Derrygonnelly Harps looking forward to Ulster Final challenge

Derrygonnelly booked a place in their first ever ladies Ulster final as they overcame Tyrone Intermediate champions, Moortown last Sunday.

Indeed it is even more impressive given that this was their first foray into Ulster following their Intermediate triumph in Fermanagh.

But while the Harps have the place booked, they only found out on Wednesday night that they will play Cavan champions Castlerahan/Denn following their controversial passage to the final.

Harps manager, Garry Smyth acknowledges it is not the ideal preparation to only find out who your opponents are so close to the game.

"We have no control over what happens in that regard we just have to await the outcome of that and prepare accordingly.

"It's a very short time frame. Normally for any lead into a final there is a break and time to prepare and set up accordingly. But that's not going to be available to us to the same extent this time around but we just have to make the most of it.

"It's a game we are looking forward to. To be playing football at this time of the year we can have no complaints."

"You have a strong Castlerahan/Denn team from Cavan who will also fancy their chances. They have been putting up big scores in all of their games.

"It is going to be a big challenge."

To reach the final, two first half goals helped the Harps to victory over Moortown.

Emma Burns and Eimear Cooley hit points for Derrygonnelly but these were cancelled out by Moortown.

But two quickfire goals from Eimear Smyth and Brenda Bannon put Derrygonnelly in firm control.

Two further points from Smyth saw the Harps lead 2-04 to 0-04 at the break.

Four more points in the second half from Smyth would ensure the victory while there was also some some stout defending by the Harp rearguard which pleased the manager after a nervy start.

"Initially it took us a while to settle in to the game. I suppose that is only natural when you are playing in a game like that, there are going to be some nerves.

"We had some handling errors early on but once we settled into it I felt we gave a good account of ourselves."

Smyth felt Moortown were well set up with some talented players like Sarah Devlin and Emily Conlon.

"Anything we got we had to earn it.

"Defensively we were fairly sound throughout and we managed to get two goals in the first half in quick succession which were key and it definitely gave us a buffer that we were able to maintain for the rest of the game," concluded Smyth.