Cavan 3-12 Tyrone 1-7

Cavan Ladies retained their Ulster A title last Saturday in Magheracloone.

First half kicked off with missed goal chances for both sides. Cavan opened the scoreboard with a point from Edith Lynch following some great link play from Catherine Dolan and Katie Fitzpatrick. It wasn't long before star forward Niamh O'Shea struck when she slapped the ball into the Tyrone net taking Cavan to an early 3 point lead. Tyrone retaliated with a point from full forward Ellen McGowan which followed with another Cavan point. Dearbhla Mc Donald  pointed a free for Tyrone  closing the gap to a 1 point lead for Cavan. Captain Michaela Gaffney , on form, split the posts with a free taking the scoreline to 1-2 to 0-4. Cavan suffered two subsequent missed goal chances. Aimee Coyle added to Tyrones tally with a point of her left boot closing the gap to 1 point.  Score at half time 1-3 to -0-5.

Starting the second  half,  Cavan had replaced Clara Lynch with Geraldine Smith at half time. Tyrone were first to add to the scoreboard when they got an early point. Undeterred, Cavan scored 1-2 in quick succession with a Niamh O'Shea goal, followed closely with two points from clubmates Catherine Dolan and Edith Lynch taking Cavan to a comfortable 6 point lead. With these early scores Cavan upped the ante. Caoimhe Mc Dermott was on form in the back line while Neasa Byrd and Laura Mc Kiernan maintained a strong presence midfield. Despite this, Tyrones Maebh Mallon was strong moving forward resulting in another point from Dearbhla Mc Donald. Cavan were soon to punish the Tyrone girls when Edith Lynch added another point to the tally. Cavan gave Katie Fitzpatrick a well-deserved break replacing her with Laura Keogan, who scored 2-2 off the bench against Monaghan. Keogan wasted no time when she pointed from play taking Cavan's tally to 2-8 to 0-7.

With midfield Neasa Byrd sustaining a shoulder injury it looked doubtful that she would be able to play on. However having received treatment she continued only to score a point in the 17th minute. Cavan looked set to get a third goal when Dolan and Keogan worked a quick ball into Geraldine Smith but it was caught clean by Tyrone keeper Laura Kane.
Tyrone, still showing their strength got their first goal of the game from Emma Brennan closing the gap to a 5 point lead for Cavan. Catherine Dolan added to Cavans tally with a goal and a point. Lorna Lawless and AINE Brady worked tirelessly in the back line to break down the Tyrone attack.

Keogan got the ball past Kanes hands but the goal was disallowed as referee Swift had already blown for a free. The free was taken and pointed by Edith Lynch. Cavan now with a comfortable 10 point lead, substituted Amy Gaynor for Edith Lynch. A gallant Cavan side finished up on spectacular 3-12 to 1-7 scoreline. A fantastic display of football from both sides but it surely is an exciting time for Cavan Ladies to see such tremendous talent coming through. Not forgetting to mention Michaela Gaffney's speech as Gaelige. A true leader to the core, with no doubt a very bright sporting future ahead of her.

Cavan: Amy Warton, Caoimhe Mc Dermott, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Lorna Lawless, Aine Brady, Sarah Nulty, Roisin Galligan, Neasa Byrd, Laura Mc Kiernan, Niamh O'Shea, Katie Fitzpatrick, Michaela Gaffney (Captain), Edith Lynch, Catherine Dolan, and Clara Lynch
Subs: Amy Gaynor, Geraldine Smith, Rebecca Fitzsimons, Laura Keogan, Aoife Mc Gorry, Gemma Mc Loughlin, Ciara Shalvey, Saoirse Reilly, Aine Reilly,  Michaela Doonan, Courtney Rapple Mc Dowell, Hayley Gemmell, Ciara Brady.

Referee: Paul Swift.

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