Ulster Ladies Football Final: Armagh beat Donegal after extra time

Mackin and White were involved in a scoring duel early on by hitting the five opening scores as Armagh led 0-3 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.

Points from long-serving midfielder Caroline O’Hanlon and Kelly Mallon helped the Orchard women move 0-5 to 0-3 up but scores from the impressive Amy Boyle Carr and White enabled Donegal to level before a Sandra Quigley effort left Armagh one ahead at half-time.

Carr settled for a point when a goal looked possible and Donegal’s ability to create chances for ‘majors’ was a recurring theme even though Armagh controlled possession for long periods in normal time.

After the restart, Donegal crafted another goal chance but Armagh defender Cait Towe brilliantly got back to stop Tara Hegarty’s shot on the goalline after keeper Anna Carr had been beaten.

It was then Niamh Coleman’s turn to reject a potential goal chance at the other end as she fisted over following her own lovely dummy and Armagh were four ahead by the 44th minute following scores from Aoife McCoy and Mackin.

However, Mackin departed seconds after Eva Gallagher had replied for Donegal with the Camlough woman picking up an injury after falling awkwardly following a legitimate challenge from corner-back Abigail Temple Asokuh.

Two more White frees cut the margin to 0-9 to 0-8 with nine minutes of normal time remaining but Armagh appeared to have closed out the game as Mallon, Henderson and Dearbhla Coleman were all on target over the next six minutes.

However, Donegal weren’t finished and Herron produced a sensational finish from 20 metres out to leave only a point between them with 90 seconds remaining before White kicked a monster free to ensure extra time.