Kinawley 1-11 Derrygonnelly 0-10

Kinawley showed true grit and determination to seal their third consecutive Ladies Senior Championship last Sunday but they were made to work the whole way for it by a battling Derrygonnelly side.

The only goal of the game went to the Borus and proved vital as it was the difference between the sides for the remainder of the game with the Harps unable to find the back of the net themselves.

Free taking was of the highest standard on both sides with Eimear Smyth hitting six placed balls for the Harps while Joanne Doonan converted 11 frees.

Kinawley manager Kevin Gilleece was impressed by the tenacity of Derrygonnelly: "In a way we knew they would have been setting up kind of defensive and getting bodies back. They got in on top of you straight away.

"It was a battle right to the end. They got off to a good start but we got it back together and after the first water break we hit a goal and a couple of points going in at half time.

"They give us no time on the ball pushed up on us at every opportunity. They were very well set up in defence." But Gilleece was delighted that the hard works from his players was rewarded with the victory.

"For some of the girls the hard work this last couple of years between club and county it is non and we had a couple of new players there in their first championship who showed up well on Sunday so it is great to see."

Derrygonnelly settled the better of the two sides early on and they moved into a three point lead after six minutes of play courtesy of a fine Sarah Jane Jones point, an Eimear Smyth free and Lynn Carroll who blasted over from close range. Two Joanne Doonan frees did cut the gap to a single point but it Smyth replied for the Harps with her second free of the day.

After this Kinawley went on to hit 1-04 without reply and move into the lead thanks to four Doonan frees and with a goal from Keelan Murphy in between just before half time.

A quick free kick found Erin Murphy and she drove down the field from full back before playing a long ball to Joanne Doonan. Doonan drove at the Harps defence before playing the ball across the goal for Murphy to palm to the net and leave it 1-06 to 0-04 at half time.

On the resumption of play, two Smyth frees meant there was only a goal in it but again Kinawley were able to extend their lead through two more Doonan frees.

Brenda Bannon scored a point which hit the crossbar on the way over and it was quickly followed by an Imelda Jones score.

The game was very much in the melting pot with 10 to play but the Harps were just unable to find a goal that would bring them right back into it.

And Kinawley's experience saw them keep the pressure on and Doonan registered her ninth and tenth points of the game from frees to move her side into 1-10 to 0-8 lead.

The Harps never gave up and despite being a player down with Smyth tapping over two frees the second one following a driving run at the Kinawley goal before being pulled back.

But the Borus had the last say with another Doonan free sealing a 1-11 to 0-10 win.

For Harps manager Garry Smyth, he was pleased with how his players equipped themselves in their first county final.

"We would have to be pleased with the way the girls applied themselves in what was the club's first appearance in a senior final. They weren't overawed by the occasion and were courageous in taking the game to our opponents." He went on to praise the champions saying: "Fair play to Kinawley, a few of their experienced players showed good game management and their quality at a couple of key stages,

"Kinawley have proved themselves to be the top ladies side in the county in recent years and are worthy representatives of the county in Ulster."