Eoghan Rua Coleraine 4-10 Knockninny Gaels 1-09

Knockninny Gaels made a historic first appearance in Ulster against fellow debutants Eoghan Rua Coleraine but were beaten by a more experienced side in Coleraine, in Junior Championship action.

Fearghal Shannon’s women were well in the game in the first-half and the sides were level at the break, on a scoreline of Coleraine 2-02 Knockninny Gaels 1-05.

The Derry side, who converted two penalties, one in each half, moved clear on the resumption but there was still only four points of a difference with ten minutes to go.

But two late goals, one from Player of the Match Louisa McIntyre, who hit a tot of 3-5 sealed the deal for Coleraine.

Knockninny gave away too many frees with Coleraine landing five points from placed balls.

The Erne side led for most of the first-half but were rocked by those two Coleraine goals- expertly finished by McIntyre.

Alannah Maguire, who finished with 0-03 opened the scoring for the visitors with a well-taken point and Ciara McCaffrey grabbed a goal 20 minutes- in between Coleraine converted a penalty through McIntyre after ten minutes.

Molly Quinlan pointed a free for the Gaels, but their opponents found the net again with clever corner forward Lucy O’Kane rounding off a very good move.

The Gaels pointed per Naoise McKiernan with McCaffrey netting- a scrappy affair where McCaffrey toe-poked the ball to the net.

Coleraine responded with two points from McIntyre and O’Kane and the Gaels levelled matters through Molly Quinlan.

The Gaels had a slight breeze in the opening half but could only tag on four more points in the second half.

McIntyre landed a few frees for the winners to open up a gap and the Gaels replied through Maguire (0-2) and Ellen McCaffrey was also on target.

But Coleraine were taking a firm grip, and further points flowed from McIntyre, O’Kane and Kate Healy to put them into a 2-10 to 1-9 lead ten minutes from time.

However, the Gaels conceded another penalty which was expertly finished by McIntyre.

The Gael's had a great chance of a goal and were unlucky to see Niamh Boyle’s shot cannon off the post and Coleraine went straight down the field and goaled to seal this well-contested affair.

Despite their defeat, team boss Shannon was pleased with the team’s progress to date: “We are only senior since 2017-18 and then we had a few years of Covid.

"This is the first year that this team from Derrylin and Teemore has come together and 95 per cent of them are under 25.

“Last year we had five players who were on the county minor team and that is an indication of how young they are.”

He added: “To win our first trophy against Devenish was a great morale booster and we also beat the favourites Ederney in an earlier round which was a huge result for us.

“And we will be hoping to give Division Two and the Intermediate championship a good rattle next year."