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Early Lafferty strike sets Donaghmoyne on their way to victory

Donaghmoyne 1-10 Carnacon 1-5 : An early goal from Fiona Lafferty set Donaghmoyne on their way to their third Tesco Homegrown…

Mon Dec 03 2012 - 00:00

Donaghmoyne 1-10 Carnacon 1-5: An early goal from Fiona Lafferty set Donaghmoyne on their way to their third Tesco Homegrown All-Ireland senior club championship in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, yesterday.

The Monaghan champions produced an impressive performance to dethrone the holders, Carnacon, and the outcome was beyond doubt long before the final hooter sounded.

Donaghmoyne set the agenda from the start, and driven on by the outstanding Courtney sisters (midfielder Cora was the popular choice for player of the match), they attacked Carnacon from all angles.

The heavy conditions took their toll on both sides and spoiled the game as a spectacle, but Donaghmoyne were deserving winners. The Mayo champions scored just twice in the second half and, were it not a fortuitous goal from Natasha Beegan on 26 minutes, would have been in dire straits at half-time.

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Around the middle the Monaghan women ruled the roost as Amanda Casey and the outstanding Cora Courtney eclipsed Claire Egan and Martha Carter, while Fiona Lafferty and Majella Woods were a constant threat up front.

Meanwhile, Sharon Courtney, with a little help from her sister Fiona, restricted Carnacon’s eight-time All Star Cora Staunton to just one point from play. They went 17 minutes without a score at one stage in the first half and failed to raise a flag for 22 minutes during the second period.

At the end of an eventful first half, Donaghmoyne led by 1-5 to 1-3, the goal coming after Catriona McConnell’s well-struck kick hit the post and Lafferty followed up to score.

Carnacon were chasing shadows but a freakish goal soon after threw them a lifeline when Cora Staunton’s mis-hit free was spilled by Donaghmoyne goalkeeper, Linda Martin, and Natasha Beegan toe-poked the ball over the line.

In the the third quarter Majelle Woods (2), Catriona McConnell (two frees) and Cora Courtney all posted points to put the issue beyond doubt.

DONAGHMOYNE L Martin; J Geoghegan, F Courtney, N Lynch; L Kingham, S Courtney, J Courtney; A Casey, C Courtney (0-1); E McElroy, F Lafferty (1-0), N Callan; C McConnell (0-6, six frees), M Woods (0-2), H Kingham (0-1). Subs: S McConnell for Callan, A Keenan for Lafferty. CARNACON: M Higgins; N Hurst, N Tierney, S McGing; M Corbett, C McGing, A Loftus; C Egan, M Carter (0-1); M McGing, C Staunton (0-3, two frees), D Hughes; N Beegan (1-0), F McHale (0-1), A Brennan. Referee: J Niland (Sligo)