Extra-time heartbreak for Intermediate Champions Dungiven

Newbridge 1-7 Sleacht Néill 6-14

Glen 4-21 Dungiven 4-12 AET

Dungiven, last year’s Intermediate champions, refused to exit the senior championship on Saturday evening without putting up a fight in Maghera against Glen. The north Derry club produced their best performance of the season to take Glen to extra time. However the more experienced Maghera outfit outscored them by 2-4 to 0-1 in extra time to take a slot against Ballinascreen in the quarter-finals.

A goal from Aideen McGonigle cancelled out points each from Aoife Curran and Bronagh Gallagher in the opening two minutes and McGonigle, Cliodhna McElhinney and Mary Doran then stretched the lead to 1-5 to 0-4 all inside the first ten minutes.

Although Bronagh Gallagher and Clare Gunning pulled back a couple of points for Glen, they were hit hard by their opponents scoring three goals and a point inside six minutes. McGonigle completed her hat-trick and Caitlín Ní Cheallaigh added the fourth goal.

The half-time score was 4-7 to 0-9 and Glen looked to have a mountain to climb.

The second half started with Gunning and McGonigle swopping points from frees. But the home side then took over and hit six unanswered points, including five from Clare Gunning. Suddenly the gap was down to a more manageable four points.

But Dungiven hit another good patch with two long range scores from Éabha McElhinney and another from Ní Cheallaigh with just ten minutes left on the clock.

Annie Ní Lochlainn lifted the home support with a goal and a few minutes later she won her side a penalty. However Aoife McAteer, who was having a great game between the posts for Dungiven, saved the shot. But Clare Gunning closed the gap to the minimum with a point from a free.

Only a goal separated the teams now and Glen pressure eventually paid off with Brónagh Gallagher hitting the net to force extra time on a score line of 2-17 to 4-11.

Glen now had the bit between their teeth and started with a point from Orla McKenna. Clare Gunning added two frees before Aideen McGinigle found the range just before the break.

A goal from Annie Ní Lochlainn on the re-start more or less killed the game. There was to be no recovery for Dungiven and Brinagh Gallagher claimed her second goal with Gunning’s late free completing the scoring.

Earlier in the day Sleacht Néill made it through to the quarter-finals with a comfortable enough outing against Newbridge. They led by 5-9 to 1-2 at the break and eased through the gears in the second half for a 6-14 to 1-8 scoreline.

Aoibh Mulholland scored a first half hat-trick of goals with the other Emmett’s strikes coming from Sinéad Mellon and Emer McGuigan, the latter right on half-time.

Sarah Gribben scored the Newbridge goal and in the second half Sinéad Mulholland and Rachel Gribbin fired over some nice points. But Sleacht Néill were always in control and Clíodhna Ní Mhianáin added their sixth goal while Olivia Rafferty brought her tally to seven points.

The quarter-final draw took place after the Glen v Dungiven game, throwing Glen against Ballinascreen and Sleacht Néill facing Lavey.

Glen: B Gallagher 2-4, A Ní Lochlainn 2-0, C Gunning 0-13 (12fs), C McKenna and O McKenna 0-2 each, A Curran 0-1.

Dungiven: A McGonigle 3-5 (0-4 fs), C Ní Cheallaigh 1-1, É McElhinney (fs) and C McElhinney 0-2 each, M Doran and C Ferris 0-1 each

Sleacht Néill: A Mulholland 3-1, S Mellon 1-1, E McGuigan and C Ní Mhianáin 1-0 each, O Rafferty 0-7 (3fs), C Kearney and B Donaghy 0-2 each, B McAllister 0-1.

Newbridge: S Gribbin 1-0, R Gribbin 0-4 (2fs), S Mulholland 0-3.