Ballyclare and Bann book Telegraph final spot
BALLYCLARE High staged a smash and grab act to book their place in the Belfast Telegraph Ulster Senior Cup final for the first time in seven years with a 1-0 win over holders Rainey Endowed at Lisnagarvey yesterday.
There were just two minutes remaining when, after being under pressure for the majority of the game, the Co Antrim girls netted the winner.
In a game in which genuine chances were at a premium, it looked likely it would have to be settled by a penalty shoot-out until Rachel Hill struck to spark the celebrations.
Until that point, Rainey had the better of the few opportunities on offer but Ballyclare goalkeeper Laura Chestnutt stopped everything that came her way.
Ballyclare captain Rebecca McCullough, who set up the winning goal, was delighted at the outcome as she looked forward to her first Senior Cup final with Banbridge Academy standing in the way next month.
“Rainey held the upper hand during most of the match but we just held firm and were able to clinch it at the end thankfully,” said the 18-year-old.
“I think we defended well in every line when we were on the back foot. There was a point where I thought, ‘This isn’t going to happen and it’s going to go to penalties’ but we were able to hold them off and get the goal even when we had a player in the sin-bin at the time.
“We were actually two players down briefly in the last few minutes but we had planned for that scenario.
“The aim was to sit back and hold them out if we were short-handed, but then we went up and won a corner and scored it which wasn’t in the script.
“We’re buzzing for the Banbridge game now, especially as none of us have played in a Senior Cup final before.
“It’s a bit surreal, it’s kind of like a dream and I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.”
The common thread from the 2012 final came in the shape of Ireland World Cup silver medallist Zoe Wilson, who scored the winning goal in that game.
Now the High School assistant coach, she is delighted at the prospect of another appearance in the showpiece albeit in a different capacity.
“It’s certainly more nerve-wracking being on the sidelines than on the pitch but hopefully we can bring the trophy home to Ballyclare again,” said the 21-year-old.
“The girls defended really well when Rainey threw everything at us in the first half.
“Our defending from the front to the back was tremendous and the girls really rose to the challenge and the occasion.
“Just before we scored, we were actually writing down who was going to take the penalties but we were delighted we managed to nick the goal without it going to the wire.”
Erin Anderson, Sara Semple and Betty Scott all had half-chances for Rainey well dealt with by Chestnutt in the opening 30 minutes.
Anderson’s set-piece effort was turned away by the keeper, who plays Premier League hockey for Randalstown, and she then breathed a sigh of relief as the striker sent the rebound wide of the post.
Semple’s reverse stick shot was then well blocked by Chestnutt, who then foiled Scott from a similar situation.
McCullough, who was among Ballyclare’s star performers, was denied by Rainey keeper Dawn Francis six minutes after the break and four minutes later Chestnutt stopped another effort from Semple.
Ballyclare then lived dangerously as they had two players sent to the bin in the dying minutes.
In the 58th minute, Ballyclare won only their second penalty corner of the match and, after McCullough’s initial shot was saved, the ball broke to Hill, who fired in the rebound for the winner.
Rainey coach Carolyn Burns reflected: “It was a great game and we just couldn’t score at the end of the day.
“The girls played really well and it was just the final touch that eluded us but that’s sport.”