Great win for Cavan Minor ladies
April 23, 2015
The Cavan minor ladies squad.
Ulster Minor A Championship
Cavan v Monaghan
April 11th, 3G Pitch, Breffni Park
Cavan 7-9 Monaghan 1-6
Neighbours Monaghan travelled to the 3G last Saturday to take on the minor ladies. Monaghan opened the scoreboard with Niamh Callan score two consecutive points. Monaghan looked set to get their third score when a superb block from Caoimhe Mc Dermott forced Callan to kick it wide.
Cavan goalie Amy Warton saved a shot on goal and worked out to half back Sarah Nulty. Great link play between Lorna Lawless and Niamh O'Shea opened Cavan's tally when O'Shea rattled the net, taking Cavan to a one point lead. Captain Gaffney followed suit when she pointed a free. Monaghan found it difficult to break through the Cavan defence but their persistence paid off when Eimear Mc Anespie kicked one over the bar. Cavan retaliated at the other end of the field with a point from Katie Fitzpatrick. Cavan made a substitution the back line replacing Aoife Mc Gorry with Roisin Galligan.
Monaghan added to their tally when Eva Woods pointed a free closing the gap to one point. Catherine Dolan delivered a superb ball into Edith Lynch and she made no mistake placing it in the visitors net. Monaghan were in attack mode but another save from a consistent Warton put an end to their goal chance.
The Cavan backs worked the ball out quick to Geraldine Smith but she was unlucky to narrowly miss a point. Cavan didn't panic and following a cracking pass from O'Shea, Smith buried the ball in the oppositions net in the 25th minute.
Monaghan made their first substitution of the game with replacing corner back Shauna Mc Cahey with Sinead Mohan. Monaghan forwards pushed on, punishing the homeside with a goal from Callan again, followed by a point from Emma Clerkin in the 32nd minute. At half time the Breffni girls led by 2 points-Cavan 3-2 Monaghan 1-6.
Cavan started strong in the second half with midfield winning the throw in working it up to forward Geraldine Smith who pointed with ease. Soon after, a quick pass from Smith saw Edith Lynch pop it over the cross bar taking Cavan's tally to 3-5 to 1-6. With 5 minutes gone, Monaghan made their first substitution of the game bringing on Sinead Mohan for Shauna Mc Cahey at corner back. Cavan followed suits replacing midfielder Amy Gaynor with Laura Mc Kiernan. Neasa Byrd remained strong marshalling the half back line and midfield.
9 minutes in Cavan made their third substitution bringing on Laura Keogan for Katie Fitzpatrick. Cavan, lifted by the addition of fresh legs surged forward putting the visitors under increasing pressure. Two shots on goal in the 11th and 12th minute were saved by Monaghan goalie Aoife Hammill. Unphased by the Cavan forwards, the Monaghan backs forced a wide from O'Shea and a consistent Hamill blocked a goal shot from Keogan.
The Breffni girls efforts didn't go unrewarded when Smith pointed Cavan's third score of the second half with 14 minutes gone. A quick interception by Laura Mc Kiernan, fed the ball into sub Keogan, who added a point to Cavan's tally.
Sixteen minutes in and a scramble in front of the Monaghan goals saw Keogan emerge with the ball and point it over. Monaghan were quick to react punishing the the Breffni girls with a quick goal from Monaghan half back, Rosemary Courtney. Cavan added to their tally with free taken and pointed by Gaffney. Monaghan's Hamill showed strength blocking a shot from Dolan. It wasn't long before O'Shea rattled the net again taking Cavan ahead by 10 points on a scoreline of 4-7 to 1-6.
Cavan made another substitution replacing full forward Lorna Lawless with Aine Brady. At 29 minutes, Laura Keogan secured another goal bringing her personal tally to 1-2 off the bench. Smith sent a high ball in from 20 meters which looked set to cross the bar, but fell short into Monaghans goals just over the keepers hands. Cavan made their last substitution of the game replacing corner back Rebecca Fitzsimons with Micahela Doonan. Monaghan made two substitutions replacing Niamh Callan and Lauren Jones.
Solid defending from Mc Dermott and Fitzpatrick made it almost impossible for the Monaghan attackers to break through. Another ball worked into to Keogan was placed in the top corner of the net. Final score Cavan 7-9 Monaghan 1-6.
Next game for minors is 2nd May v Fermanagh.
Cavan team and scorers: Amy Warton, Aoife Mc Gorry, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Fitzsimons, Caoimhe Mc Dermott, Catherine Dolan, Neasa Byrd, Amy Gaynor, Sarah Nulty, Niamh O'Shea (2-0), Michaela Gaffney (captain) (0-2), Katie Fitzpatrick (0-1), Edith Lynch (1-2), Lorna Lawless, Geraldine Smith (2-2).
Subs: Laura Keogan (2-2), Laura Mc Kiernan, Roisin Galligan, Ciara Lynch, Courtney Rapple Mc Dowell, Gemma Mc Loughlin, Aine Brady, Dara Kiernan, , Michaela Doonan, Ciara Shalvey, Saoirse Reilly, Roisin Galligan, Ciara Brady, Hayley Gemmell.
