New queens of Ulster

New queens of Ulster

12 February 2020

ST Mary’s High School, Downpatrick, lifted the prestigious Erne Cup for the first time at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown, last Wednesday afternoon with a blistering display of attacking football.

Victory was no more than the local girls deserved when they gained revenge for last season’s heartbreaking cup final defeat to the same opposition. 

St Mary’s started the game strongly and turned their possession into scores with an early goal from Saul’s Cara Doran settling the nerves.

The Enniskillen girls were simply not allowed to play their vaunted expansive game and Katie Convie raced in almost immediately to make it 2-0 to 0-0 when she capitalised on a poor kick-out. 

St Fanchea’s had no intention of giving up their title without a fight and replied with three consecutive points. However, a buoyant St Mary’s outfit replied with points from Cora Convery, Alishia Lundy and Shannon Sloan to maintain their six-point lead.

Six points quickly became 15 by the half-time break as St Mary’s continued to terrorise St Fanchea’s and scores from Doran (0-3), Abi Murphy (0-2) and the lethal Shannon Sloan (1-1) gave the locals a commanding 3-9 to 0-3 lead. 

St Franchea’s came out fighting in the second half, scoring a goal and two points without reply to reduce the arrears to 10 point, but that was as good as it got as St Mary’s quickly regained the initiative and went for broke.

They certainly put the foot on the gas and points from Erin Sands, Katie Convie and Cara Doran had St Mary’s well clear St Fanchea’s kept on to the bitter end and forced a great save form St Marys goalkeeper Fia McFaul as they tried to get back into contention.

However, McFaul and her defensive wall of Keely O’Neill, player of the match Nora Maguire, team captain Neva Loudon, Katie Black, Louise Lundy and Lucy Morgan kept St Fanchea’s at bay.

At midfield, Eimear Teggart and Erin Sands dominated throughout the game and kept their dazzling forward busy with a constant supply of good ball.

Abi Murphy, Cara Doran, Alishia Lundy, Cora Convery, Shannon Sloan and Katie Convie were literally unplayable and gave the St Fanchea’s defence a torrid time all afternoon. 

St Mary’s: Fia McFaul, Keely O’Neill, Nora Maguire, Neva Loudon, Katie Black, Louise Lundy, Lucy Morgan, Eimear Teggart, Erin Sands, Abie Murphy, Cara Doran, Alishia Lundy, Cora Convie, Shannon Sloan, Katie Convie. Subs: Claire Lundy for Lucy Morgan, Anna Burns for Alishia Lundy, Nicole McCartan, Rebecca Burns, Laoise Sharvin.