Dungloe Ulster experience is something to really savour - Tony Boyle 

Dungloe got their Ulster Ladies Junior Championship up and running with a dramatic extra-time win over Tyrone’s Coalisland Na Fianna in Rosses Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was a first foray for the side out into hte provine and Dungloe and it was the first Ulster championship game ever played in Rosses Park. 

“It was a fantastic occasion to bring Ulster Ladies Club football to Rosses Park”, was Dungloe manager and former All-Ireland winner Tony Boyle’s reaction to his team’s 018 to 2-9 win. “It is something we dreamt about a couple of years ago.”

Dungloe really took the game to the Tyrone girls from the off. And despite being opened up for a Coalisland goal six minutes into the game, they continued to dictate the play and led by five points, 0-10 to 1-2, approaching half-time.

But a quick-fire Coalisland goal and point meant there were just two points between the teams at the changeover.   

“I thought the girls were fantastic in the first half, playing up the hill and against the breeze but still kicking ten scores.

“We fell asleep before half-time and Coalisland notched 1-1 to keep them in it. 

“I’m not sure what happened in the second half, we lost our shape and got nervous. In the end, we probably were lucky enough to force the game to extra time.

“I think nerves were probably a factor in the second half because I told them at the end there, apart from the last couple of the first period, we had played as well as we did all year”. 

Tara Geoghegan and Katie Wallace kicked Dungloe’s only two points of a disappointing second half. Wallace, on the stroke of full-time, struck for the equaliser to force the tie to extra-time. 

“I felt we controlled most of the game in extra-time and you have to hand it to the girls. They were very gutsy out there today when they had to be.”” 

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.