Dungloe just about see off Coalisland in Ulster opener 

Dungloe produced a storming extra-time finish to finally see off Tyrone champions Coalisland in a highly competitive Ulster Junior quarter-final clash in Rosses Park.  

Dungloe 0-18 Coalisland 2-9 (AET) 

On what was a historic first ever provincial championship game played in Rosses Park, Ava Caulfield, Patrice Boyle, Ulitah Boyle, Cora Wallace and Tara Geoghegan all scored points as the locals outscored their Red Hand opponants by six points to three in extra-time. 

The game in normal time ended 0-12 to 2-6 after livewire Katie Wallace dramatically tied up matters for Tony Boyle’s girls to force the two ten-minute periods of extra time.

In the proverbial game of two halves, Dungloe were the dominant side in the opening stage but only found themselves two points up at the changeover. Dungloe 0-10, Coalisland 2-2 was the half-time score. 

But two Coalisland goals against the run of play meant the visitors were only two points adrift. 

Caoimhe Quinn pounced for the first when she raced onto a long ball over the top giving Ellie McGarvey no chance from close range.

That was eight minutes in and wiped out Dungloe’s early two-point lead. 

Rocked by Quinn’s three-pointer Dungloe responded with the next seven scores to lead by five on the stroke of half-time.

But disaster struck in injury time when Milena Mihadjuka, in a carbon copy of her team’s first goal, raised green flag number two for the Tyrone champions.

And when Nicole Murphy kicked the next point the Tyrone girls were just two down and back in the game. 

Tara Geoghegan was unstoppable in the opening half and booted her team’s first five points while Ulitah Boyle and Patrice Boyle were also on the scoresheet.

Geoghegan extended the Dungloe lead out three on the resumption. But that was their last score before Katie Wallace stepped on the stroke of full-time to save the day to send the game to extra time.

In between, a completely dominant Coalisland took a firm grip on the game and three points from the boot of Cairenn O’Neill, all from frees, was a scant return for their grip on the possession stakes. 

However, her pointed free three minutes from the end of normal time seemed enough to seal a place in the Ulster semi-final. 

But Katie Wallace had other ideas.  And it is Dungloe that will now face Monaghan champions Tyholland in next weekend's Ulster semi-final. 

Tyhollland defeated Cuccullains, the Cavan winners,in the other Ulster semi-final also played on Sunday.  

Dungloe scorers: Tara Geoghegan 0-7,2f; Ulitah Boyle, 0-4; Patrese Boyle 0-3; Ava Caulfield 0-2; Aoife McGee, Katie Wallace 0-1 each. 

Coalisland scorers: Caoimhe Quinn 1-0; Milena Mihadjuka 1-0; Cairenn O’Neill 0-7, 5f; Nicole Murphy 0-2. 

Dungloe: Ellie McGarvey; Jessica Oglesby, Sara O’Boyle, Aine Boner; Ava Caulfield, Saskia Boyle, Elisha Boyle; Cora Wallace, Clare Diver; Katie Wallace, Jasmine Gallagher, Aoife McGee; Ulitah Boyle, Patrice Boyle, Tara Geoghegan. 

Subs Sarah O'Donnell for A Boner (h/t); Bridín Walsh for A McGee (40), 

Coalisland: Laura Kelly; Rebbeca Connolly, Rebekah Harte, Aisling McKiernan; Cora Quinn, Grainne McDonald, Aoibhinn McWilliams; Eirne Duffy, Aoife Quinn; Aoife Quinn, Cairenn O’Neill, Caoimhe Quinn; Milena Mihadjuka, Eadoin Kelly, Nicole Murphy.

Subs: Emma Fanthorpe for R Connolly (40); Emma McMoran for A Quinn (44). Sinead Early for C Quinn (57). 

Referee: Jude Dixon (Derry).