AB Trophies Shield final: Sacred Heart Newry 4-5 Gleann na Ró 2-8
A third quarter scoring burst saw Sacred Heart Newry take the AB Trophies Shield for the first time in seven seasons at sunny Rossa Park yesterday afternoon.
The south Down backed team found the net three times inside six minutes to take a decisive 4-5 to 1-3 lead against Gleann na Ró, but in the end were left hanging on for victory as the north Derry combination team from Gaelcholáiste Dhoire and St Mary’s Limavady battled back into contention over the last ten minutes.
Sacred Heart was the better team during the first half, but the Gleann na Ró defence kept their side in the game and the teams turned around with just a goal between them, 1-3 to 0-3.
The first half goal came in the 11th minute when Connie McGrath’s half-hit shot spun over the line. It opened up a five points lead, but Ríoghnach Ní Chearnaigh closed the gap with two fine points.
Niamh McEvoy popped over a point early in the second half and five minutes in Rose Cunningham’s 45 was blocked down into the path of Lauren Devlin who roofed it.
Although Deirbhile Ní Mhealláin replied with a three-pointer from a goal-mouth scramble, goals from Amy McEvoy and sub Grace Mullan seemed to have put the Newry school out of sight.
However the excellent Niamh Nig Uiginn fired up a response, hitting four points inside three minutes. Gleann na Ró stayed on attack and Ní Mhealláin added a point before Caoimhe Croskery and Rionach Ní Chearnaigh combined for the latter to find the roof of the net.
However time ran out on the Derry girls and the Shield went back to south Down.
Sacred Heart: L Devlin (1-0), A McEvoy (1-0), C McGrath (1-0), G Mullan (1-0), M Haggard (0-2), R Cunningham (0-1), O Fullerton (0-1), N McEvoy (0-1).
Gleann na Ró: R Ní Chearnaigh (1-2), D Ní Mhealláin (1-1), N Nig Uiginn (0-5, 2 frees).
Referee: B Toland (Lámh Dhearg)
