Pride of place for u16 side
November 27, 2011It was a victory that was somewhat of a surprise given that they lost to their opposition in the final, Tyrone, by 31 points in round two of the campaign so to claim the honours was a remarkable turnaround and credit to the management and players.
The U16 championship began with a tough test away to Donegal in April. Goals were very much the order of the day with the Oriel girls hitting six in all to get their campaign off to the perfect start. The visitors hit the ground running with their forwards on their game. Helped by goals from Michelle Kerr, Amy Murray, Brianan McAleer and Joanne Culleton they built up a 12-point lead by the midway point. A shell shocked Donegal quickly recovered on the resumption and with a rampant display were level with ten minutes remaining. However, not to be outdone Monaghan responded and with 1-1 off the boot of Leanne Maguire they look control again and ran out deserved winners on a final score of 6-6 to 2-14.
Buoyed from that wonderful win, the side then faced Tyrone in Tyholland a week later in their second match. It was a game though that brought the side down with a bang. The home team fielded without a number of the side that had defeated Donegal but on the day they simply were outclassed by the Red Hand County. Unlike the previous game where Monaghan got off to the perfect start, this time it was Tyrone who hit the ground running with a goal right at the start. Points from Leanne Maguire and Amy McKenna saw the Oriel girls respond quickly but it was Tyrone's ability to find the net that was to prove the difference. By the break the visitors had raised the green flag on five occasions to lead 5-8 to 0-8. Monaghan fought to the bitter end but with another five majors following in the second period Tyrone eased home 10-12 to 0-11.
With their confidence taking a major battering the side had to lift themselves for a must win game against Down the following week in Latton. That is exactly what they did though but with just a single point to spare after a thrilling encounter they came out on top 5-11 to 6-7. Their next game against Antrim was conceded by the Saffrons so this meant that the Oriel girls had booked their place in the decider with Tyrone the opposition.
The final didn't take place until July so without a game in over two months Monaghan were fearful of being a little ring rusty going in against the hot favourites who had already beaten them easily in the championship back in April. All roads led to Donagh and the Oriel girls were determined to show they were a much better side then the last time out against the Red Hands. This side managed by Seamus Murray had worked hard over the break and with a tremendous display they lifted the title following a 6-10 to 4-2 victory.
With the wind at their back the Oriel girls did what Tyrone had done to them in their previous clash and rattled the net right at the beginning of the game, Aoife Duffy raising the flag. The sides traded point before Tyrone rocked Monaghan with two quick goals to hit the front after just eight minutes. Points from Leanne Maguire, Aoife Duffy and Megan Atkinson restored parity prior to Maguire rattling the net to edge Monaghan back in front. This lifted the eventual winners to raise their game further and by the break they had their advantage extended with further points from Lisa Lennon and Maguire before she grabbed her second major of the game.
Leading 3-6 to 2-1, Monaghan were rocked at the start of the second period by a Tyrone goal. Excellent defending from Ciara McDermott denied Tyrone a further goal but when Tyrone did find the net again just two points separated the sides entering the final 13 minutes. Now playing into the elements Monaghan were very much on the back foot as Tyrone piled on the pressure. However, they showed wonderful character and Monaghan struck for a vital fourth goal, team captain Amy Murray the all important scorer. Maguire and Megan Atkinson added points to suddenly put daylight between the sides again. The teams traded points but Monaghan finished the stronger with Joanne Culleton pointing before goals from Maguire and Alkinson wrapped up a famous victory. There was also late drama when Tyrone were awarded a penalty but Alana O'Donohue pulled off a fine save.
Monghan (v Tyrone): Alana O'Donohue, Eimear O'Rourke, Sinead Murray, Jessica Drohan, Laura Carey, Ciara McDermott, Muireann O'Rourke, Ciara Larney, Danielle Mulligan, Brianon McAleer, Leanne Maguire (3-4), Lisa Lennon (0-1), Joanne Culleton (0-2), Megan Atkinson (1-2), Aoife Duffy (1-1). Subs used: Amy Murray (1-0), Tara McMeel, Charlotte McKenna, Holly McKenna, Amy McKenna.
It was now onto the All-Ireland series for the newly crowned Ulster champions with Kerry the opponents in Birr. The opening period was evenly matched with the Kingdom leading at the break 1-6 to 0-5, Leanne Maguire with all but one of the Monaghan points, Amy McKenna adding the other. In the second period Kerry pulled clear with Monaghan adding just a goal to their account, that coming from substitute Holly McKenna. At the other end Kerry rattled the net on three occasions and ran out convincing winners 4-18 to 1-5.
Monaghan (v Kerry) Alana O'Donohue, Sinead Murray, Ciara McDermott, Eimear O'Rourke, Danielle Mulligan, Ciara Larney, Jessica Drohan, Muireann O'Rourke, Lisa Lennon, Brianan McAleer, Megan Atkinson, Laura Carey, Aoife Duffy, Leanne Maguire (0-4), Joanne Culleton.
Subs used: Amy McKenna (0- 1) Amy Murray Holly McKenna (1-0).
U14's
It was not to be back to back Ulster titles for the U14's as they recorded just one victory from their four outings.
Their championship threw in against Donegal at the end of March in Tyholland. The home side entered the game without a competitive game under their belts after their opening game had been postponed and it showed on the day. Donegal who had already defeated Armagh and Tyrone were on top all over the park as Monaghan struggled. The game was over as a contest by the interval with the visitors building up a 5-7 to 0-2 lead, Christina McMahon and Eimear O'Rourke on target for the Oriel girls.
It got little better after the resumption with Donegal proving too strong but 1-1 from Lorraine Lambe did give the home side hope. In the end though, Donegal finished easy winners 7-15 to 1-3.
After a two week break the side headed to Strabane to face Tyrone in their next outing. Playing into a very strong wind in the opening half Monaghan began brightly but failed to make their dominance count with a number of efforts wide of the mark. This was to prove costly as gradually Tyrone gained the upper hand to take control and in the end were much superior on a final score of Tyrone 10-17 Monaghan 1-3. Scorers on the day for the Oriel girls were Tori Carolan 1-2 and Christina McMahon 0-1.
Monaghan entertained Down in their next game and after an impressive display they took the win 8-13 to 5-4. The excellent Tori Carolan who finished with a personal tally of 2-6 opened the scoring with 1-1 before Down hit back with three unanswered points. Lorraine Lambe responded for Monaghan with 1-1 but Down were always hanging on and reduced the deficit to just two points. By the break though the Oriel girls had their advantage stretched to 2-6 to 1-4. That was quickly back to the minimum with the Mourne side hitting 1-1 in a blistering start to the second period. Monaghan took control again with points from Tori Carolan, Christina McMahon and Eve Woods but yet again Down came back with another major. A converted penalty by Aideen O'Callaghan gained control again for Monaghan and this time they built on their advantage to pull clear to come out on top and record a much needed win.
Unfortunately the side could not build on this win and fell to a heavy defeat in their final game against Armagh 19-15 to 4-5.
Monaghan also entered a second team in the B championship but like the A team they too only managed to record one victory from their four outings. Their championship began with a trip to Belfast to face Antrim but the home side proved too hot on the day with a 4-10 to 5-4 victory after a thrilling encounter.
It was to be a game of two halves with the wind playing a major part. In the opening half Monaghan had the aid of the elements and led at the break 4-1 to 1-5, Emyvale duo Dolores Hughes (2) and Ciara McCarron netting inside the opening eight minutes while Hughes struck for her third later in the half. Emer Lynch give Monaghan the ideal start to the second period with a point but with the wind now into their faces Monaghan were very much backs to the wall as Antrim piled on the pressure. The Oriel girls remained in front until the final quarter when two quick goals give Antrim the upper hand. A goal from Amy Keenan kept Monaghan in contention but as hard as they tried they could not peg back to the home side.
In their second game the Monaghan girls headed to Glen to face Derry and yet again this turned out to be another very entertaining and evenly matched clash. Although Dolores Hughes opened the scoring for Monaghan who had the wind advantage, Derry struck for the game's opening goal soon after. Hughes hit back with a Monaghan goal but in this nip and tuck game Derry kept in touch with two points. The sides were level soon after though before Monaghan saw two goal efforts rebound off the woodwork. Points from Hughes and Caoimhe Mohan edged the visitors two clear but the Oak Leaf were back to within one by the half time whistle.
Two quick points on the resumption give Derry the lead prior to Sarah Capaldi hitting 1-1 for the Oriel girls. Derry hit back with a goal to square matters again and another major quickly followed to put them three clear. Monaghan though responded with a goal themselves through Lauren Jones to tie the game. The sides continued to trade points in the final ten minutes but two late efforts from Derry saw them edge it on a final score of 3-12 to 3-10.
In their first home match of the year they faced Fermanagh in Cremartin in April in round three. After the two narrow defeats on the road the side were out to prove they had the capabilities of getting over the winning line and they did just that as they went on a goal scoring spree against the Fermanagh girls.
A blistering opening half saw the home side find the net on seven occasions with both Micheala McCabe and Sarah Capaldi the scorers. With points from Lauren Jones (2), Caoimhe Mohan, Sarah Capaldi and Eimear Lynch they had built up a 7-5 to 0-4 lead at the break. Despite facing into the wind now in the second half Monaghan continued to dominate with both Micheala McCabe and Lauren Jones adding further majors. When the final whistle sounded the scoreboard read Monaghan 9-6 Fermanagh 0-6.
In their final group game they suffered defeat at the hands of neighbours and eventual champions Cavan 7-13 to 0-2 in Aghabog.
Both U14 sides took part in the Ulster and All-Ireland Blitz competitions. In the Ulster blitz held in Cookstown the A side recorded wins over Donegal and Derry to advance to face Armagh in the semi-final. Unfortunately the concession of a number of first half goals left them with a mountain to climb and despite a brave fight back they fell short. In the All Ireland blitz both sides tried hard to their respective competitions with a number of girls all getting game play.
U18's
It was to be a disappointing year for the Minor's also as they too only recorded the one victory. Their championship opened with an eye opening defeat to Down in Ballymartin back in March. If Monaghan had no idea of the task that lay ahead in this year's campaign they certainly did after that opening encounter. The Oriel girls started the better side racing into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after the opening quarter. Gradually Down gained the upper hand and by the break they had turned the game around with an unanswered 2-3 to lead by five. Gaining in confidence by every second Down continued to stretch their lead and rattled the Monaghan net on another five occasions to seal victory 7-14 to 0-8, Caoimhe Mohan top scorer with five points for Monaghan.
In their second outing a month later it didn't get any easier with a tricky trip to Convoy to take on Donegal. Like against Down the Oriel girls started brightly before falling away to lose out 5-14 to 2-5, Eileen McKenna and Caoimhe Rooney hitting the majors. In their third game they welcomed Tyrone to Emyvale but yet again suffered defeat 7-14 to 3-7. The home side suffered a nightmare start conceded 1-1 inside the opening four minutes. Caoimhe Mohan hit back with a wonderful goal but it was Tyrone that were always looking the better side and despite a second major from Mohan Tyrone lead at the break 2-6 to 2-3.
Hopes of a Monaghan victory were well and truly ended in the opening minutes of the second half as Tyrone rattled the Monaghan net on three occasions. Barbara Ward struck for a Monaghan major but victory went to Tyrone with 19 points to spare. The side wrapped up their campaign on a winning note when they defeated Cavan 5-6 to 3-9 in Latton in May.
Schools Success
There was success for three local girls when they were selected as Ulster schools All Stars for the year. St Louise, Monaghan star Caoimhe Mohan (Truagh) along with St Louis, Carrickmacross duo Laura McEnaney (Corduff) and Barbara Ward (Carrickmacross/Corduff) all picked up an accolade. The three girls all lined out in the inaugural All Star game against a Connacht selection with Mohan captaining the side. The Truagh star hit 0-9 while McEnaney scored 0-2 and Ward 0-1 in a 4-20 to 3-13 victory for the Ulster selection.
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