Shannon McGroddy lands late winner as Na Dunaibh nab place in Ulster JFC final 

Na Dunaibh are looking forward to an Ulster LGFA Junior Football Championship final following Saturday’s narrow win over Eoghan Rua, Coleraine, in Pairc Na Dunaibh. 

Denise Doherty scored the goals and Aoibhinn O’Connell, Mary Theresa Boyce, Lauren McBride, Caoimhe McLaughlin and Shannon McGroddy kicked the points in this narrowest of victories over the Derry champions. 

Lucy O’Kane top-scored for Eoghan Rua with a goal and two points while Shauna Doherty and Louise McIntyre chipped in with points for the Oak Leafers.

Downings had led 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time dispute struggling to make inroads inside the opening 20 minutes.

McIntyre and Doherty landed the game’s opening two points in the first five minutes as the visitors started on the front foot. 

O’Connell, who was outstanding throughout, did get the locals off the mark seven minutes in  but Eoghan Rua continued to take the game to the Donegal champions. 

Doherty added her second point to restore a two-point advantage and the centre half-forward also drew a top-drawer save from Charlie Shevlin. 

Shevlin's net also had a lucky escape when Doherty cracked a ball off the crossbar before Mary Theresa Boyce raised Na Dunaibh’s second white flag.

That was on 21 minutes and Lauren McBride, cutting in from the right wing, tied up the game shortly after. 

All of a sudden the momentum was with the locals, roared on by the large home support, and they were ahead for the first time when Caoimhe McLaughlin clipped over a point. 

Eoghan Rua did draw level nearing the break just before Denise Doherty got on the end of a Lauren McBride cross to first time to the net for a 1-4 to 0-4 half-time lead. 

The Derry girls began the second period on the front foot with two quick points followed by a Lucy Kane goal. All of a sudden, Eoghan Rua were two up again at 1-6 to 1-4.

But once again Barney Curran’s side dug deep and O’Connell from a free and Doherty with her second goal turned the tide once again with the locals back in front, 2-5 to 1-6, with a quarter of an hour remaining. 

Doherty and O’Kane responded to tie up the game once more with four minutes of normal time remaining. 

With the two teams chasing the winner Shannon McGroddy stepped up to land the decisive blow with a minute left on the clock.

Eoghan Rua did press in the closing minutes of injury time but Na Dunaibh held out for a famous win. 

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The only down side was an injury picked up by O’Connell which resulted in the midfielder and ‘player of the match’ being helped off the feld of play leaving her looking extremely doubtful for the decider with Warrenpoint of Down the opposition there. 

Na Dunaibh scorers; Denise Doherty 2-0, Aoibhinn O’Connell 0-2,1f; Mary T Boyce, Lauren McBride, Caoimhe McLaughlin, Shannon McGroddy 0-1 each. 

Eoghan Rua, Coleraine scorers: Shauna Doherty 0-4, Louise McIntyre 0-2, 2f, Lucy O’ Kane 1-2. 

Na Dunaibh: Charlie Shevlin; Jessica Roberts, Chloe Hay, Maggie Doherty; Emer Trearty, Nadine Gallacher, Michelle Wilkin; Julie Trearty, Aoibhinn O’Connell; Amy McLaughlin, Mary T Boyce, Caoimhe McLaughlin; Denise Doherty, Shannon McGroddy, Lauren McBride. 

Subs: Áine O’Connell for Gallacher (41) Danni Shevlin for Boyce (60), Meabh O’Connell for A McLaughlin (60+3). 

Eoghan Rua: Isobella O’Kane; Cara McLaughlin, Megan Coyle, Brona McGonigle; Bethany Duffy, Eve Lundy, Niamh McGarry; Anna Frizelle, Sorcha Duggan; Isla Duggan, Shauna Doherty, Niamh Harmer; Lucy O’Kane, Louise McIntyre, Hannah Eastwood. 

Subs: Dearbhla McCrossan for I Duggan (44), Aoife Boorman for Harmer (50), I Duggan for Eastwood (60). 

Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan)