'Screen push Slaughtneil all the way!

Slaughtneil Therese Mellon with Erin Kelly of Ballinascreen during the Derry Senior Camogie Championship semi-final match played at Owenbeg on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.

placeholder image — Slaughtneil Therese Mellon with Erin Kelly of Ballinascreen during the Derry Senior Camogie Championship semi-final match played at Owenbeg on Sunday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin.

Errigal Senior Camogie Championship semi finals

Slaughtneil 1-7

Ballinascreen 0-9

IT took extra time to separate these sides in an exciting and tension packed clash in dreadful conditions in Owenbeg on Sunday.

In the end the reigning champions advanced with a Louise Dougan free the only score of extra time in the opening period to decide the outcome at the finish. While Ballinascreen looked the better side in the opening half, a Sinead Mellon goal on 25 minutes had the Emmets in front at the break 1-4 to 0-5. Screen led by a point after 22 minutes before the holders turned the game in their favour.

When Slaughtneil moved four clear after Dougan fired her penalty over the bar with nine minutes remaining it looked like they had done enough. Not so as Ballinascreen came back at them with the final four points from Grace Kelly, Jackie Donnelly and two frees from Aine McAllister to force extra time.

However, Dougan’s free in the first minute was to prove enough and keep Slaughtneil’s hopes of nine in a row alive.

Teams and Scorers

Slaughtneil: L Dougan (0-3, 2f, 1p), O Rafferty (0-3, 2f), S Mellon (1-0), C NíMahaináin (0-1).

Ballinascreen: A McAllister (0-5,f), G Kelly (0-2), J Donnelly (0-1), E McGuigan (0-1).

Slaughtneil: Josephine McMullan; Cora Glass, Ceat McEldowney, Clare McGrath; Louise Dougan, Aoife NíChaiside, Clíodhna NíMhaináin; Bridin McAllister, Cliona Mulholland; Siobhan Bradley, Olivia Rafferty, Eimear McGuigan; Brid McGourty, Sinead Mellon, Therese Mellon.

Subs: Caoimhe Kearney for T Mellon (ET 16min), Carla McEldowney (ET 16min).

Ballinascreen: Cliodhna Hickson; Erin Kelly, Orla McGuigan, Mairead Bradley; Kelly Marie Hegarty, Rachel Kelly, Lauren McAllister; Caroline Rafferty, Rachel McAllister; Anna McDaid, Mary Hegarty, Eimear McGuigan; Aine McAllister, Jackie Donnelly, Grace Kelly.

Subs: Natalie McKenna for E McGuigan (57min), E McGuigan for O McGuigan (ET12min), Cara Donnelly for Rafferty (ET 16min)

Referee: Owen Elliot