Drumragh U16 girls won the Grade 3 Gold League final following a fantastic final win over Tattyreagh on Sunday morning.
It was a well-deserved victory for Drumragh. They got off to the better start with Rihanna Mullin sending them into the lead – one they would not lose – with a good score after Eabha Coyle had won the ball back. Rihanna quickly doubled Drumragh’s lead when she gathered the kick-out and fired the ball over the bar.
Drumragh’s start was soon to get better with the first goal of the game. Jennifer Barrett showed brilliant perseverance to turn the ball over. She then laid the ball off to Roisin Gormley, who in turn sent Rihanna Mullin through on goal, and Rihanna made no mistake with a confident finish low to the back of the net.
Tattyreagh got on the scoreboard from a place ball, and soon added another, this time from play. The Drumragh response was a good one, however. Oonagh Pancott dispossessed a Tattyreagh attacker. From there, the ball was moved upfield at pace through the hands of Roise McDevitt, Caitlin McCarron, Dana Coyle and eventually Rihanna Mullin who then scored her and Drumragh’s second goal of the game.
The sides swapped points, with Dearbhaille McLaughlin tagging on an excellent score for Drumragh. And they went in at half-time buoyed by another goal. Dana Coyle made a strong run through the Tattyreagh, exchanged passes with Roisin Gormley before placing the ball beyond the Tattyreagh goalkeeper.
Drumragh captain Rihanna Mullin receives the trophy from the Tyrone County Board representative
Tattyreagh started the second half on the front foot, but met a Drumragh defence in a determined mood. Chloe Colton, Niamh Colton and Keira McGuigan stopped a number of dangerous attack in the opening stages of the second half. And that allowed Drumragh to soon stretch their lead. Rihanna Mullin took a quick free to Katie McCann who gave the ball back to Rihanna, allowing her to shoot the ball back to the net.
Tattyreagh scored of their own, but Drumragh hit back almost immediately. Caitlin McCarron, Eabha Coyle and Mollie Starrs combined to set up a goal chance for Roisin Gormley, to which Roisin took full advantage with a good finish.
The home side did not give up, and were able to close the gap with a few scores, but Dana Coyle answered back for Drumragh with a good point.
Tattyreagh needed a goal. But the Drumragh defence were truly excellent in the games’s closing stages, led by Oonagh Pancott, Niamh Colton and Anna Clarke. Emelia Lowry also made a wonderful save in injury time.
Not long after, the referee blew the full-time whistle and Drumragh were champions. A real team effort with every single player on the panel playing their part.
SCORERS: Rihanna Mullin 3-2, Dana Coyle 1-1, Roisin Gormley 1-0, Dearbhaille McLaughlin 0-1
TEAM: Emelia Lowry, Roise McDevitt, Oonagh Pancott, Anna Clarke, Keira McGuigan, Niamh Colton, Chloe Colton, Caitlin McCarron, Dana Coyle, Katie McCann, Rihanna Mullin, Dearbahille McLaughlin, Jennifer Barrett, Roisin Gormley, Eabha Coyle
SUBS: Mollie Starrs, Emeli Cox, Eireann Boyle, Aoibhin Dolan
Drumragh’s Caitlin McCarron in action during the league final in Tattyreagh
