Beragh 1-7
Galbally 2-3

Few teams hit twenty four wides and still claim a championship final victory, but that’s just what Beragh red knights did last Friday night at Greencastle. Edging out Galbally by a single point and suffering the nerve wrecking experience of seeing the East Tyrone side squander three scoreable frees in a frantic closing spell.

In the end Beragh survived, survived a Galbally rally and survived almost shooting themselves out of the tie, the Brenda Logue cup collected by Aishling Hagan in the clubs centenary year.

Beragh led at the break after a bright opening with Josephine Rodgers, and Noleen Owens points between Catriona McGahans Galbally opener on five minutes and Michaela Donnellys brace for the Red Knights.

Galbally though hauled themselves back into the tie when full forward Colleen Quinn managed to scramble the ball over the goal line past Helena Ward who had  been the busier of the two keepers. It stood 1-1 to 0-4 for all of two minutes though.

Beragh corner forward Lisa Rodgers collected a pass inside from Michaela Donnelly and she turned to beat the Oonagh Celts keeper and Armagh boss Hayley Boyle.

Advantage Beragh again  but the woeful shooting reached double figures, the game could have been over as a contest by the twenty eighth minute instead Galbally had a second goal. Quinn ertfd fortuitous to get away with seemingly stealing the ball from goalkeeper Ward to slot home her and Galballys second major.

A single point half time lead was whittled away within ten minutes of the second half with Tyrone goalkeeper Elaine Mallaghan, operating up front for her club hitting two frees over the bar. Things seemed to be going in Galballys favour but again a twist in the tail as Quinn was yellow carded just on the half way mark. That was a turning point as Beragh found their edge again, but continued to squander chances.

Colleen McSorley scored two further Beragh points but it was Galbally who looked to have the last say in the closing minutes. Elaine Mallaghan and Danuta McGahan struck two close range fress wide in quick succession as they trailed by a point and at the death full forward Quinn just back in from the sin-bin saw her free kick curl wide of the uprights. The chance of a last gasp equaliser gone in the stiff breeze at Greencastle.

So a single point victory for Beragh in a quite remarkable game, chances a plenty but only a few converted ,both sides trying hard it seemed to miss out on silverware at the end.

 SCORERS

Beragh Colleen McSorley 0-3, Lisa Rodgers 1-0, Michaela Donnelly 0-2, Josie Rodgers, Nollen Owens 0-1 each

Galbally Colleen Quinn 2-0, Elaine Mallaghan 0-2, Catriona McGahan 0-1