunity and was well off target. 

It took Donegal until the 18th minute to get up and running through a White free but - straight down the other side - Armagh wing-back Emily Druse quickly stroked that out as 2-2 led 0-1. 

Eve laverty added another and just shy of the hooter Grace Ferguson, on the other flank of the Orchard half-back line, also got up the field to register as Darnell Parkinson’s girl exited well in command at 2-4 to 0-1. 

White grabbed another free after the restart as she and Donegal doubled their tally but that headway was short-lived as Lauren McConville quickly reinstated Armagh’s nine-point advantage. 

Cait Gillespie and Katie Dowds then posted back-to-back points as Donegal moved to 0-4, still seven off the coattails of the leaders’ 2-5. 

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But just when it looked like Donegal were finding some momentum, Armagh struck for a third maximum as Niamh Coleman was sent through by McCoy to rattle the net. 

Substitute Rhiana McColgan blazed over on her introduction for James Daly’s team but a Kelly Malon free to go alongside another Eve lavery effort from play left it 3-7 to 0-5 with ten to go.

Another Donegal replacement - Eva Gallagher - again showed the way for Donegal with a point on her introduction while Armagh substitute Maeve Lennon also got her name on the board for the leaders. 

Gallagher was at it again five minutes out from the final whistle but the last say went to convincing winners Armagh as Caoimhe McNally lobbed over. 

Donegal scorers: Susanne White 0-2, 2f; Eva Gallagher 0-2; Katie Dowds, Cait Gillespie and Rhiana McColgan 0-1 each

Armagh scorers: Aoife McCoy 2-0; Niamh Coleman 1-0; Eve lavery 0-2; Kelly Mallon 0-1,1f; Niamh Henderson, Emily Druse, Grace Ferguson, Lauren McConville, Caoimhe McNally and Niamh Lennon 0-1 each

Donegal: Claire Friel (Gaeil Fhánada); Shauna McFadden (St Eunan’s), Abigail Temple Asokuh (Sean Mac Cumhaill), Sophie McFeely (St Eunan’s); Niamh Carr (Kilmacud Crokes), Evelyn McGinley (Termon), Cait Gillespie (Aodh Ruadh); Ava Walsh (Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin), Roisin Rodgers (Naomh Mhuire); Niamh Boyle (St Naul’s), Katie Dowds (Sean Mac Cumhaill), Feena McManamon (St Eunan’s); Jodie McFadden (Termon), Mia Bennett (Ardara), Susanne White (Killybegs)

Subs: Blathnaid McLaughlin (Moville) and Ulitah Boyle (Dungloe) for Walsh and Temple Aasokuh (both 27), Tara Rose Mahon (Buncrana) for McFadden (ht); Rhiana McColgan (Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin) and Eva Gallagher (Kilcar) for Bennett and McManamon (both 47)

Armagh: Anna Carr; Maeve Ferguson, Clodagh McCambridge, Megan McCann; Emily Druse, Cait Towe, Grace Ferguson; Caroline O’Hanlon, Niamh Coleman; Lauren McConville, Aoife McCoy, Blaithin Mackin; Eve Lavery, Niamh Henderson, Niamh Reel.

Subs: Kelly Mallon for Reel (40); Catherine Marley for L McConville (49); Caoimhe McNally for O’Hanlon (51), Maeve Lennon for Lavery (53); Sarah Quigley for Ferguson (56)

Referee: Gvin Finnegan (Down)