EIMEAR McNicholl came off the bench to fire Claudy into the semi-finals of the Ulster Junior Championship on Saturday, capping yet another dramatic victory for the Derry champions.
If you want drama, Claudy are your team. A one-point win in the county final, followed by an extra-time triumph in the Ulster opener, and now a two-point comeback victory – this group simply doesn’t know when they’re beaten. Yet, despite the late heroics, this was far from a smash-and-grab. Claudy were the better side throughout the second half, and had they fallen short, they would have been left with huge regrets after dominating possession and territory.
Conditions were extremely difficult, with heavy overnight rain continuing before and during the game. Whether it was the greasy ball or nerves on the big occasion, Claudy looked unsettled early on. Their handling and decision-making let them down repeatedly in the opening period, and they trailed by four at the interval. A crucial goal from Kate Hargan before the break, however, gave them a lifeline.
It was the Armagh champions, Lissummon, who started brightest, adapting better to the conditions. Central to their early dominance were Niamh and Catherine Marley, the latter opening the scoring with a fine point. Claudy goalkeeper Lauren Kelly – reliable as ever – was called into action several times in the early exchanges and was secure to keep her side in touch.
Lissummon moved three points ahead before Claudy finally got on the board after ten minutes. A superb pass from Cait Quigley found Leah White in space, and she slotted over confidently. The hosts then restored their three-point cushion, and matters got worse for Claudy when Sarah Hargan was shown a yellow card – a decision that felt harsh given some of the unpunished challenges that followed. During that ten-minute spell, Lissummon stretched their lead to seven points and looked firmly in control.
But Claudy refused to panic. Niamh Peoples was outstanding at the heart of the defence, reading danger superbly and driving her team forward. With two minutes remaining in the half, their persistence was rewarded. A free from Cara White dropped short, the goalkeeper parried, and Kate Hargan was first to react, palming the ball to the net. It was a vital score that reduced the deficit to four at the break, with Lissummon leading 0-8 to 1-1.
Claudy emerged a different team in the second half. They cut out the errors that plagued their opening period and began to dominate across the field. However, turning possession into scores proved a challenge. Bláithín Donnelly rattled the crossbar with a powerful effort, while several other attempts dropped short into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Eventually, their pressure began to tell. Erin Donaghy fired over a superb point in the 42nd minute, and moments later the gap was down to just two. Despite their dominance, Claudy still trailed heading into the closing minutes, with Lissummon managing their only point of the second half with five minutes remaining.
Cara White converted a free to narrow the margin again before the defining moment arrived in the final minute of normal time. Substitute Eimear McNicholl gathered possession inside the square but was bundled over from behind. The referee pointed to the spot, and McNicholl herself stepped up to take the penalty. She made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball into the corner to put Claudy ahead for the first time in the game.
There was still time for one final act, and fittingly it was McNicholl again who delivered – clipping over a composed point to seal a 2-5 to 0-9 victory.
Claudy now advance to the Ulster semi-final, where they will travel to Monaghan to face Killeevan next Saturday, brimming with confidence and 60 minutes from an Ulster final appearance.
Claudy: Laura Kelly; Anna Mallon, Niamh Peoples, Emer McGonigle; Orlaigh McCloskey, Sarah Hargan, Cora McCloskey; Michelle Cooke 0-1, Blaithin Donnelly; Leah White 0-1, Orla McGinley, Erin Donaghy; Cara White 0-1 (f), Cait Quigley, Kate Hargan 1-0. Subs: Catherine O'Kane for O McCloskey, Eimear McNicholl 1-1 (1-0p) for McGinley, Leah Boyce for Quigley.
