PEARSE OG 3-8 CLANN EIREANN IIs 1-3
Richard Bullick at Silverbridge
Pearse Og won the Armagh Junior Championship for the first time, overcoming Clann Eireann in the opening game of a triple-header of Buttercrane-backed finals at Silverbridge last Sunday.
The first half largely belonged to the lively Eilidh-Meabh Duffy, who opened the scoring with a free, cancelled out by the opposition’s highest-profile player Anna McStay, and added 1-3 in the second quarter.
However, there was just a single point between the teams at half-time for Rose Walsh had raised a green flag for Clann Eireann Seconds in the closing stages of the opening period, leaving Pearse Og to hope they wouldn’t rue opportunities not taken.
But Rosie Donnelly settled any nerves by netting for the Ogs, who had been well beaten by Granemore in the 2016 Junior final, within three minutes of the resumption and the cathedral city club didn’t look back.
After winning the McGuinness Plumbing League Division Four title last season, this youthful Pearse Og team have thrived in the third division and this Junior Championship success is another notable breakthrough.
Beaten by first-time winners in last season’s showpiece also – on that occasion Clonmore – Clann Eireann registered just two points in a disappointing second half as Lee McGinley’s Ogs added a total of 2-4.
This was effectively a Clann Eireann third XV as they had no fewer than 29 players togged out for the Senior final later in the afternoon including a plethora of unused subs some of whom would surely have made a big difference in the Junior game.
Former county captain Mags McAlinden and 2012 All Star Laura Brown were named as subs for Clann Eireann Seconds but took no part in the match on a day when McStay scored two points and Clare O’Hagan one.
Duffy tallied 1-5 for Pearse Og but was pipped to the Player of the Match award by midfielder Meabh Vallely, who had an eye-catching second half and finished with 1-2 to her name.
The older of the two players called Caoimhe Donnelly in the full forward line registered the other point for Pearse Og, who will have home advantage against Monaghan opponents in their first ever Ulster Junior Championship match at the end of this month.
