A LATE goal from Sadhbh McAleer fired Ederney into the Ulster Final, as they produced a heroic display to hold off Naomh Pádraig in a nerve-jangling 1-09 to 0-11 win at St Joseph’s Park.

In a closely fought contest with scores at a premium, a goal was always going to have a major bearing and when McAleer hit the net with 10 minutes to play, it sealed the win for Aiden Gilroy’s side.

Played in constant drizzle, the game began with early Naomh Padraig pressure yielding a only a couple of glaring wides.

Ederney’s first attack saw Katie Teague loft over a superb third minute point from a Sarah Briton pass.

End to end cracker

The visitors wides tally had stretched to five before Chloe Costello neatly clipped over a 15th minute equaliser.

With ball handling difficult in the greasy conditions, there was no further scoring until Khloe Henry shot over a 24th minute visitors point.

Naomh Padraig were looking dangerous on the attack but they still couldn’t register again until a 29th minute snap shot point by Caitlin Doherty.

There was time though for Ederney to pull one back.

Team captain Dearbhaile McMenamin, pointing from a last kick free following a foul on Eva Donnelly, left it 0-02 to 0-03.

In marked contrast to the start, the Donegal girls made a lightening restart.

Henry snapped up a rebound ball to hook over from close in after an Ava Walsh goal effort goal had been blocked by goalkeeper Aine Walsh.

When Grace McColgan pointed a free straight from kickout, it seemed as if the visitors were building a head of steam.

But right away, Ederney battled back for Ellie Carrigan to point from a strong run, with McMenamin swiftly following up with a neat point.

Ederney book final spot

As the scoring rate continued to rise, a McColgan point from distance was cancelled by another McMenamin free, with Britton again fouled.

Another McColgan conversion and an Eilish Havlin score from distance then moved the Muff side 0-08 to 0-05 in front by the end of the third quarter.

Ederney again dug deep to haul themselves back to the minimum with points apiece by Beibhinn McMenamin and a 48th minute Dearbhaile free.

Despite being caught out by a McColgan point from a quick Ava Walsh free, the St Joseph’s girls struck for the game’s decisive blow, McAleer hitting her 50th minute goal for a 1-07 to 0-9 lead.

But within a minute, Naomh Padraig had levelled from a well worked Costello point to set up an absorbing finish.

A Dearbhaile McMenamin point from kickout and a 55th minute free, after ball moved on for dissent, wrapped up the win for Ederney which not even a 56th minute Walsh point could deny.