Maria Canavan helps Errigal Ciaran end Termon’s Ulster ambitions at first hurdle

Termon's Ulster club campaign was over almost as quickly as it began in the sunshine of Cardinal Mac Rory Park, a penalty conceded less than a minute in was scored by player of the match, Maria Canavan, and from then the Donegal champions were always chasing.

Errigal Ciaran 3-11 Termon 2-4

The loss of Jodie McFadden, Anna Gallagher and Rosin Friel over the hour, the first two in the first half did not help the Termon cause and, on a day when Canavan, top scorer in the Tyrone championship hit 3-8, it was always going to be a tough day.

Only at times did Termon threaten, they should have been level with a penalty from Ciara McGarvey at the end of the first quarter but it found its way over the bar while on the half time whistle Nicole Mc Laughlin fired wide of the Errigal goal.

Errigal controlled the opening half, at times they were camped in the Termon half and found themselves nine points up by the short whistle. Canavan, scored an early penalty and a further 1-5 before the break.

Termon worked hard to get a grip of things, Shannon McLaughlin’s point six minutes in closed the gap to three points but through the half they relied on mistakes from Errigal rather than breaking the line themselves. McGarvey finished the half with the other points as they trailed 2-6 to 0-3.

A penalty on the restart for Termon gave them hope but after Friel was fouled Roisin McCafferty steered the spot kick wide. 

Errigal kept the scoreboard ticking over going 3-9 to 0-4 clear when Canavan scored a third goal with ten minutes left.

A goal from McFadden on the run, and a late penalty from the same player on the stroke of full time, was mere cosmetic dressing to what was an otherwise forgettable day for the Donegal girls. 

Errigal Ciaran scorers: Maria Canavan 3-8, Oonagh McAleer 0-1, Emile Loughran 0-1 Kelly McCaffrey 0-1

Termon scorers: Jodie Mc Fadden 2-0, Ciara Mc Garvey 0-3, Shannon Mc Laughlin 0-1

Errigal Ciaran: Alise Coyle; Calin McCann, Mary Traynor, Niamh Quinn; Claire Canavan, Meabh Corrigan, Michaela Moore; Elle Mc Namee, Eimear Corrigan; Aoife Horisk, Maria Canavan, Bronagh McAleer; Emile Loughran, Shannon Cunningham Oonagh Mc Aleer. 

Subs: Kelly Mc Caffrey For E Corrigan, Aine Quinn For C Canavan, Hannah Mc Carney For Horisk, Saorla Mullin For O Mc Aleer.

Termon: Orla Corry; Roisin McCafferty; Niamh Friel, Maria Carr, Niamh Bonner; Emer Gallagher, Aibhe McDaid, Nicole McLaughlin; Rinach Giles, Chelsea Gorman; Lauren Gallagher, Jodie McFadden, Anna Gallagher; Shannon Mc Laughlin, Ciara Mc Garvey, Roisin Friel. 

Subs: Meave Brady For Aibhe McDaid, Lauren Gallagher for Gallagher, Evelyn Mc Ginley for Gorman.

Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Down).