Donegal minor ladies make it two wins from two against Monaghan

Donegal made it two wins from three games with a runaway victory over Monaghan in the Ulster Minor LGFA Championship on Saturday afternoon, in Pairc Naomh Columba, Glenswilly.

Two first half goals from flying corner Orla Ward and opening half points from Ward Aoife McDermott, Emma Wallace, Mia O’Donnell, Caoimhe Gallagher, Elisha Boyle, Ciara Rose Boyle, Toni Boyle, Aileen Sweeney and Laoise McGinley paved the way for Donegal’s 16 point win.

Donegal led 2-8 to 0-2 at half-time with Ward getting the score Declan McDermott managed with her opening goal inside the opening minute.

And by the time Ward added her second three point score three minutes from the end of the first half Donegal were well on their way to their second win.

Playing a fast open and quick passing game Donegal with Aoife McDermott, Emma Wallace, Ciara Rose Boyle and goal scorer Ward in fine form Monaghan had no answer to the slicker Donegal machine.

Donegal won their opening game against Armagh in Downing and lost away to Cavan last time out, in group two.

Cait Hughes from play and Megan Boyle from a free scored the first half Monaghan points.

And with the top team after the group stages of home and away qualifying for the minor A championship it was imperative Donegal got back to winning ways.

They now face away ties with Armagh and Monaghan and home to Cavan so after today’s win they are back in the chase for the top spot and a place in the A championship.

Leading by 12 points Donegal did ease off in the scoring stakes but they still managed to outscore the Farney girls 0-6 to 0-1.

Caoimhe Gallagher, Ciara Rose Boyle and Mia O’Donnell along with second half substitutes Toni Boyle, Aileen McGinley and Laoise McGinley scored the Donegal second half points.

Ellie Flanagan and Megan Boyle raised the Monaghan second half white flags.

Next up for Donegal is a trip to Armagh in the opening game of the second round of fixtures.

Donegal scorers; Orla Ward 2-1, Emma Wallace, Clara Rose Boyle, Caoimhe Gallagher, Mia O’Donnell(1f) 0-2 each, Aoife McDermott, Elisha Boyle,  Toni Boyle, Aileen Sweeney,  Laoise McGinley 0-1 each.

Monaghan: Megan Boyle 0-2,f, Cait Hughes, Ellie Flanagan 0-1 each.

Donegal; Aine Ward ( An Clochan Liath); Katie McGowan (Aodh Ruadh), Laura Quinn (Four Masters), Aoibhinn McCauley (St Eunans); Florence Naughton (Naomh Naille), Elisha Boyle (An Clochan Liath), Laura Boyle (Naomh Columba); Orlagh Faul (Glenswilly), Aoife McDermott (Naomh Conaill); Ciara Rose Boyle (Moville), Emma Wallace (An Clochan Liath),Sophie Campbell ( Naomh Conaill); Mia O’Donnell(An Clochan Liath), Caoimhe Gallagher (Ardara), Orla Ward (Malin).

Subs: Shauna Molloy (Naomh Conaill for  A McCauley; Toni Boyle (An Clochan Liath); Kayla McHugh(Ardara) for E Wallace; Laoise McGinley (Naomh Columba), Nicole Bonner Gillespie (An Clochan Liath), Aoibhinn Wallace (Burt(; Sophie McGee (Sean MacCumhaills) Aileen Sweeney (Letterkenny Gaels), Sarah Hegarty (Naomh Ultan), Sadhbh Foye (Burt) for A McDermott, M O Donnell, S Campbell, Caoimhe Gallagher, O Werd, C R Boyle, A Walsh.

Monaghan: Caley Treanor; Aoife Corrigan, Dionne Kindlon, Millie Burns; Lucy Carey, Niamh Galligan. Abbie Leer; Lily McElroy, Cait Hughes; Ellie Flanagan, Brannagh Connolly, Georgia Fitzpatrick; Abbie Shiels, Megan Boyle, Orlaith Hoey.

Subs; Aimee Freeman  for G Fitzpatrick, Hollie Mullen for A Shiels, Emma Byrne for A Leer, Riona McCarthy for L Carey, Aoife Mae Flanagan for C Hughes, Sophie Gartan for M Boyle.

Referee: Garry Gormley (Fermanagh).