MMI Group Interprovincial ladies football championship

Ladies football round-up

By Jackie Cahill

MUNSTER, managed by Cork’s Noel O’Connor, regained the MMI Group Interprovincial ladies football championship with victory over Ulster at Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone, on Saturday. Munster’s first title since 2009 was their 18th since the competition’s inception in 1976 as Ulster, winners last year, relinquished their grip on the Mick Talbot Cup. The competition was packed with drama as a penalty shoot-out was required to determine the identity of the finalists after Leinster, Ulster and Munster were tied on two wins each following the group stages of the competition.

Ulster and Munster emerged to contest the interprovincial final and the southern province emerged victorious in a low-scoring encounter by 2-2 to 1-3. First half goals from Cork pair Áine Sheehan and Valerie Mulcahy handed Munster the initiative as Clare’s Niamh O’Dea added a point. In response, Monaghan ace Ciara McAnespie netted to leave Ulster trailing by 1-0 to 2-1 at half-time. Mulcahy tacked on Munster’s solitary second half score but it proved enough as Ulster hit three points, including two from Tyrone’s Joline Donnelly and the other from McAnespie. Connacht, meanwhile, defeated Leinster by 3-8 to 1-11 to win the Shield competition for the second time. And Cork’s Briege Corkery received the MMI Group LGFA Interprovincial Championship Player of the tournament award.

MMI Group LGFA Interprovincial Championship

Results:

Leinster 1-4 Munster 1-9

Connacht 2-2 Ulster 5-7

Leinster 1-8 Ulster 0-8

Connacht 5-5 Munster 5-6

Leinster 2-13 Connacht 1-7

Ulster 4-8 Munster 1-4

MMI Group LGFA Interprovincial Championship shield final

Leinster 1-11 Connacht 3-8

MMI Group LGFA Interprovincial Championship final

Munster 2-2 Ulster 1-3