Goals key as Na Dunaibh progress to last four in the Ulster Club JFC

 Na Dunaibh are into the Ulster Club JFC semi-finals after a superb away win over Cavan’s Butlersbridge on Sunday. 

The hosts led for large periods of time but two goals in a minute of dominance at the start of the second half from the visitors left an uphill battle for David McEntee’s side. 

To their credit, the Bridge battled hard in the closing stages but despite a late fight-back failed to break down a tenacious and tightly packed Na Dunaibh backline who took a three-point win. 

Butlersbridge started the contested brightest and registered the four opening scores, from four different scorers to open up an early four-point lead with fourteen minutes played in the first half. 

Kayla Bartley opened the game’s scoring with a point after her goalward effort was palmed over the bar by a great save by goalkeeper Charlie Shevlin. Donna McKiernan pointed an excellent long-range effort moments later followed by a point from Alannah McPhillips to race three ahead. 

At the opposite end Aoibhinn O’Connell was denied a score by a block from McKiernan and in the ninth minute Denise Doherty was denied a goal by a brilliant save from Katelyn Brady. 

An excellent turnover from the outstanding Eve Murtagh led to an opening score from Niamh McCorry bringing their lead to four. 

From the kickout the visitors eventually broke the deadlock as Doherty made no mistake this time brilliantly finding the back of Brady’s net for the opening goal of the tie. 

Three minutes later the sides were level as Lauren McBride sent over a fine effort from an acute angle. 

The sides would remain level for the remainder of the half as both teams hit 1-01 apiece to leave the scoreboard 1-05 to 2-02 at half-time. 

A foul on Kayla Bartley led to a scoreable free for McCorry which was instantly cancelled out by a point from full forward Shannon McGroddy who had a fantastic battle with Eve Murtagh. 

With 27 minutes on the clock the Breffni ladies went ahead once again after Bartley cut through the defence before rattling the back of Shevlin’s net for her side’s opening goal. 

However, the lead didn’t last long as the Donegal side responded with a goal of their own seconds later from Amy McLoughlin after excellent build up play from Aoibhinn O’Connell leaving the sides all square at the break. 

Two quickfire points after the resumption from McPhillips and a McCorry free left the Cavan champions ahead once again. 

However, the last eight minute of the tie shifted momentum as Na Dunaibh managed to find the net on two occasions in this time.

 A long range shot from McGroddy found its way into the back of the Bridge’s net to give them the lead for the first time and from the resulting kickout they were four to the better as Doherty got her second goal of the contest. 

To their credit the hosts never panicked, and three minutes later had the deficit back to the minimum as a long ball into the square from the excellent Donna McKiernan caused confusion with McCorry getting the last touch steering the ball goalwards and into the top corner of the net. 

As they had done several times in the contest the Donegal champions responded perfectly as the dangerous full forward McGroddy got her second goal at the end of a brilliant team move. 

There was further drama midway through the second half as Butlersbridge refused to go quietly. 

A foul on Lisa Melainff resulted in a penalty which the captain McCorry stepped up to the take. 

The forward’s shot went high and over the crossbar leaving the deficit at three. Sinead McBride and McCorry traded a point apiece before McGroddy and another McCorry free followed. 

As the Bridge pushed for the equaliser Na Dunaibh had a counterattack with Katelyn Brady brilliantly denying Lauren McBride with a diving save.

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 However, despite their best efforts the hosts couldn’t manage to find a way past a hardworking defensive unit led by Michelle Wilkin, Emer Trearty and Chloe Hay as the Downings held on to victory to progress to the last four of the competition with David McEntee’s side exiting the competition. 

Butlersbridge scorers: Niamh McCorry 1-6, 5f, Donna McKiernan 0-1, Alannah McPhillips 0-2, Kayla Bartley 1-1.

Na Dunaibh scorers: Any McLaughlin 1-0, Sinead McBride 0-1, Denise Doherty 2-0, Shannon McGroddy 2-2, Lauren McBride 0-1

Butlersbridge: Katelyn Brady, Caoimhe Maguire, Danica Shaughnessy, Eve Murtagh, Naoise Dempsey, Ella Murphy, Aine McDwyer, Niamh McCorry, Donna McKiernan, Alannah McPhillips, Cait O’Reilly, Grainne Smith, Kayla Bartley, Leah Bartley, Lisa Melaniff

Subs: Gail Stinson for G. Smith, Aoibhe O’Reilly for D. Shaughnessy, Emily Gardiner for L. Bartley.

Na Dunaibh: Charlie Shevlin, Jessica Roberts, Chloe Hay, Maggie Doherty, Meabh O’Connell, Nadine Gallacher, Michelle Wilkin, Julie Treaty, Aoibhinn O’Connell, Any McLaughlin, Caoimhe McLoughlin, Sinead McBride, Denise Doherty, Shannon McGroddy, Lauren McBride.

Subs: Emer Trearty for M. O’Connell, Danni Shevlin for D. Doherty, Aine O’Connell for N. Gallacher 

Referee: Paul Clifford