STEELSTOWN captain Aoife McGough said there was no way her side were going to let history repeat itself and lose another Ulster final after they battled hard past Glenavy in the Ulster intermediate final on Saturday.
Twice in injury-time, Orla McGeough had to convert frees to keep her side’s hopes alive, her 64th-minute point forcing extra-time with the sides deadlocked at 1-9 apiece after what had been a brilliant game of football.
In the first period of extra-time, the Derry champions hit 1-3 as Glenavy failed to further add to the scoreboard and in the end that was the difference.
Despite a late Glenavy rally, Steelstown held on to win by the narrowest of margins, 2-12 to 2-11.
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“Standing out there when we were down, I thought we can’t repeat history. You have to gather yourself together and think that you still have a chance,” said the full-back referring to the 2021 Ulster final loss to Kinawley.
“We regrouped at the end of full-time. We went to some dark places with Decky [Foley] this year at training and we just regrouped together, we said we had it in us, that this was why we had done those runs, we have prepared for this. We backed ourselves and we believed in ourselves and we went out and showed the football that we can play.”
McGough was full of admiration for their opponents, knowing only too well, that they could have left Carrickmore with the Ulster title in their hands and knowing how hard they battled for it, made the win even more special.
“It went right to the line too. It wouldn’t be like us to make it difficult. It’s a dream come true, really.
“The energy they [Glenavy] brought, you could never have done your homework on it. They were so hungry, so well drilled, they really came at us. We just had to keep our heads, keep it level and thank God we came out on top.
“This has been years and years in the making. The management team, the players, we’ve all be a group together for so long. It’s just so special to win it all together, finally.”
Steelstown now meet Leitrim side Ballinamore in the All-Ireland semi-final in two weeks’ time.
