Steelstown Ladies into Ulster semi-finals with victory over Omagh at Healy Park

Intermediate Club Championship Quarterfinals

Omagh, St. Enda’s 0-5

Steelstown 1-8

Steelstown Brian Ogs will face either Granemore or Castleblaney in the semi-finals of the Ulster Championship next week after they saw off a young Omagh, St. Enda’s side at Healy Park.

A first half penalty from Emma Doherty was the platform for the victory for the Derry champions, who never, ever looked like surrendering a six-point lead they had built up by half time. With Orla McGeough putting in a ‘Player of the Match’ performance with five points, Steelstown were just too strong for their opponents, even if they were far from their flowing best.

Both teams struggled to get going in the early stages on a very heavy Healy Park pitch, but Dara McKeever did open the scoring three minutes in when she cut in from the right and sent the ball onto the inside of the post and over.

McKeever was the bright spark for Steelstown in those early minutes and she almost set up a goal for McGeough, again cutting in from the right to find her team mate. It looked like McGeough was clearly being held, but she still managed to get a shot away, although it lacked any real power and goalkeeper Danielle Browne was able to save.

Omagh responded to that by scoring just one of two first half points, Emer Cunningham, who looked a real threat, splitting the posts with her second attempt of the game to level the scores.

But from there Steelstown broke away and didn’t look back, McKeever scoring her second of the game less than 60 seconds later.

It was a slow moving first half with players from both sides having to work hard on a big, rain-soaked and muddy pitch but it was no surprise that the defining moment of the first period came from McKeever, who was proving unplayable for the Omagh defence.

Just past the half way mark, the home side gave the ball away sloppily close to their own goal and Ciara McGurk immediately set McKeever in to shoot before the full-forward was blatantly tripped by Casey Devlin. Referee Stephen Doherty awarded the penalty, and, just as she did a week earlier in the Derry Senior final, Emma Doherty found the bottom corner it make it 1-2, 0-1.

McGeough added to the Steelstown lead before Omagh had a goal chance themselves; Cunningham’s free kick dropped short but straight to Aine Cunnigham, who palmed it goalwards only for Kathyrn Canavan to block the ball on the line. In the scramble that followed, Aine Cunningham regained possession and hooked the ball over her head and between the posts to give her side only their second score in 22 minutes.

Steelstown were chipping away at the other end, with Aoife Collins firing over her first sore, yet it could have been much more efficient from the Derry side, who hit three wides due to a lack of composure when in shooting possessions.

A rather subdued first half from both teams ended on a high for Steelstown however, with McGeough splitting the posts with a free to give her team a six-point advantage heading into the break.

Half Time 1-5, 0-2

From there, it was just a case of seeing the game out in a professional manner. Two points from McGeough helped them do just that, although there was still some fight in this Omagh team, who never let their heads drop.

After Emer Cunningham scored with a free, the home side had two goal chances in quick succession, both falling to Sally McMenamin. The forward snatched at her first opportunity, shooting wide early when she had a clear run on goal, before she brought a good save from Molly McBride with her second chance.

Omagh’s best chance was the dangerous Cunningham, who added two more frees in the latter stages, but they were sporadic scores, and the Steelstown lead was never threatened.

St. Enda’s ended the game with 14 players after captain Orlagh McNamee was yellow carded for one too many fouls, and in response Steelstown manager Thomas Cusack sent on Leah McGonagle, Enya Doherty and Eimear O’Doherty to freshen his team up and help them close out the game in the closing stages.

A low-scoring second half saw McGeough hit her team’s final point, rather fitting for the best player on the pitch, and rather fitting for a team who have been through so much already, but who are ready to give it all again to get that elusive Ulster title, which they last won eight years ago.

For the third year running, an Ulster semi-final awaits, and the Steelstown Ladies are ready to write another page in their fascinating story.

Teams

Omagh: Danielle Browne, Aine Cunningham (0-1), Emer Cunningham (0-4, 3f), Sorcha Daly, Riona McGread, Aoife Duddy, Sally McMenamin, Maeve McSorley, Emma McCrossan, Orlagh McNamee, Christiane Hunter, Aine Strain, Sophie Kelly, Neamh McCanny, Clodagh McCanny.

Subs: Chloe O’Hagan for Maeve McSorley 57’. Eabha Grugan for Clodagh McCanny 60’, Caoimhe Grugan for Riona McGread 60’.

Yellow: Orlagh McNamee 54’.

Steelstown: Molly McBride, Orlaith McGough, Aoife McGough, Niamh Friel, Megan Devine, Kathryn Canavan, Katy Holly, Lea Casey, Niamh Gilmore, Emma Doherty (1-0), Orla McGeough (0-5, 2f), Ciara McGurk, Dara McKeever (0-2), Aoife Collins (0-1), Caoimhe O’Kane.

Subs: Leah McGonagle for Caoimhe O’Kane 54’, Enya Doherty for Katy Holly 54’, Eimear O’Doherty for Aoife Collins 57’.

Referee: Stephen Doherty (Donegal)