Mullahoran edge out Dungloe in tight Ulster quarter-final battle

Dungloe’s Ulster journey came to an abrupt end on Sunday falling to the Cavan champions Mullahoran in the Ulster Intermediate quarter-final on a rainy afternoon in Naomh Mhuire. 

With Dungloe’s home pitch unplayable due to the weather, the game was located further north in Annagry, and the swirling wind and soaked conditions had a massive impact in a match that saw the Donegal side lose out by one goal despite finishing strong with a number of pressurising attacks. 

But the Cavan ladies held on to see themselves into an Ulster semi-final, with Fainche Higgins leading the way in goals by finding primary possession with her kickouts, while Aishling Sheridan caused problems up front despite some excellent defending throughout from the Dungloe side. 

With the wind having a massive impact in the game, the first score was fired until Rhianna McCready kicked over from a free on 15 minutes. 

But then Mullahoran, despite playing against the wind in the first half, eventually found their feet with Sheridan landing back-to-back points within a minute of each other. 

However, it was Kate Fegan who fired home the crucial score when her side won an opposition kickout on the 20th minute leading to Fegan to bypass the Dungloe defence, swiveling past Ellie McGarvey in the nets and kicking into the back of the goalmouth.  

Patrice Boyle would land her side’s second point but Sheridan would again be on hand to kick over the final score before the referee called a halt, as the teams marched to the dressing rooms at halftime with the Cavan Intermediate champions leading 1-2 to 0-2. 

The weather only got worse as Dungloe came out in the second half wearing new white jerseys, but it was Mullahoran who started the better of the sides with Nichole Sheils kicking over from distance straight from the throw-in, while Sheridan nailed over two back-to-back frees as they increased their lead in the match. 

Tony Boyle needed to change things up, opting to bring on younger players at the start of the second half to boost the side. And it worked, with U-16 player Mia O’Donnell landing two points in the half. 

McCready added another score to put just a goal between the sides as Dungloe upped the ante with 10 minutes left on the clock. 

The Cavan side nearly found their second goal only for Ellie McGarvey to be on hand with a superb save to keep her side in the tie when Fegan went for her second shot at the keeper.  

At the other end, an O’Donnell long free was denied by the crossbar and so easily could found the back of the net as the Donegal side needed to find that all-important goal to save themselves, but it never came as Mullahoran held out for a three-point win at the Naomh Mhuire club. 

Dungloe scorers: Patrice Boyle 0-2, 2fs; Mia O’Donnell 0-2, 1f; Rhianna McCready 0-2, 1f. 
Mullahoran scorers: Aishling Sheridan 0-5, 4fs; Kate Fegan 1-0; Nichole Sheils 0-1.   

Dungloe: Ellie McGarvey; Justine Boyle, Ellie Ward, Laura Doherty; Aoife McGee, Reagan Fay, Tara Geoghegan; Cora Wallace, Ava Caulfield; Katie Wallace, Bridin Walsh, Jasmine Gallagher; Ulitah Boyle, Patrice Boyle, Rhianna McCready. Subs: Elisha Boyle for Gallagher, Mia O’Donnell for Justine Boyle, and Nicole Bonner Gillespie for Doherty (all ht); Toni Boyle for McGee (35); Emma Wallace for Walsh (46). 

Mullahoran: Fainche Higgins; Hannah Brady, Aoibhinn Galligan, Aoife Cullen; Aoibhe Reilly, Geraldine Sheridan, Sheila Reilly; Mona Sheridan, Annie Deneher; Cathy Sheils, Emilia Mussi, Nichole Sheils; Ciara Brennan, Aishling Sheridan, Kate Fegan. Subs: Eve Brady for Cathy Sheils (40); Etain Higgins for Nichole Sheils (52).