Ballindaggin bring title home
Twelve-point win after strong recovery from slow start
BALLINDAGGIN 4-8 CROSSABEG-B’MURN 1-5
BALLINDAGGIN RECOVERED swiftly from a slow start to savour success at the expense of Crossabeg-Ballymurn in a keenly-contested Allianz Rackard League girls’ football Roinn ‘C’ final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Tuesday.
The better-balanced Enniscorthy District champions got the job done with plenty to spare in the end, winning by twelve points in spite of registering the grand total of 21 wides over the 50 minutes.
However, it took them a while to settle, and in that time the impressive Emma McCarthy stamped her authority on the game for Crossabeg-Ballymurn.
On the same day that she featured in this newspaper for her fantastic fourth place finish in the national Under-12 cross-country championships, this talented all-rounder kicked a brace of points inside five minutes.
Ballindaggin showed admirable resolve to respond with a goal, as Leah Roban supplied the finish from an assist by Aoife Waters who won a lot of possession close to the opposition’s posts.
Aoife McEldowney, another strong player for the eventual losers, picked out Kayleigh Cullen whose shot was knocked out fora’30.
Joint captain McCarthy stepped up to take the kick, and it went all the way to the net to restore her side’s lead after ten minutes.
However, the remainder of the half was dominated by Ballindaggin and, although they chalked up twelve wides before the break, they also registered unanswered points from captain Kaylee Doyle (three) and Heather Bolton-Lee (two) to hold a 1-5 to 1-2 advantage at the change of ends.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn netminder Keira Carroll had made one brilliant save to deny Aoife Waters a goal, and she foiled her again early in the new half after Leah Roban had first picked off a point.
A fine solo goal from Kaylee Doyle left Ballindaggin very much in the driving seat, and Roban’s first-time pull went over the bar before Lucy Sludds scored at the other end with a similar strike after an Emma McCarthy shot was saved (2-7 to 1-3).
The unselfish Aoife Waters set up Leah Roban for the third Ballindaggin goal, with Keelin Doyle kicking a point in reply for Crossabeg-Ballymurn with seven minutes to go.
Waters got a score that her hard work deserved when she palmed to the net from close range, with Emma McCarthy and Emma Deegan (free) swapping late points before a delighted Ballindaggin deservedly collected the silverware for the first time since 2013.
Ballindaggin: Kate Dagg, Kate Dwyer, Charlie Fitzhenry, Aoife O’Gorman, Eva Nolan, Hannah Lawless, Kaylee Doyle (capt., 1-3), Heather Bolton-Lee (0-2), Leah Roban (2-2), Maura Doyle, Emily Roban, Emma Deegan (0-1 free), Aoife Waters (1-0). Subs. - Jodie Pender and Nicole Cullen (both used), also Emily Slevin, Róisín Dwyer, Maeve Tobin, Millie O’Gorman, Ciara Doyle, Amy Kelly, Nessa Long, Caroline Dobbs, Heidi Moorehouse, Kayla Grogan, Jane O’Toole, Aine O’Connor, Isobell Byrne, Aisling O’Brien, Alex Bowe, Ava Jordan, Anna O’Leary.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Keira Carroll, Ellie Dempsey, Brónagh Boggan, Orla Murphy, Jasmine Killeen, Keelin Doyle (0-1), Emma McCarthy (joint capt., 1-3, 1-0 ’30), Kayleigh Cullen, Isabel Kearney, Aoife McEldowney, Ella Lambert, Bríann Carlyle (joint capt.), Lucy Sludds (0-1). Subs. - Rebecca Warren, Hazel Whelan-Cunningham, Grace Barry, Kate Harte, Eabha Bowe, Cristabel Stamp, Sophie O’Reilly-Cosgrave, Lucy Bishop, Eadaoin Fanning, Leah O’Brien-Miller, Mya Peters, Sadhbh McDonald, Holly Redmond.
Referee: John Diskin (Bannow-Ballymitty).