Carryduff secure coveted SFC title

Carryduff secure coveted SFC title

13 September 2017

CARRYDUFF created their own piece of history at Pairc Tomas Ruiseil on Saturday evening when they lifted the SFC crown for the first time.

The bridesmaids tag was discarded in scintillating fashion as Carryduff breached the Bryansford defence time after time with some incisive football that was pleasing to the eye.

Bryansford certainly put it up to the red hot favourites, especially early on, but once Carryduff cut the supply route to Natasha Ferris, there was only going to be one winner.

Ferris scythed her way through a benevolent Carryduff defence after just three minutes before beating Suzanne Baxter with an unstoppable drive. Carryduff responded immediately with a goal and two points from the diligent Michelle Magee, who was lording things in midfield with Meghan Doherty. 

With eight minutes gone Ferris embarked on another mazy run and again beat Baxter all ends up with a precise finish to the net and give Bryansford a 2-0 to 1-2 lead. Grainne McClean tagged on a point for Bryansford before Emer McKay finished a sweeping Carryduff move to the net.

It quickly became 3-2 to 2-1 in Carryduff’s favour when McKay bagged her second goal after unselfish play from Jessica Foy.

With 16 minutes gone Foy got the goal she richly deserved before points from McClean and Aimee O’Higgins had Bryansford trailing 4-2 to 2-3.

No sooner did Bryansford think they were back in it when Carryduff exploded into life again and another Foy goal gave her side a 5-2 to 2-3 lead.

Bryansford and Ferris had the last say of the half and her two points cut Carryduff’s lead to 5-2 to 2-5 at the break.

It was all Carryduff at the start of the second half and a goal and two points from Foy and a point from Magee gave Carryduff a commanding 6-5 to 2-5 lead by the 40th minute.

Ferris and McClean converted frees for Bryansford before Magee pointed Carryduff into a 6-6 to 2-7 lead after 55 minutes. Bryansford never stopped trying and two Ferris points kept them interested.

Carryduff finished the game out with points from Magee (2) and Kate McKay with Ferris responding with a point for Bryansford.

Carryduff: S Baxter, C Rooney, L Sharvin, N Price, C Milburn, E Early, H Magorrian, M Magee (1-6), M Doherty, E Robinson, K McKay (0-1), N Napier, J Foy (3-3), E McKay (2-0), A Lavery. Subs: O Swail for Milburn, C Doherty for M Doherty, O Lavery for Robinson, D Fisher for Price.  

Bryansford: C Morgan, K Cairns, A Nicholson, C O’Higgins, A McGrattan, C McKibbin, N McKibbin, G McClean (0-3), S L Clarke, S Dougherty, M Kavanagh, J Campbell, K Ward, N Ferris (2-6), A O’Higgins (0-1). Subs: N McDonald for Campbell, C McCartan for A O’Higgins, C Owens for C McKibbin, A Thomson for McGrattan, M Anderson for Ward. 

Player of the match: Meghan Doherty (Carryduff).

Carryduff 6-10

Bryansford 2-10

DOWN LADIES’ SFC FINAL