Donegal find the going too tough away to Cavan in LGFA Ulster Minor Championship

Donegal suffered their first defeat in their Ulster LGFA Minor Championship away to Cavan at the weekend. 

After their fine 15-point opening-round win over Monaghan, Declan McDermott’s side travelled to the Breffni County with confidence high. 

The first half was end to end with the teams level on three occasions. Two points in the closing stages from Ella Sheridan and Ellie Brady left Cavan ahead at the break 1-06 to 0-07. 

Cavan then upped the gears in the final quarter of the tie hitting the net on three occasions to run out comfortable winners at the end of an exciting, fast-paced table topping tie. 

The visitors started strongest with the opening two points from Eva Gallagher and Katie Dowds. But the Breffni women settled into the tie and replied with four on the bounce. 

Katie O’Meara opened the scoring for the hosts in the fourth minute with a pointed free from Mia Lynch seconds later levelling the sides. Two more points from the excellent O’Meara gave Cavan the lead for the first time. 

However, it wasn’t long before the teams were back on level par once again as the outstanding Eva Gallagher pointed two frees in a row to tie the game midway through the half. 

The Cavan girls made the perfect reply with Ailbhe Kennedy winning the kickout from clubmate Abby McDermott. The ball was worked at speed up the field with Ella Sheridan playing a fantastic ball into Tolan who hit the net for the first of five goals. 

Trailing by three Donegal showed their threat in attack as another excellent score from Dowds was followed by Gallagher’s 4th of the contest. In the 21st minute a brilliant point from Ava Walsh levelled the tie again as Cavan struggled to get to grips with Donegal’s high press on their kickouts. 

Kate Fegan and Sinead Kelly were introduced for Cavan as Katie Mai Reilly made two vital interceptions in the Cavan backline. 

Cavan finished the half strong with two on the bounce to take the lead at the break. Fegan got straight into the action with her skill and trickery resulting in a scoreable free for Ella Sheridan to notch over. 

With the half time whistle approaching a superb tackle from Ailbhe Kennedy on Dowds set Cavan on the attack once again with Ellie Brady pointing for her side at the end of a patient team move. 

Cavan had one final attack, created from excellent defending from Cora McDonnell and Sinead Kelly, a goal chance fell to Fegan but her shot was denied by a brilliant save from Kerry McCready. Once again the visitors started liveliest from the restart with two more from Gallagher equalizing the teams for the fourth time. 

Cavan were wasteful in the opening stages with five missed opportunities including a goal chance in the 6th minute and were punished for this as half time substitute Alannah Boyle found the net for Donegal at the other end of the field to give them the lead. 

To their credit Cavan didn’t panic and showed their class and ruthless side finishing the closing twenty minutes with 3-04 as Donegal managed just two more points. Captain Ellie Brady led from the front earning a penalty for her side after the midfielder was fouled at the end of a powerful driving run at goal. 

Ella Sheridan stepped up and cooly slotted the penalty to the bottom corner of the net. From here Cavan were outstanding with two more points from Fegan and O’Meara as Katie Mai Reilly and Cora McDonnell continued to play an influential role from the backline. 

Gallagher added another from a free but Cavan replied with another 2-02 as Cavan’s second half substitutes Kayla Bartley, Muireann Daly, Holly McPhillips and Aoife McCabe all made an impact. 

Sheridan converted a free before Kayla Bartley pointed after Sinead Kelly won the resulting kickout. Ahead by three Fegan hit the Donegal net once again after a brilliant turnover and pass from Emma Tolan. 

Substitutes Bartley and Daly then linked up in the 26th minute to seal the victory for Cavan as the St. Finbarrs clubwoman slotted the ball past McCready for Cavan’s final score. 

Cavan: Abby McDermott, Katie Tierney, Cora McDonnell, Kristina Grigorenko, Ailbhe Kennedy, Alex Peters, Danielle McGovern, Ellie Brady (C) 0-01, Lauren Miney, Sarah Clarke, Emma Tolan 1-00, Ella Sheridan 1-02 (2f), Mia Lynch 0-01 (1f), Katie Mai Reilly, Katie O’Meara 0-04 

Subs used: Kate Fegan 1-01 for M. Lynch, Sinead Kelly for K. Tierney, Kayla Bartley 0-01 for S. Clarke, Muireann Daly 1-00 for K. O’Meara, Aoife McCabe for L. Miney, Holly McPhilips for E. Sheridan 

Donegal: Kerry McCready, Ellie Ward, Siobhan Cameron, Tara Rose Mahon, Niamh Boner, Sarah McGinley, Ava Caulfield, Ulitah Boyle, Rhíana McColgan, Katie Dowds 0-02, Aisling O’Neill Cora Doherty, Eva Gallagher 0-08 (6f), Ava Walsh 0-01, Mia Bennett 

Subs used: Alannah Boyle 1-00 for M. Bennett, Lucy Ward for R. McColgan