U14 All Ireland Gold Final
Derry 2-12
Armagh 2-10
CARA Bennett hit an injury time goal to land Gold for Derry for the second successive year when they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Saturday afternoon.
Back-to-back titles at Gold level and a third in-a-row as they claimed the All-Ireland Bronze crown in 2022, shows the work going on at underage level in the county. It was ecstasy as the final whistle sounded after an absorbing final between two superb sides. The young Oakleaf girls dominated the opening half to lead by nine points at the break, all that was missing possibly was a healthier lead with eight first half wides. There was nothing to give the idea that it was not going to be much of the same on the resumption but the hosts came out a different side and produced an unbelievable second half to turn that deficit into a two point lead. Then Derry snatched the lead back and the title to break the hearts of the Armagh girls, but they played their part in an epic battle.
A relived and proud Derry manager Stephen Lomas after the game spoke of the pride he had in these girls.
“Unbelievably proud of them, getting over the line, brilliant, unbelievable,” he said.
“I have worked with some of those girls for the last two years, and when the going gets tough, they dig in, showed it in the quarter-final and the semi-final. Maybe a little doubt in those last 60 seconds.”
“We had to dig deep in that second half, we knew they [Armagh] would come had at us especially with the big support here in Armagh but what an occasion for the girls. This is the third time we have played them this year so we knew the quality they have but maybe I didn’t expect them to come back to that extent.”
Derry were outstanding in the opening half with Emma MvVey very much to the fore driving forward. The sides were locked at 0-2 apiece after 13 minutes before Derry pinned the Orchard girls back. They rattled off 1-6 without reply. Bennett who hit five first half points, all from frees edged them in front before they struck for their goal on 16 minutes through Saorla Quinn. Along with Bennett on target both Caoimhe Roche and substitute Cliodhna Moore rowed in with one a piece to leave it at the break 1-8 to 0-2.
What we witnessed on the resumption was of the highest quality from both sides. Armagh were transformed while Derry, although not quite to the standard of the opening period, still produced a high quality second half display but they met a different Armagh side. Three quick fire points from the home side give them confidence that they could have a say in this decider. A Bennett free momentarily halted them but a superb individual moment of brilliance from Emma Toale produced a goal to claw them back to with in three.
Derry responded with a brace from Bennett but a five minute spell saw Armagh hit 1-4 and into the lead for the first time with nine minutes of the half remaining, Brianna Magee and Caitlin Sheridan really catching the eye while team captain Abigail McMahon struck for the second goal.
Derry, pushed hard to get back into it but Armagh’s defence were proving a tough nut to crack with some superb blocks to deny the eventual winners. Bennett from play reduced it to the minimum and with just over two minutes of additional time played the Loup girl saw an effort drop short but into the net, and with it a third successive U14 All-Ireland title was on its to Derry.
Derry: Kaja, Pachuta; Karen Birt, Mary Cleary, Aoife McNally; Emma McVey, Cassie Conway, Feina Kerr; Caoimhe Roche (0-1), Eva Forbes; Ella Rafferty, Saorla Quinn (1-1), Grainne Doherty; Alise Musgrave, Cara Bennett (1-9, 0-7f), Rachel Gribben.
Rest of Panel: Cliodhna Moore (0-1), Faye Callaghan, Katie Loughrey, Niamh Duggan, Niamh Morgan, Kaitlin Green, Cammie McMaster, Cora McPeake, Iona Tohill, Abaigh Rocks, Molly Grey, Aoife Anyalechi, Clodagh Moore, Grace Coleman, Cora Quinn.
Armagh: Connie Havern; Tara Crangle, Aoibheann McCague, Meghan Creaney; Cara Brennan, Olivia Reynolds, Niamh McKenna; Brianna Magee (0-1), Molly McGurgan; Aoife McConville (0-1), Katie Taylor, Gemma Marsden; Cara O’Hanlon, Emma Toale (1-0), Abigail McMahon (1-6, 0-4f).
Rest of Panel: Caitlin Sheridan (0-1), Grainne Gallagher, Ella McParland, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Eabha Loughran, Riley Little, Aoife Keenan, Kerrin Darby, Lauren McLoughlin, Meabh Mackle, Niamh Doherty, Caoimhe Fegan, Annie McKeever, Ava McDonnell, Lilly McCoy.
Referee: Ciara Gilroy (Down).
