Carryduff girls crowned the champions of Ulster

Carryduff girls crowned the champions of Ulster

11 December 2024

CARRYDUFF Ladies signed their name in the history books by becoming just the second club to retain the Ulster minor title after beating Dungloe in Newtownstewart on Sunday.

The Down champions were expecting a tough test against Donegal’s top side, who had already seen off the best that Monaghan and Derry have to offer.

After a tight opening 30 minutes, the second half turned out to be a proverbial walk in the park for Carryduff as they cruised to a resounding victory with a whopping 12-point margin.

Goals from Anna McArdle, Cara Donnelly and Ellie Sergeant, alongside a flurry of points, proved to be too much for the opposition, who failed to record a single point in the entirety of the second period.

Dungloe were appearing in their first Ulster final, but they did not show any sign of nerves early on, taking the lead through an eighth-minute Rhianna McCready goal.

However, going behind seemed to be the encouragement that Carryduff required and they soon began to stamp their authority of proceedings.

They came close to responding in perfect fashion when Eimear McReynolds rattled the crossbar and Sergeant, with a clear sight on goal, failed to capitalise on the loose ball.

The Carryduff ladies did not let the wasted opportunities get to them and at the second time of asking they found the back of the net when they were awarded a penalty.

McArdle made no mistake from the spot as she added to the points tally to send her side into the lead for the first time.

Mia O’Donnell sent Dungloe back in front with two well-placed frees and after Sergeant drew level, a Donnelly double took Carryduff into the break with a 1-5 to 1-3 advantage.

The second half told a completely different story and as the Donegal side failed to get off the starting block, the Down champs taught them a lesson in scoring.

Carryduff stunned their opponents after just four minutes of play in the second half, moving five points ahead through a superbly taken goal from Donnelly.

Dungloe looked down on their luck and as they struggled to bounce back points from Sergeant and Isa McCarron widened the margin.

The Donegal ladies were fighting against a strong wind and an ironclad Carryduff defence that provided the springboard for victory. 

Maebh and Niamh Napier each split the posts and despite Carryduff having two players in the sin bin, they continued to coast towards victory.

Sergeant added to her earlier points total when she rippled the net and with that, Carryduff were crowned back-to-back champions of Ulster.