Coláiste na Carraige Girls are Ulster champions again after defeating Coláiste Cholmcille

Coláiste na Carraige retained their Senior Girls Ulster E title with a hard-earned win over Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon at the Donegal Training Centre, Convoy.

Thanks to a super half-back line of Laura Boyle, Alanna Boyle and Maria Diver, the Carrick side were narrow winners with this impressive line contributing 1-4 of their total.

Ellie  Hegarty and Saoirse O'Donnell also played their part in the win against a Coláiste Cholmcille side that were in the contest right to the end.

There was very little between the teams and what was a very well contested game was sometimes not helped by over-fussy refereeing with the advantage rule rarely used.

The first four points were shared with Cadhla Dolan with two (one free) while Ellie Hegarty (free) and Alanna Boyle replied for Coláiste na Carraige.

The Carrick girls then took a grip on the game with Saoirse O'Donnell pointing with a goal at her mercy. The goals arrived with Maria Diver getting the first but she was probably going for a point.

Ciara Larkin had the ball in the net for Coláiste Cholmcille but it was ruled out because it was fisted and it turned out to be a big turning point as Coláiste na Carraige went up the field and Jasmine Byrne's effort for a point came back off the upright. Saoirse O'Donnell was quickest to react and she bundled in the second goal for a 2-3 to 0-2 lead.

Ciara Larkin pulled a point back and Erin Gallagher was called on to stop a third Carrick goal, denying Saoirse O'Donnell with a good save.

Super sub Rachel Gillespie got Coláiste Cholmcille back in the game when she pounced on a poor clearance to find the Carrick net and Aoife Travers followed with a point to cut the lead to two points.

Ellie Hegarty edged Carrick three ahead but Ciara Larkin found Lauren Foy for a second Ballyshannon goal and the sides were level with 28 minutes gone.

Emma Diver almost had a third Carrick goal but she did win a free and Ellie Hegarty pointed to leave it Coláiste na Carraige 2-5, Coláiste Cholmcille 2-4 at the break.

The winning Coláiste na Carraige panel with the cup Picture: Thomas Gallagher

Maria Diver and Ellie Hegarty had early second half points for the winners but Cadhla Dolan replied with two frees.

Points from Ellie Hegarty (free), Alanna Boyle and Maria Diver pushed Coláiste na Carraige four clear with 43 minutes on the clock.

But again Coláiste Cholmcille responded with Ciara Larkin pointing and Cadhla Dolan squeezed home a third goal to leave the sides level once more (2-10 to 3-7) on 47 minutes.

Dolan had the chance to push Coláiste Cholmcille ahead but her free was short before Laura Boyle went on a great run to fire the Carrick girls ahead once more.

Ailbhe Doherty pushed the lead out to two and it was then backs-to-the-wall for Coláiste na Carraige as the Ballyshannon girls went looking for a winning goal. They had a big call for a penalty late on when Katie McMahon seemed to be fouled by the Carrick 'keeper.

Coláiste na Carraige scorers: Maria  Diver 1-2; Ellie Hegarty 0-5,3f; Saoirse O'Donnell 1-1; Alanna Boyle 0-2; Laura Boyle, Ailbhe Doherty 0-1 each.

Coláiste Cholmcille scorers: Cadhla Dolan 1-4,3f; Lauren Foy, Rachel Gillespie 1-0 each; Ciara Larkin 0-2; Aoife Travers 0-1.

Coláiste Cholmcille: Erin Gallagher; Emer McDevitt, Zakia Shyabo, Jessica O'Mahoney; Emma Gilmartin, Katie McGowan, Dairin Sweeny; Lauren Foy, Cadhla Gillespie; Aoife Travers, Ciara Larkin, Grace McNelis-Lee; Roisin Williams, Cadhla Dolan, Emily  McNamee.

Subs: Rachel Gillespie for Williams (12); Ellen Monaghan for Gilmartin (28); Katie McMahon for McNelis-Lee (32); Faye Gillespie for Travers (42); Aodhbha O'Donnell for Sweeny (58)

Coláiste na Carraige: Clodagh Ellis; Hannah Carr, Molly Moy, Rionach Ni Eochaidh; Laura Boyle, Alanna Boyle, Maria Diver; Jasmine Byrne, Saoirse Byrne; Laoise Nic Fhionnlaoigh, Ellie Hegarty, Emma Diver; Leona Doherty, Saoirse O'Donnell, Sara Curran.

Sub: Ailbhe Doherty for Curran (38).

Referee: Desi  Friel (Tyrone)