Karen Guthrie cut her hen weekend in Carrick-On-Shannon short to inspire Glenfin to glory in the Donegal Ladies SFC final.
Glenfin 4-7 Moville 3-7
By Chris McNulty at O’Donnell Park. Pictures by Joe Boland, North West News Pix
It wasn’t until Robbie O’Donnell final called time that Glenfin could rejoice after a dramatic win, with the Pairc Taobhoige residents led by Guthrie, who scored an inspirational 2-3 in the absence of the totemic Yvonne Bonner.
A 52nd minute goal by Ciara Hegarty had Moville in the ascendancy by a point, but Glenfin swung the pendulum one final time.
Guthrie was ably aided by the equally influential Katy Herron, who hit 1-3 – including a priceless 1-1 in the latter stages.
Herron tied things up with an excellent point in the 53rd minute.
And, just a minute later, Herron netted a game-winning goal that could have graced any stage.
Fed by substitute Danielle McGinley on the right-hand side, Herron still had work to do. Herron held off the advances and sent a superb effort right into the top corner of Aoife McColgan’s net.
When Kathy Ward struck Glenfin’s third goal in the first minute of the second half, the defending champions were five points to the good, but Sarah Jane McDonald and Ciara Hegarty had Moville briefly back in the driving seat.
Glenfin were driven on by Guthrie and Herron and could look, too, to a superb role by Anna Marie McGlynn, who curbed the influence of Niamh Hegarty for much of a game that remaining right in the melting pot down the home straight.
It took seven minutes before Sarah Jane McDonald scampered through to open the scoring.
A Guthrie free briefly got Glenfin back on level terms, but Aishleen McGuinness and Niamh Hegarty steered Moville in front once more.
The opening passages were frustratingly stop-star, including one lengthy period to allow for treatment for Ciara Hegarty, who was left seeing stars after a ferocious collision with Diane McGlynn.
Glenfin had to line out without Donegal star Bonner, who is in Melbourne on an AFL Women’s International Rookie trial.
Bonner had posted 1-5 in Glenfin’s semi-final win over Termon and, in the absence of the ace full-forward, they certainly lacked the killer touch in the final third – until, that was, Guthrie struck gold.
Glenfin had scored just once in the first 28 minutes, but they stunned their opponents with the opening goal. Katy Herron made the play with a superb break down the right. Herron sped away and looped the ball into the danger zone where Guthrie had ghosted to palm home.
The Moville response was instant.
Kate McClenaghan won possession and played a give-and-go with McDonald. McClenaghan’s finished was like a bullet past Sharon Conaghan.
Glenfin shook the heads clear and Guthrie bagged her second goal. Set clear by Sinead McGinty, Guthrie powered away before riffling to the roof of Aoife McColgan’s net.
The An Gaeltacht Lár side got a dream start to the second half.
Katy Herron fisted over a point 18 seconds in and before the first minute was played they had a third goal, Kathy Ward’s shot dropped in beyond McColgan to make it a five-point game.
Glenfin had goalkeeper Conaghan to thank for preventing a certain goal ten minutes into part two.
McGuinness seemed set to blast in her team’s second goal, but Conaghan repelled the shot and McClenaghan fired up and over from the rebound.
When McDonald emphatically fired to the net in the 46th minute, after Niamh and Ciara Hegarty worked the opening, Moville were back within striking distance.
This was a repeat of the last two senior finals, with one win each going into this one. Ciara Hegarty had Moville dreaming, but Glenfin showed their killer touch to retain their crown.
Glenfin: Sharon Conaghan; Diane McGlynn, Tara Martin, Mary Ward; Ann Marie Logue, Anna Marie McGlynn, Sinead McGinty; Grainne Houston, Karen Guthrie (2-3, 2f); Kathy Ward (1-0), Katy Herron (1-3), Lauren Martin; Colene McGrath, Gemma Glackin, Katie Long (0-1). Subs: Danielle McGinley for Glackin (46), Karen Ward for McGrath (46), Mary Martin for T.Martin (59).
Moville: Aoife McColgan; Clodagh Skelly, Ciara Hegarty (1-0), Aoibh Faulkner; Michelle Logue, Tara Hegarty, Shannon McDonald; Sarah Jane McDonald (1-1), Caraigh McGuinness; Aishleen McGuinness (0-1), Niamh Hegarty (0-4, 2f), Shona Kelly; Kate McClenaghan (1-1), Bláthnáid McLaughlin, Niamh Skelly. Subs: Niamh McDonald for Kelly (half-time), Geraldine Harkin for C.McGuinness (half-time), Realtin McElhinney for S.McDonald (50), Caraigh McGuinness for McClenaghan (57).
Referee: Robbie O’Donnell (Naomh Muire).
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