Termon ladies back in another final after win over St Naul's

Termon ladies took another step in the defence of their senior championship crown with a hard fought victory over St Nauls, in Pairc MacDiarmada, in Lifford earlier today.

Six points separated the sides at the final whistle. But this victory was not as easy as the final winning margin suggested. 

A young St Nauls pushed them all the way, and if they had been a little more clinical up front, it could have been much closer at the finish.

Termon, with a stiff breeze blowing into the clubroom goals, played with that advantage in the opening half hour.

And they made the most of the wind advantage to lead by seven points, 1-6 to 0-2, at half-time.

Ciara McGarvey’s 20th minute goal was the big score and came after the corner forward spotted the St Nauls’ goalkeeper Katie Armstrong off her line, and from outside the arc, she found the net.

The goal propelled the Burn Road girls into a seven point 1-4 to 0-0 lead. Jodie McFadden (3) and McGarvey had kicked Termon’s opening four points. 

And when county ace McFadden added her fourth point of the half on 21 minutes, the Termon lead was out to eight points. 

Florence Naughton, after a number of unsuccessful attacks, finally got St Nauls off the mark 25 minutes into the game.

And Lucy Ward added St Nauls’ second point on the stroke of half-time before Jenny McGettigan brought down the curtain on the first half scoring.

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Two quick-fire Lucy Ward points from close in frees trimmed the Termon lead to six points, but, despite loads of possession, St Naul’s only raised one more white flag; another close in Lucy Ward free. 

In a game of packed defence Termon only added two points courtesy of Maeve Brady and Jodie McFadden in the second period, but it was enough to keep St Nauls at arm's length and chasing the game.  

Termon scorers: Jodie McFadden 0-5,1f;  Ciara McGarvey 1-1; Jenny McGettigan and Maeve Brady 0-1 each.

St Nauls; Lucy Ward 0-4,3f, Florence Naughton 0-1.

Termon: Roisin McCafferty; Laura Gallagher, Niamh Friel, Siobhan Cameron; Aibhe McDaid, Nicole McLaughlin, Niamh Bonner; Jenny McGettigan, Megan Ryan; Kate McCafferty, Emer Gallagher, Anna Gallagher; Ciara McGarvey, Jodie McFadden, Maeve Brady.

Subs: Chelsea Gorman for K McCafferty (28), Roisin Friel for M Brady (44), Catherine Boyle for A McDaid (53), Cayla McFadden for J McFadden (58), Sophie Curran for A Gallagher (60)

St Naul’s: Katie Armstrong; Orlaith Greene, Aoife Greene, Lucy Campbell; Niamh Walsh, Ella Byrne, Caoilfhinn Deely; Niamh Boyle, Catherine Campbell; Claire McGroarty, Florence Naughton, Zoe Murray; Lucy Ward, Niamh Battles, Sarah Hegarty. 

Subs: Michaela Breslin for C McGroarty (23), Amy Ward and Denise Breslin for N Walsh and Z Murray (59)

Referee: Clint Marron (Urris)