Drumragh minor girls are league champions following a brilliant performance against Beragh in the final in Tattyreagh on Tuesday evening.
It was a richly deserved triumph for a team who played some terrific football, not just on Tuesday, but throughout the year. And as co-captain Rhianna Barrett mentioned in the acceptance speech afterwards, it has taken the effort of every single player for them to get to this point.
Drumragh played against a strong wind in the first half, and as such needed a big defensive push in the opening 30 minutes. And that’s exactly what they got. It began with the forward line who put the Beragh defence under great pressure when they tried to carry the ball out. Aine O’Donnell, Rihanna Mullin and Emma McCloskey created a number of turnovers in the early stages and from one of those turnovers, Drumragh opened the scoring. Caoimhe McCarron gathered possession, took the ball past a couple of defenders before being fouled. It was a difficult free, but Genevieve Norris made no mistake and got Drumragh on the scoreboard.
At the other end of the field, Lily O’Kane, Cara Kerlin and Caitlin McCarron started the game in a determined mood, stopping a few dangerous Beragh attacks with some excellent defending.
But Beragh did level terms with a point, and then pulled ahead for the first time with a goal. They kept coming forward, but Drumragh goalkeeper Katie McCann dealt confidently with a few high balls into the square while Fionnuala Clarke and Mairead Corrigan were able to clear the ball on a number of occasions, as Beragh were restricted to just another point from a period of sustained attacking pressure.
However, despite playing against that wind, Drumragh were able to create some scoring chances, with half-backs Grace McCusker and Mia Feeney getting forward well to support the attack. Genevieve Norris was unlucky not to score a goal with a Beragh defender bravely blocking a shot headed for the top corner of the net. The goalkeeper also made a wonderful save to deny Drumragh.
But a goal did eventually come and it came after an excellent team move. It began with Katie McCann picking out Rihanna Mullin in space from a kick-out. Rihanna carried the ball forward and it then went through the hands of Caoimhe McCarron, Dana Coyle, Genevieve Norris, and eventually to Aine O’Donnell, who finished expertly past the goalkeeper. It really was a well-worked goal, with the ball being moved at pace from one end of the field to the other, every player making the right decision in possession.
Rihanna Mullin and Genevieve Norris combined to send Dana Coyle through for a good point, but Beragh got the final score of the half, leaving them with a two-point lead at half-time.
Rhianna Barrett receives the league trophy from a Tyrone County Board official following Drumragh’s win on Tuesday evening
A point at the start of the second half increased Beragh’s lead, but Drumragh responded quickly. A clever bit of play from Caoimhe McCarron sent Emma McCloskey away and her pass allowed Genevieve Norris to steer over an excellent point.
Again, Beragh scored, this time from a free, but Drumragh were soon level. Mairead Corrigan and Dana Coyle were winning a lot of ball around midfield in the early stages of the second half. Mairead this time won possession and passed it forward to Genevieve Norris, Genevieve gave the ball across the face of the goal to Emma McCloskey, who fired the ball to the roof of the net for a fantastic goal.
Not long after, Genevieve Norris was fouled and Drumragh were awarded a penalty. Rihanna Mullin coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net from the spot, giving Drumragh the lead, a lead that they would not let go of. Beragh, however, refused to give in and kicked two impressive scores in quick succession to leave it one-point game again.
But Drumragh then played out the final 10 minutes very much on top, with the substitutes that came on all playing their role. Mia Feeney, Caitlin McCarron and Aine O’Donnell were all involved in a move that saw Rihanna Mullin send the ball over the bar, while Genevieve Norris added a couple of great scores from play following more fantastic team play.
Drumragh finished the game in style. Rhianna Barrett was on target with a nice point, while the fourth goal arrived via Genevieve Norris after she had been played in by Jemma Barrett and Caoimhe McCarron.
Beragh needed goals to get back into the game. But they met a Drumragh defence who refused to give an inch. Fionnuala Clarke, Oonagh Pancott and Lily O’Kane all did brilliantly to stop Beragh from scoring as the game entered injury time.
Drumragh then worked the ball upfield again, and when Rihanna Mullin was fouled, Rhianna Barrett sent the resulting free straight between the posts.
Seconds later, the referee blew the full-time whistle sparking jubilant celebrations among the Drumragh team, management and supporters.
Drumragh minor girls, league champions 2024. Congratulations to everyone involved.
SCORERS: Genevieve Norris 1-4, Rihanna Mullin 1-1, Aine O’Donnell 1-0, Emma McCloskey 1-0, Rhianna Barrett 0-2 Dana Coyle 0-1,
TEAM: Katie McCann, Lily O’Kane, Cara Kerlin, Fionnuala Clarke, Mia Feeney, Caitlin McCarron, Grace McCusker, Dana Coyle, Mairead Corrigan, Caoimhe McCarron, Rihanna Mullin, Rhianna Barrett, Emma McCloskey , Genevieve Norris, Aine O’Donnell
SUBS: Cobhlaith Murphy, Aoibhin Dolan, Cara McManus, Cora Walsh, Roisin Gormley, Roise McDevitt, Anna Clarke, Mollie Starrs, Dearbhaille McLaughlin, Amylee Burt, Oonagh Pacnott, Jemma Barrett, Neamh Given, Keira McGuigan, Eabha Coyle
Drumragh’s Emma McCloskey looks to make a pass during the league final win over Beragh on Tuesday
