Battling Glenfin fall to Errigal Ciaran in LGFA Ulster Championship opener 

Battling Glenfin came up short in their provincial opener as Errigal Ciaran came to Pairc Taoibhoige on Sunday and grabbed a hard-earned victory. 

In dreadful conditions, the Tyrone champions held a 2-5 to 1-4 lead at the break. However, Glenfin opened brilliantly on the restart with four points on the bounce, squaring it. 

However, even though they’d level it up again on 54 minutes, Errigal Ciaran were again able to find the response at just the right time. 

And with the visitors landing the last three points of the game, it’s they that progress to the last four inside the province. 

Glenfin got off to a superb start with Yvonne Bonner’s sixth-minute goal a huge opening marker. 

Either side of that, Iona McDaid and Bonner again, nailed points as the Donegal champions led 1-2 to no score on nine minutes. 

Shortly after, Errigal Ciaran showed what they were about as Aoife Horisk opened their account from a free. 

On 12 minutes, the Red Hand girls trimmed the deficit back to a point when Maria Canavan stroked home a penalty. 

A subsequent free from the same player and a quickfire follow-up from Horisk, seen Eoin Quinn’s side lead for the first time on 17 minutes. 

The hosts were back on an even keel eight minutes out from the break thanks to another Bonner point. 

However, a minute shy of the half-hour mark Errigal Ciaran struck a second three-pointer as Horisk got in behind to rattle in off the underside of the crossbar. 

Katie Long and Maria Canavan swapped points late on but with Horisk nailing a free right on the short whistle, the visitors exited with a four-point cushion at the break. 

Glenfin needed to hit the ground running on the restart and to be fair to Paul Bonner’s team, they did just that with early back-to-back scores from Abbie McGranaghan and Bonner. 

And with Karen Guthrie getting in on the scoring act on 40 minutes, we now had a one-point game at 2-5 to 1-7. 

With red and white tails up, Glenfin then drew level thanks to a brilliant Danielle McGinley effort from the wide left. 

A rattled Errgial Ciaran finally found a response nearing the end of the third quarter as Maria Canavan landed a free to once again push her side back to the fore. 

Glenfin found the right reply though as a Guthrie free bounced off and over the top side of the crossbar to make it 2-6 to 1-9. 

Entering the final ten minutes and Errigal Ciaran’s main markswoman Horisk again found the mark, from a free from the hands, and her side once more held the slimmest of upper hands down the stretch. 

But down the other side, Bonner was inflicting similar damage on the scoreboard and she again squared it with a huge free from distance that landed right over the black spot. 

With the momentum ebbing and flowing now, Maria Canavan, the visitors’ other prolific outlet, again pushed the pendulum back Errigal Ciaran’s direction with just four minutes left on the clock. 

The Tyrone side ran down the clock in impressive fashion from there on and with Horisk and Canavan adding late frees, it’s they that advance to the last four. 

Glenfin scorers: Yvonne Bonner 1-4,2f; Karen Guthrie 0-2,1f; Katie Long 0-1; Iona McDaid 0-1; Abbie McGranaghan 0-1; Danielle McGinley 0-1. 

Errigal Ciaran scorers: Aoife Horisk 1-5,5f; Maria Canavan 1-5, 1P, 4f. 

Glenfin: Sharon Conaghan; Tara Martin, Anamarie Brady, Lauren Martin; Brenda Carr, Katy Harron, Jamie Lee McMahon; Caoimhe McGlynn, Katie Long; Danielle McGinley, Abbie McGranaghan, Kathy Ward; Karen Guthrie, Yvonne Bonner, Iona McDaid. 

Subs: Grainne Cullen for K Ward (ht).

Errigal Ciaran: Megan O’Brien; Oonagh McAleer, Aine Hamill, Cailin McCann; Claire Canavan, Eimear Corrigan, Michaela Moore; Bronagh McAleer, Shannon Cunningham; Elle McNamee, Maria Canavan, Emily Maguire; Kelly McCaffrey, Aoife Horisk, Meabh Corrigan. 

Subs: Niamh Quinn for McCafferty (37), Rebecca Quinn for B McAleer (63).

Referee: Anthony Campbell (Derry).