Naomh Muire ladies had to go through the wringer of extra time before staving off battling Con Magees to reach the Ulster Junior ladies final.
Naomh Muire 4-11 Con Magees 3-9 (after extra time)
In front of a huge crowd at The Banks, Naomh Muire had five points to spare at the end.
But that wasn’t before they had the fingernails bitten to the quick after seeing Con Magees come from nine points down to draw level.
It was 2-9 to 3-6 at the end of normal time, but goals by Ailbhe O’Donnell and Caroline Sharkey in the first half of extra time proved to be the final undoing of the Antrim side.
O’Donnell and Sharkey netted to give Naomh Muire a 4-10 to 3-7 advantage at half-time in extra time.
Con Magers had taken the lead for the first time in the game with a point just after the beginning of extra time.
But Naomh Muire – who beat Naomh Columba to win the Donegal Junior title a few weeks ago – were able to respond in style.
The day got off to a perfect start with Sharkey bagging an early goal for the Lower Rosses team.
While that was cancelled out by Laoise McKenna in the eight minute, Casey McGarvey struck gold late in the first half as Naomh Muire went 2-7 to 1-1 in front by half-time.
The nerves jangled as Con Magees crept back, but Naomh Muire march on to the Ulster final.
Naomh Muire: Marie McCafferty; Eilis O’Reilly, Hannah Gallagher, Caoimhe Boyle; Jade O’Donnell (0-1), Roisin Rodgers, Katie O’Donnell; Tara O’Donnell (0-2), Sarah Doherty; Saoirse Bonner (0-2), Caroline Sharkey (2-1), Ailbhe O’Donnell (1-2); Amy Hanna (0-1), Kate Gillespie, Casey McGarvey (1-0). Subs: Erika Hanna (0-2) for Gillespie, Ciara Kavanagh for Bonner, Leah McGarvey for O’Reilly.
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