Ruthless Cootehill side end St Aidan's hopes of Ulster silverware

St Aidan’s, Derrylin 1-01 St Aidan’s, Cootehill 6-14 

St. Aidan’s High School, Derrylin were seen off by St Aidan’s Cootehill in the U14 D Shield Ulster final on Thursday with a ruthless performance from the Cavan side.

The U14 girl's side were aiming to make it a hat-trick of Ulster titles for the school this year, with the boy's teams coming out on top in the McCormack and McEvoy Cup earlier in the year.

However, an impressive display from their opponents ended their hopes despite the wealth of support from the crowded stand and sideline at Roslea.

St. Aidan's manager, Molly McGloin said after the game: “It was good for them to get into an Ulster final. We were just saying to them there hasn’t been a girl's team who has got to an Ulster final since 2008 so, even getting that far has been an amazing achievement for the girls.

"I know the scoreline probably didn’t reflect how good of a year we have had. Disappointing but we’ll reset and go again next year.

"It was a massive experience for the girls and just having that backing (from the crowd) has been such encouragement for the girls so, yeah it was nice to see the girls getting all that support.”

Aoife Byrne scored 1-10 in a standout display at half-forward while Aoibhin Callaghan netted a first-half hat-trick for Cootehill.

The game began with Cootehill seeing more of the ball and the pacy Byrne kicking two wides as she threatened early.

The Derrylin side responded to the early pressure by opening the scoring via a Chloe McCaffrey free-kick.

Byrne answered at the other end with a point from an angle and the first goal followed as Callaghan finished to the net from close range.

The second goal came with less than 10 minutes gone, again it was Callaghan who got it as she fired in low from a Byrne pass.

Three points from Byrne and one from Lauren Maguire followed with Callaghan completing her hat-trick with a soccer-style finish before the water break.

McGillen went close on a couple of occasions for the Fermanagh school but four more points from Byrne and a Grace Sherlock point from range gave their side a 4-09 to 0-01 advantage at halftime.

It was a low-scoring second-half in comparison to the first but it was St. Aidan’s, Derrylin that got off to the better start with goalkeeper Amy McBarron making a great save to deny a goal two minutes in and a fantastic block from half-back Tara Brennan prevented a Cootehill point.

Just like the first-half, they grabbed the opening score when a neat hand-passing move up the pitch resulted in McGillen palming in from close range to send the Roslea stand into raptures.

The Cavan school did then get off the mark with a Byrne free and an Aoibheann Smith point from distance, with Byrne and substitute Teagan Rhea Clerkin tagging on two more points.

A very good defensive performance from full-back Katie Rasdale limited Cootehill’s chances but they would eventually grab two more goals through a penalty from Maguire and a Rhea Clerkin strike.

A final point from Byrne capped off her individual scoring display and the game as Cootehill ran out comfortable winners.

St Aidan’s, Derrylin: Amy McBarron, Eimear Maguire, Katie Rasdale, Sarah Shannon, Cadhla Maguire, Tara Brennan, Aoibhe Reilly, Eimear McCaffrey, Aoife Doonan, Chloe McCaffrey (0-01, 1f), Ellen Brennan, Sasha McGillen (1-00), Zarah McCaffrey, Niamh Simmons, Jessica Martin.

Subs: Katie Fitzpatrick for Doonan (42’).

St Aidan’s, Cootehill: Grainne Hughes, Eve Smith, Hannah Sherlock, Lana Gallagher, Leah Fitzpatrick, Lesha Crosson, Lauren Maguire (1-01), Grace Sherlock (0-01), Aoibheann Smith (0-01), Noelle Fitzpatrick, Aoife Byrne (1-10, 2f), Clodagh Kelly, Katie McCabe, Lauren McMullen, Aoibhin Callaghan (3-00).

Subs: Rhea Clerkin (1-01) for Mullen 43’. Emily Gallagher for McCabe 44’. Rachel Carragher for Crosson 56’.