TERMON POWERED their way to an Ulster semi-final as they saw off Clann Éireann this afternoon at The Burn Road.
Termon 5-9 Clann Éireann 0-8
By Chris McNulty at The Burn Road
Once again, Geraldine McLaughlin was to the fore, scoring 2-7 of the tally, but this was a game and a win built on their defensive solidity.
Termon went out to give nothing away and with the likes of Evelyn McGinley, Nicole McLaughlin and Meabh McDaid standing tall, they remained in control of the tie.
Bridget Gallagher bagged two goals with Mya Alcorn also raising a green flag while Termon played for 40 minutes with 14 players after the first-half dismissal of Eimear Alcorn.
McLaughlin hit 2-3 in the first half – with Gallagher also netting – as Termon went into a 3-3 to 0-4 lead by the interval.
Three more from the All-Star nominee – including a majestic point from play – put Termon nine ahead, 3-6 to 0-6 after a pair of Sarah Henderson frees kept the Lurgan women in touch.
Eleven minutes from the end, it was game, set and match when, after McLaughlin and Gallagher worked the ball in, Mya Alcorn had the task of palming in goal number four.
Tiarna Grimes had a chance of a late goal for Clann Éireann, but her effort trickled wide of Maureen O’Donnell’s right post, but Gallagher surged through to convert her second, Termon’s fifth for a last-minute grace note.
Termon – who had 2014 All-Ireland winner Olive McCafferty back in their XV – got off to a flier and hit their first goal after just seven minutes. Geraldine McLaughlin fed Mya Alcorn in behind and her shot was helped to the net by Bridget Gallagher.
An early free by McLaughlin had Termon off the board and the ace markswoman buried the second Termon three-point just five minutes later.
Evelyn McGinley sent the testing ball into the mixer. McLaughlin took receipt and a low finish put the hosts firmly in command.
Kicking towards Doon Well, and playing with the aid of the win, Clann Éireann registered seven wides in the first quarter-of-an-hour, during which time Termon struck the opening two goals.
Niamh Henderson broke the Clann Éireann duck in the 17th minute after the Armagh side worked the play from a free.
Disaster struck for Termon in the 20th minute. Eimear Alcorn was in the process of being sent to the sin bin by referee Brian McCallion when some dissent from the young Termon defender resulted in the card being upgraded to red.
Tiarna Grimes and McLaughlin traded frees while a good block from Niamh Friel prevented Sarah Henderson from reducing the deficit to three points.
Right on the blow of the half-time whistle, Termon moved eight ahead when McLaughlin – who hit 4-5 in their recent county final win over Glenfin – drilled home a penalty after Gallagher was taken down by Catherine Lawless, the visiting goalkeeper.
Sarah Henderson’s frees made sure Clann Éireann, who showed plenty of fight throughout, had hope, but that was extinguished when Alcorn finished and Termon move into the last four of the province.
Another home tie awaits on October 13.
Termon: Maureen O’Donnell; Meabh McDaid, Evelyn McGinley, Jamie-Leigh Murray; Eimear Alcorn, Niamh Friel, Aibhe McDaid; Nicole McLaughlin, Emer Gallagher; Olive McCafferty, Bridget Gallagher (2-0), Shannon McLaughlin (0-1); Lucy O’Flynn, Geraldine McLaughlin (2-7, 3f), Mya Alcorn (1-0). Subs: Jodie McFadden (0-1) for O’Flynn (43), Chelsea Gorman for A.McDaid (54), Orla Corry for O’Donnell (60), Shauna Kelly for M.Alcorn (60).
Clann Éireann: Catherine Lawless; Grainne Carville, Meabh McCambridge, Meabh Moriarty (0-1); Sionnain McConville, Cait Towe, Tiarna Grimes (0-1f); Clodagh McCambridge, Niamh Coleman; Megan McCann, Niamh Henderson (0-1), Aoibhinn Henderson (0-2); Dearbhla Coleman, Sarah Henderson (0-3f), Laura McAreavey. Subs: Niamh McDaid for McAreavey and Aoife McGibbon for M.McCambridge for (50), Aine Hoye for S.Henderson (54), Lily Towe for McConville (58), Eimear Casey for N.Henderson (60).
Referee: Brian McCallion (Tyrone).
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