Champions 2014…St. Enda’s ladies, Tyrone Intermediate champions
St. Enda’s 0-13, Ardboe 0-8
The ladies of Omagh St Enda’s showed resilience, battling qualities and experience to edge to a second Tyrone intermediate football title at Kildress with a 0-13 to 0-8 win over Ardboe. It proved to be a thrilling encounter that pivoted on a knife edge before Omagh eventually pressed home in the final ten minutes but the St Enda’s had to be at their best to secure the title they last won in 2011.
Omagh led 0-7 to 0-4 at the break but that fails to translate how close this game was. Omagh had raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead with Hayley Ballard 0-2, Cara McCrossan, Colleen McCullagh and Christiane Hunter with points. Ardboe, who lost to Cappagh in last year’s final had chances and the Omagh defence were pinned back for long periods with goalkeeper Ann Cunningham dominant , Charmaine Gormley, Orla Kelly and Emma Ward having to be at their best.
Ballard and Seorsie McElduff pointed for Omagh as Ardboe hit a purple patch and they had a clutch of chances but the Omagh defence were up for the battle in a tough battle in good conditions.
Omagh tried to ignite the second half early on but chances went abegging as Ardboe closed down the skilful Omagh attack with McCrossan, McCullagh and Eireann McSorley getting little change from Muldoon, the Quinns and Ciara Rocks. The Loughshore girls rattled over three points leaving a point between the sides after McElduff pointed again. There was a call for leaders and Omagh had several who stepped up to the plate, Christiane Hunter had an outstanding performance throughout but especially at this crucial stage, Nicola Donnelly showed all her experience with Gormley, Ward and Kelly working hard.
The Ardboe rearguard were hard to break down but Omagh found chinks, the running defenders opened the door and Clodagh Mullan, McCullagh 0-2 Shauna O’Neill and Terri McCullagh were on target while Ballard’s cracking shot came off the post and goalkeeper Mallaghan to go wide.
The Omagh defence were brilliant in the final ten minutes and all over the park the St Enda’s side took the game to a new tempo. In the end they only conceded a single point in that final quarter.
The cup then presented by Patsy McCrory vice chairman Tyrone ladies GFA to Cara McCrossan and Christiane Hunter, the Tyrone champions now face the Cavan champions in October.
St. Enda’s scorers – Hayley Ballard 0-3, Coleen McCullagh 0-3, Seiorse McElduff 0-2, Cara McCrossan, Christiane Hunter, Clodagh Mullan, Shauna O’Neill and Terri McCullagh 0-1 each.
Omagh – Ann Cunningham, Emma Ward, Christiane Hunter, Orla Kelly, Orla Lagan, Charmaine Gormley, Hayley Ballard, Nicola Donnelly, Colleen McCullagh, Breonna Colton, Terri McCullagh, Clodagh Mullan, Eireann McSorley, Seoirse McElduff, Cara McCrossan.
Subs – Kerri Ann O’Hagan for Lagan, Shaunna O’Neill for McElduff, Caolan McCullagh for T McCullagh, Shaunna Brown for Ballard.
St. Enda’s vice-captain Christiane Hunter and captain Cara McCrossan are presented with the Intermediate Championship title. More photos on our Photo Gallery
