Gaoth Dobhair toast LGFA Junior A Championship success with win over Dungloe

Gaoth Dobhair are Donegal Junior A Ladies champions following Sunday's narrow win over arch rivals Dungloe at the Banks.

Gaoth Dobhair 2-10
Dungloe 2-7

Maebh Nic Giolla Bhridhe and Síle Ní Fhearraigh scored the goals while Eimear Ní Fhríl chipped in with three points. Ciara Ní Churáin added two and Áine Ní Cholla, Maryann Nic Bhaird, with one each, were the other scorers for the champions.
Katie Wallace and Patrice Boyle scored the goals for Dungloe while Rhianna McCready posted three and Saskia Boyle and Tara-
Kate Geoghegan scored points for the Rosses girls.

Dungloe, on the back of their win over one of the championship favourites Downings in the semi-final, entered the final the fancied team.  But Gaoth Dobhair had not read the script and hurting from their 17 points first round defeat to
Dungloe in Magheragallon, they signalled their intent from the off.



They had a goal inside two minutes when a free from Eimear Ní Fhríl ended up in the back of the Dungloe net. But the score was ruled out for a square ball infringement. Ní Fhríl landed a close-in free shortly afterwards for the game’s opening score.
Dungloe won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the strong wind and their opening score was a goal tucked away by Kate Wallace after a sweeping move.

Dungloe, the Division 3 champions, were shading the possession stakes. But all they had to show was two Rhianna McCready frees for the opening 15 minutes of play.

McCready, Saskia, Ulitah and Patrice  Boyle  were playing well for Dungloe. But points from Áislinn NI Cholla and Maebh Nic Giolla Bhridhe kept Gaoth Dobhair in touch. Dungloe led 1-2 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter. But a super strike from Síle Ní Fhearraigh for a goal on 19 minutes edged the girls in green ahead by one.

And the Dungloe response was almost instant when Patrice Boyle struck for a well taken goal. The sides exchanged points but Gaoth Dobhair, behind by two - 1-5 to 2-4 -  were the happier heading for the dressing rooms at the break.

Gaoth Dobhair drew level within four minutes of the restart but when Saskia Boyle and Cora Wallace combined for Boyle to rattle home goal number two for the girls from Rosses Park, Dungloe were back in front.  That was five minutes into the new half.

But Dungloe did not kick on and with Gaoth Dobhair getting stronger and with Ní Fhríl and Síle Ní Fherraigh asking questions of the Dungloe defence they struck for a second goal.

Captain Maebh Nic Giolla Bhridhe was quickest to react when a long range O Fhril free dropped short to fire home goal number two. The goal, followed by a quick-fire Ciara Churrain point, opened up a three point gap, for a  2-9 to 2-6 lead.
Dungloe did pile on the pressure in the remaining 20 minutes and twice  cut the lead back to two. But Gaoth Dobhair held on for a deserved win.

It was a successive final heartbreak  for Dungloe who went down to an Emma McGroary powered Robert Emmetts in last year’s final.  

Gaoth Dobhair scorers:  Maebh Nic Giolla Bhridhe 1-2, Síle Ní Fhearraigh 1-1, Eimear Ní Fhríl 0-3, Ciara Ní Churáin 0-2, Áine Ní Cholla,  Maryann Nic Bhaird 0-1 each. 
Dungloe scorers: Katie Wallace 1-1, Rhianna McCready 0-3,3f, Patrice Boyle, Tara-Kate Geoghegan, Saskia Boyle  0-1 each.

Gaoth Dobhair: Isla Gallagher; Leah Nic Bhaird, Alanna Nic Giolla Bhrighde, Laura Nic Lochlainn; Niamh Nic Bhaoill, Riann Alanna Nic Giolla Bhridhe, Míde NÍ Bhaoill; Maehbh Nic Giolla Bhridhe, Rosie Nic Giolla Bhride ; Eimear Ní Fhríl, Síle Ní Fhearraigh, Ciara Ní Churáin; Caoimhe Ní Fhearraigh, Áislinn NI Cholla, Áine Ní Cholla. Subs: Maryann Nic Bhaird for C Ní Fhearraigh (h/t); Eve Doherty for  L  Nic Lochlainn  (58). 
Dungloe: Ciara Diver; Sara O’ Boyle, Justine Boyle, Breena Boyle; Sarah O’Donnell, Laura Doherty, Aine Boner; Saskia Boyle, Ulitah Boyle; Rhianna McCready, Cora Wallace, Jasmine Gallagher; Kate Wallace, Patrice Boyle, Tara- Kate Geoghegan.  Subs: Ava Caulfield for A Boner (26); Ellie Ward for L Doherty (36); Aoife McGee for C Wallace (58). 

Referee: Paul Clifford (Buncana).