Ballinlough 6-04 Drumbaragh 4-00

History was made this morning in Ballinlough when our U-13 Girls team made their first appearance in a competitive Final (Division 7 League), and further history was made when they went on to win the first ever Ladies Title for the Ballinlough club in spectacular fashion on home turf !!

Despite having home advantage, it was the visitors Drumbaragh who made all the early moves as they set up several good scoring chances in the opening minutes but they were quite unable to make any of them stick and Ballinlough were allowed breathe a sigh of relief.

Once Ballinlough got on the ball they made hay early on with Ruby Farrell firing to the net in the fifth minute to put the Lough ahead, a lead they would not relinquish for the duration of this game.

Drumbaragh were still creating a threat though and were denied a goal chance by a superb save from Casey Farrell, the 11 year old not looking a bit out of place playing at this higher age level !!

Another Drumbaragh chance in the 11th minute just went wide of the posts while Ballinlough relied on a great block from Sia Beacroft to deny the next scoring chance for the visitors, and once again Casey Farrell was called into action as she put the brakes on another Drumbaragh goal chance with a fine save in the 14th minute.

Drumbaragh finally made the breakthrough moments later when they hit the net from a 45’ in the 15th minute and then there was a comical situation that I’m not sure I’ve ever written about before when there was a four minute stoppage in play for a toilet break… that’s a new one for me !!

The delay didn’t do anything to hinder the Ballinlough attack however as upon the restart Ruby Farrell bagged her second goal for her side in the 20th minute following great work from Sia Beacroft.

Drumbaragh hit back with a goal of their own but once again Ruby Farrell was proving to be a thorn to the Drumbaragh defense as she completed her hat-trick after Zara Buckley worked hard to maintain possession and set up the score.

Another 45’ for Drumbaragh had the potential to cause panic stations in the Ballinlough rearguard but this time Casey Farrell was alive to the danger and pulled off another fine save to keep her side leading.

While the were creating opportunities the Drumbaragh girls were struggling to get the ball over the bar, and Ballinlough punished them again when good defensive pressure turned over possession with Clara McEntee coming out with the ball, and she found Fia Corcoran, who made no mistake firing to the net to further enhance Ballinloughs lead.

There was just enough time before the break for the first point of the occasion when Ruby Farrell sent one sailing over the bar, so when Referee Peter Skelly blew the half time whistle, Ballinlough led on a scoreline of 4-01 to Drumbaragh’s 2-00.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with the Drumbaragh girls seeing plenty of the ball but failing to make it count on the scoreboard, which allowed Ballinlough to take the first score of the half after three minutes with Ruby Farrell hitting her fourth goal of the morning following tenacious work from Clara McEntee and Zara Buckley.

Ballinlough could have being in again only for some solid defending from Drumbaragh to deny them, and Ballinlough had a chance to get another point on the board with a free in after Sia Beacroft was fouled, but the opportunity went wide of the posts.

Ten minutes into the second half and Drumbaragh struck for their third goal of the game but from this point on it was all Ballinlough, as Ruby Farrell was unlucky with two goal bound efforts in quick succession, before Fia Corcoran converted her own free halfway through the second half.

From there Ballinlough pushed on with points for Hannah Corcoran and Clara McEntee, and with limited time left on the clock the home side were beginning to realize this was going to be their day…this knowledge no more evident than on the face of Manager Trevor Corcoran who was buck leaping about the place like a Spring Lamb.

There was however still time for both sides to get another score and Ruby Farrell capped off a remarkable performance with her fifth goal of the game, and while Drumbaragh did hit back with a consolation goal of their own, it was to be Ballinloughs day as they ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 6-04 to Drumbaragh’s 4-00.

That result marks an historic moment for our club as we collected our first ever piece of silverware in Ladies Football and it is a testament to the excellent work from coaches Jimmy and Trevor who have poured their heart and soul into this group of girls over the past few years and today they have got their just deserts.

Also a special mention to Laura who has spearheaded this project since its inception and is a large reason as to why our girls teams continue to go from strength to strength each year.

The historic and victorious Ballinlough squad was: Casey Farrell, Rose Herward, Abbie Darcy, Hannah Donohoe, Rose Farrelly, Kiera Donegan, Clara McEntee(0-01), Sia Beacroft, Zara Buckley, Fia Corcoran(1-01), Lucy McEntee, Hannah Corcoran(0-01), Ruby Farrell(5-01), Caoimhe Corcoran, Aisling Farrell, Naoise Lynch, Charlotte Buckley, Anna May McCarten

Referee: Peter Skelly

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