LADIES FOOTBALL ULSTER MINOR SEMI-FINAL

TYRONE 3-21 DONEGAL 0-7

Tyrone’s young minor footballers breezed into next Tuesday’s provincial decider at the weekend when they eclipsed Donegal at Ballybofey. The host side had no answer to the firepower and work rate of Martina Dillon’s well drilled outfit as they steamrolled through. There was to be no repeat of last years extra time turnover at Omagh as Tyrone led by the impressive Niamh Woods controlled the semi-final in perfect conditions. The final score 3-21 to 0-7 and indeed it was a masterful display, although it took a while for Tyrone to settle into their rhythm

The 23 point margin at the end of this thumping was no elaboration this was a near perfect display by Tyrone once they cast of the shackles of nervousness, there third high scoring performance in this years competition and their final opponents next Tuesday will have to be something special to see off this side.

From the off it was chance after chance, Tyrone led by three points after five minutes but in the opening two minutes both Grimes and McLaughlin could easily have found the net, Grimes hit the crossbar and McLaughlin’s effort was saved by goalkeeper McCafferty.

The scores though came thick and fast Clodagh Poyntz, Ashling O’Kane and Emma Conlon on target. Donegal rallied and by ten minutes, after there only good spell in the game they had hit three points one a stunning 45 metre kick by Niamh Hegarty and followed by Ward and Kavanagh scores, that was as good as it got for them though and when Clodagh Poyntz crashed home her sides first goal the writing was on the wall.

A Tyrone 45 dropped in, Watters padded the ball away only for the talented Cappagh forward to take full advantage of the gift and  find the net, Sarah Louise McLaughlin added a point followed by another Poyntz score before on twenty-five minutes a move involving five players saw Sinead McCrory get Tyrone’s second goal.

Kerrie Grimes started the move down the left, there was some nice passing moves with O’Kane, Connolly, Poyntz and finally McCrory who made no mistake, a six minute powerhouse display that left Donegal reeling. The Donegal reply, 0-3 from Friel, Ward and Hegarty and Tyrone went in seven points to the good as Poyntz hit her third point.

Thoughts of last years dramatic comeback by Donegal were soon brushed aside very much like the Donegal defence as Tyrone pilled on the points and the agony, Clodagh Poyntz finishing the day with 1-5, nine different scorers including the third goalscorer Claire Scullion, who from the bench scored 1-2 and a stunning defensive display which saw Donegal only score once in the half tells its own story.

A quality display all through the team with Sarah Connolly only hitting 0-1 but as in the game against Monaghan  proving  there is more to her game that scoring , she was a key playmaker. So it’s Down next but on this showing it’s hard to see who can stop the Ulster title coming back to Tyrone next Tuesday.

TYRONE: Sinead McVeigh, Britta Quinn, Laura McGillion, Christiane Hunter, Stephanie Patterson, Niamh Woods, Roisin Rafferty, Emma Conlon 0-2, Shannon Quinn 0-1 Sinead McCrory 1-2, Ashling O’Kane 0-4, Kerrie Grimes, Clodagh Poyntz 1-5, Sarah Connolly 0-1, Sarah Louise McLauglin 0-3.

SUBS: Claire Scullion For Grimes 1-2, Aideen Devine For O’Kane 0-1, Maria Donnelly For Patterson, Ashling O’Kane For McCrory, Patricia Morris For McLaughlin

DONEGAL SCORERS Niamh Hegarty 0-2, Elish Ward 0-2, Roisin Friel, Stacey Kavanagh and Ciara Hegarty 0-1.