THERE WAS A disappointing start to Minor Ladies Championship campaign for Donegal as they went down to Armagh at the Burn Road in Termon.
Donegal 2-4 Armagh 1-11
This came following great start for Trevor Alcorn’s team with a point by Zoe McGlynn in first minute followed by cracking goal by Caoimhe Walsh a minute later, an angled effort into the far top corner of the net from 15 metres.
Aiobheen Jones got Armagh off the mark in the ninth minute with a close-in free but Walsh replied with a fine point from play a minute later to restore Donegal’s four-point lead, 1-2 to 0-1.
That proved to be Donegal’s last score of the half as Armagh took over and rattled off seven points in a row in a 12-minute period. Maria Murphy and Alana Doran both scored twice from play, and there was one apiece from Aiobheen Henderson, Meaghan McCann, also from play, and a free from Aiobheen Jones.
Donegal had a few chances from both frees and play but poor finishing let them down and they trailed by three points at half-time 1-2 to 0-8.
The opening 10 minutes of the second-half were scoreless before a second Donegal goal brought them right back into the game. A good build-up down the left side ended with Carragh McGuinness blasting the ball home from a narrow angle to level it up at 2-2 to 0-8.
However, the visitors responded brilliantly and a Blaithin Mackin free and Maria Murphy from play kicked two quick points before a super five-player move ended with the impressive Aiobheen Henderson crashing a left foot drive to the roof of the Donegal net to put Armagh five points clear.
Caoimhe Walsh and Lauren McElwaine scored two fine points from play and Donegal wasted several other good scoring opportunities before Alana Doran got the game’s final score with a well taken point to secure victory for the Orchard County.
Listen to Trevor Alcorn’s thoughts when he spoke to Charlie Collins afterwards …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/trevor-alcorn-on-donegal-minor-ladies-loss-to-armagh
Donegal: Aoife McColgan; Maeve McDaid, Casey Harvey, Aishling Howe; Lauren McElwaine (0-1), Mary Ward, Michelle Logue; Mairead Coll, Lara Sweeney; Ellie McInnes, Cathy Ward, Zoey McGlynn (0-1); Caoimhe Walsh (1-2), Niamh Gallagher, Carragh McGuinness (1-0). Subs: Ashling McGuinness for Gallagher (45), Sonia Conaghan for Coll (47), Megan McGee and Kitty O Donnell for Howe and McGlynn (57).
Armagh: Orla Toman; Sarah-Louise Doherty, Colleen McKenna, Colette McCrink; Jordan Carr, Grace French, Blaithín Macken (0-1, 1f); Annalivia Hynds, Maria Murphy (0-2); Aoibheann Henderson (1-1), Meaghan McCann (0-1), Megan O’Callaghan; Alana Jones (0-2); Niamh Coleman, Aoibheann Jones (0-2, 1f). Subs: Jane Herrarty for Carr (40), Kathy Boyle for Doherty (48), Aiobheen McConville for Jones (57).
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