Niamh NÍ Bhaoill stars as Naomh Columba crowned LGFA Junior champions 

Naomh Columba are the Donegal Junior LGFA champions after an epic struggle with Urris at Pairc MacDiarmada, Lifford, on Sunday. 

Centre half-forward Niamh Ní Bhaoill was the star of the show for the first-time champions who ended the game with a personal tally of two goals and nine points.

In the end, it took extra-time to finally separate two very evenly matched sides with victory eventually going to girls from Pairc Na nGael.  

Ní Bhaoill may have been the star of the show when it came to the scoring stakes but this was far from a one-woman show.

Captain Louise NÍ Dhochartaigh, Leeza NÍ Chuinneagain in the half backline, Cait Ní Bheirn and Alanna Ní Bhaoill, in the middle of the field, alongside Clár Ní Bheirn in the front line of the attack, this truly was a solid team performance.  

Naomh Columba ,despite playing into a stiff breeze,  started well and led 0-3 to 0-1 after six minute with Ní Bhaoill scoring one point and Clár Ní Bheirn two.

Caoimhe Doherty scored the Urris point. But after the early Naomh Columba flurry, Urris with points from Séannain McCaul, Nicole Gordon and Gordon again with a well-worked goal, Urris forged into a 1-6 to 0-4 lead. 

Naomh Columba, with three unanswered Ní Bhaoill points in the space of three minutes in the middle of the second quarter, trimmed Urris’ advantage back to just two points.

And with the clock ticking on the half-hour mark, Naomh Columba stole a march when a Ní Bhaoill free from 35m just dropped short and in under the crossbar for the first of her side's green flags.

All of sudden, from being five down ten minutes earlier, Naomh Columba were now ahead by one point, 1-7 to 1-6. 

And the girls from Glen eventually took a two-point advantage to the dressing room at half-time after Ní Bhaoill converted another close-in free for a 1-8 to 1-6 lead. 

And when Clár Ni Bheirn rattled the back of the Urris net six minutes into the new half, the Naomh Columba  advantage was out to five points, 2-9 to 1-7. 

But with Caoimhe Doherty, back from her travels, Gordon, Jenna Harkin and Saoirse Farren - who had driven Urris’ first-half performance - stepping up again in the second half this one was back in the melting pot.

Naomh Columba led 2-11 to 1-13 before Gordon tied up the game in extra-time and after Urris had fluffed a couple of gilt-edged goal scoring chances in the closing minutes.

And the Inishowen girls led for the first time in the early minutes of the first period of extra-time when second half replacement Danica Doherty struck for her side’s second goal after good approach play from Doherty and Gordon.

Urris were now 2-14 to 2-11 ahead in an amazing turnaround. But just as she had done in the first half, Ni Bhaoill struck for her third goal to tie up the game at 3-11 to 2-14. 

And they were still level 3-12 to 2-15 at the end of the first period of extra-time and that after Gordon had a strike for a point come back of the top of the upright and another off the bottom of the butt of the post.

And the former county player miss-hit a close-in free and an opportunity for a lead point.  

Ailbhe Doherty scored the only point in the second period of extra-time and it proved to be the winner.

Naomh Columba scorers: Niamh Ní Bhaoill 2-9, 6f; Clár Ní Bheirn 1-2; Leaza Ní Chuinneagain and  Aibhe Ní Dochartaigh 0-1 each.

Urris scorers: Nicole Gordon 1-5,1f; Jenny Harkin 1-4; Caoimhe Doherty, Seannáin McCaul and Saoire Farren 0-2 each. 

Naomh Columba: Clodagh Ní Ailis; Sieanna Rós Ní Cholín Brooks, Jasmine Ní Bheirn, Sorcha Ní Churraighín; Laura Ní Bhaoill, Louise Ní Dhochartaigh, Leeza Ní Chuinneagaín; Cait Ní Bheirn, Alanna Ní Bhaoill; Aoibhne Ní Churraighín, Niamh Ní Bhaoill, Ailbhe Ní Dhochartaigh;  Gráinne Ní Ghallachóir. Clár Ní Bheirn, Laoise Nic Fhionnlaoigh.

Urris: Cathy Doherty; Orla Langan, Aine Bradley, Sorcha Hession; Connie Amy Hession, Eimear Devine, Roseanne McConologue; Caoimhe Doherty, Saoirse Farren; Niamh Devlin, Lauren Cregan, Jenna Harkin; Alana Doherty, Seannan McCaul, Nicole Gordon.

Subs: Danica Doherty for N Devlin (37); Erin Ní Chuinneaghain for O Lagan (40). 

Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters).