Donegal minor ladies begin Ulster Championship with a win over Armagh

The Donegal minor ladies put in a dominant second-half performance to defeat Armagh in their Ulster Minor Championship opening group game in Páirc na nDúnaibh on Saturday.

The Orchard ladies led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break as they were clinical from frees, while Donegal were wasteful in the first half, although Clara Rose Boyle was in fine form with three points.

Mia O’Donnell came on at half-time and, along with Orla Ward, added a couple of points each, while Caoimhe Gallagher’s great goal gave Donegal a seven-point win in Downings.

Armagh got things going with a Lily McBennett free that was brought forward, the only score of the opening ten minutes, as Donegal had a couple of wides and efforts drop short.

But they opened their account through Clara Rose Boyle out on the left, and as Laura Boyle won possession, she played it to Clara Rose Bogle, who quickly laid off to Orla Ward for a second score.

Caoimhe Gollogly responded for the visitors with a left footed effort, and a good free from Alanna O’Neill put them ahead again.

Orla Ward’s shot for goal was well saved by Lily O’Neill, but Clara Rose Boyle got her second score as they recycled possession and worked it back in. 

Moville woman Boyle got her third point out on the left, but Nicole O’Reilly responded for the away side.

And two points from Gollogly frees had them 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at the break, with Kayleigh Ní Dhonaill’s shot at goal blocked down for the hosts before half-time.

But Donegal came out much stronger in the second half, aided by the introductions of Dungloe pair Mia O’Donnell and Toni Boyle, along with Sofie Campbell of Naomh Conaill.

And O’Donnell got the first point of the second half, playing a free short and getting it back, with Ward levelling the game a minute later.

Ward put Declan McDermott’s side ahead soon after, following a good move between her and Aoife McDermott, while a shot from Alanna O’Neill dropped short and Gollogly fired the rebound towards goal, only for it to be blocked.

Donegal hit the net then on 40 minutes, a good move after a turnover saw Emma Wallace pass to Caoimhe Gallagher, and while the Ardara woman probably could have come in closer, she unleashed a brilliant left-footed shot directly into the bottom right corner.

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That gave the hosts a real shot in the arm, and Gallagher added another great score soon after, with Clara Rose Boyle getting a fourth point.

Gollogly got Armagh’s only score of the half from a free, while Eva McNamara got in 1-on-1 but saw her shot saved superbly by Lily O’Neill.

An O’Donnell free and a score from her clubmate Elisha Boyle put the gap out to seven, although Áine Walsh made a good diving save to deny Alanna O’Neill.

And Walsh was again called into action when Gollogly got in on the right, but the stopper made a good foot save to deny her and keep a clean sheet as Donegal took the points.

Donegal scorers: Clara Rose Boyle 0-4; Caoimhe Gallagher 1-1; Orla Ward 0-3; Mia O’Donnell 0-2,1f; Elisha Boyle 0-1.

Armagh scorers: Caoimhe Gollogly 0-4,3f; Nicole O’Reilly 0-1; Lily McBennett and Alanna O’Neill 0-1f each.

Donegal: Áine Walsh; Katie McGowan, Caoimhe McNulty, Shauna Molloy; Florence Naughton, Elisha Boyle, Laoise McGinley; Laura Boyle, Aoife McDermott; Kayleigh Ní Dhonaill, Emma Wallace, Clara Rose Boyle; Orlagh Faul, Caoimhe Gallagher, Orla Ward.

Subs: Mia O’Donnell, Toni Boyle, and Sofie Campbell for Faul, Ní Dhonaill, and McGinley (ht), Eva McNamara for Ward (43), Ailbhe Doherty for Naughton (51), Reiltin Doherty and Aileen Sweeney for Wallace and Gallagher (55), Aoibhinn McCauley for C Boyle (60).

Armagh: Lily O’Neill; Mia McLaughlin, Blaithin Carragher, Caitlin Carnegie; Erin Melanophy, Mia O’Hara, Anna Lavery; Alanna O’Neill, Emma Hart; Cassie Henderson, Aoife McDonald, Jessica McCreesh; Caoimhe Gollogly, Lily McBennett, Nicole O’Reilly.

Subs: Cara McGeary for McCreesh (41), Ruby Murphy for McDonald (43), Aoife Farrell for McLaughlin (51), Amia Brennan for A O’Neill (56).

Referee: Brendan Quinn (Derry)