Na Dúnaibh Ladies make history with Ulster final win over Warrenpoint

Na Dúnaibh Ladies have made history by winning the LGFA Ulster Junior Championship in a very close Ulster final against Warrenpoint of Co Down in Kildress.

It took extra-time to decide the issue with just one point scored in the two periods added on and Shannon McGroddy, not for the first time, was the Na Dúnaibh hero, hitting what proved to be the winner early in the first period.

Overall it was a gritty performance from the Na Dúnaibh team and apart from McGroddy, the Treartys, Chloe Hay, Caoimhe McLaughlin and Lauren McBride were to the fore. Denise Doherty also proved her worth once more, even though tightly marked, she came up with the vital goal early in the second half.

Na Dúnaibh become the first Donegal winners of the Ulster Junior Championship after Dungloe and Naomh Muire have gone close.

The Na Dúnaibh matchwinner, Shannon McGroddy, in action against Warrenpoint in the Ulster final Pic: Evan Logan

Na Dúnaibh started without their ace midfielder Aoibhinn O’Connell but they had Lauren McBride back in action for this Ulster final.

Na Dúnaibh Ladies got off to the perfect start with four points in as many minutes starting on four minutes.

Shannon McGroddy got the scoreboard ticking before Lauren McBride added two quick frees and Denise Doherty left them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead before the eighth minute.

Lucy Elmore eventually got Warrenpoint on the board on 11 minutes but McBride kept the Na Dúnaibh board ticking with two further frees with Katie Howlett splitting those points with Warrenpoint’s second.

Two late points from Anna Craven for Warrenpoint left just two between the sides at the break, Na Dúnaibh 0-6, Warrenpoint 0-4.

The Donegal champions couldn’t have had a better start to the second half when Denise Doherty found the net.

But the scores for Na Dúnaibh dried up after that and this allowed Warrenpoint to get back in the contest. A yellow card picked up by Meabh Doherty didn’t help.

Enya Quinn pulled back a point for Warrenpoint on 48 minutes and two minutes later the Down champions were back within a point when Caoimhe Shannon found the Na Dúnaibh net.

Then three minutes from the end of normal time Emma Russell tied up the game at 1-6 each.

Extra-time saw scores just as scarce but Na Dúnaibh again got their noses in front with a point from full-forward Shannon McGroddy and that proved to be the only score of the first half of the extra-time.

Na Dúnaibh scorers: Denise Doherty 1-1; Lauren McBride 0-4,4f; Shannon McGroddy 0-2.

Warrenpoint scorers: Caoimhe Shannon 1-0; Anna Craven 0-2; Lucy Elmore, Katie Howlett, Enya Quinn (f) Emma Russell 0-1 each.

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

Subs: Meabh McConnell for  MT Boyce (ht); Danni Shevlin for D Doherty (53); Eobha Pasoma for A McLaughlin (60+16)

Warrenpoint: Cara Bradley; Anna O’Neill, Roisin Kelly, Laura Taylor; Muirin Sneddon, Emma Russell, Lillie McClorey; Anna Craven, Katie Howlett; Silin Murphy, Enya Quinn, Caoimhe Quinn; Caoimhe Shannon, Kate Mansfield, Lucy Elmore.

Subs: Naoise Grant for Sneddon (60+4); Alicia

Referee: David Hurson (Monaghan)