Championship breakthrough for Cavan ladies footballers

August 09, 2006
Cavan are the 2006 Ulster Ladies Junior Football champions when on Sunday, 6th of August at St. Tiarnach's Park, Clones they defeated near-neighbours, Fermanagh in a thrilling decider on a scoreline of 2-9 to 1-9. This win is a great breakthrough for the Cavan ladies football after a number of disappointments in provincial finals. Indeed, in the last five years they have competed in Ulster finals, and now persistence has eventually paid off. There was great excitement amongst the Cavan players, officials and management at the final whistle, and especially when team-captain Grainne Smith (Butlersbridge) lifted the cup after the presentation by the Ulster President of the Ladies Football, Joe Lagan. The Cavan captain Grainne Smith who had a tremendous game for her side and finished with a personal tally of 2-2, was fulsome in her praise of the Cavan team as a whole. She thanked all the players involved in the county panel for their dedication and commitment, and also their manager, Raphael Rodgers and his selectors Tom Dowd, Ciaran McCabe and Ronan Keaskin. She also had a word of praise for the Co. Board officials and their loyal supporters for turning out in such large numbers for this final. She added: "This is the breakthrough we have been working for all season, and now that it has been achieved, we have the talent and ability to go on to further success in the years ahead.'' The player of the match award went to Erne Gaels player Bronagh Sheridan who was presented with a specially commissioned trophy after the game. As to the game itself, there was very little between two well-matched sides with Cavan having to defend a strong Fermanagh comeback to eventually take the honours and deservedly so. Cavan - K. Baxter; P. Lynch, C. O'Reilly, S. Kiernan; P. Crowe, A. Cronyn, A. Clarke; C. Rodgers, L. Corrigan; G. Smith capt. (2-2), A. Traynor (0-1), E. Costin (0-1); S. Cassidy (0-1), B. Sheridan (0-3), B. Boylan (0-1). Subs - Joanne McNally, Roisin O'Keeffe, Eireann Galligan. Fermanagh - U. Collins; C. O'Hart, N. Curran, C. Woods;, K. McManus, T. Hughes, A. McBrien; R. Mullally, A. Moane (1-0); S. Woods, C. Little (0-7), D. Maguire (0-1); S. Hamilton (0-1) A. Gallagher, E. Martin.

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