Minor Ladies
A momentous occasion as BALLYMAC Ladies Minor Team made their debut in the premier league, with our first game in Division 1 County League. And Girl, did the ladies prove that they belong here in the higher echelons of Ladies Football.
Where the scoreboard does not reflect the actual fierce competition that we witnessed out on the field of play, against a Rathmore side who have been playing in Division 1 since they were 11. In the end it finished Rathmore 4-10 Ballymac 1-6.
Rathmore opened the proceedings very strongly to go 2 points to no score up in 5 minutes, but the Ballymac ladies settled well and Lisa Curran put over two scores after great work by the team moving the ball up the field, by the water break it was 4 points to 3 in favour of Rathmore. However in the that time, the Ballymac ladies were unfortunate to miss a number of chances that would have had us leading at that stage.
After the water break however Rathmore ladies turned the screw and hit us for 2-2 in a five minute spell, the second goal was a penalty after a great save by Lorna Daly in the Ballymac goal, Lorna almost kept out the penalty, deflecting it left, but it slipped in at the left hand post. However, our ladies did not lie down, as back they came immediately with great work to move the ball down the field and Ella Quirke finished it to the net.
Half Time Rathmore 2-7 to Ballymac 1-3
The second half began with a well worked Rathmore goal straight from the kickoff, with really knocked the confidence of our ladies and it would take another 7-8 minutes for us to recover. In this time Rathmore put over another 2 points and both goalkeepers for Ballymac, Lorna and Kerry Hennessy made a number of good saves in this period. Ballymac then stepped up the pace of the game and hit Rathmore with three points in succession Cora Savage with 2 from frees after some forceful play by Keelin Enright and 1 from play. Rathmore finished the scoring with another goal from play as we got caught a little two far up the field.
Best for Ballymac were Eve Creedon who had an outstanding game at midfield, Roisin Rahilly excellent in defence and determined when driving forward with the ball , Cait Rice worked really hard in a defence that was under pressure at times and Maryanne Fleming in linking up play along with Ellie McElligott.
Squad was Lorna Daly, Roisin Long, Cait Rice, Sinead McKeown, Emily O’Brien, Roisin Rahilly, Ellie McElligott, Eve Creedon, Cora Savage, Alyssa Leen O’Shea, Maryanne Fleming, Kate O’Connor, Lisa Curran, Ella Quirke, Grainne Galvin, Keelin Enright, Shona Griffin, Kerry Hennessy
U14 Girls
Our U14 Girls began their Co League Division One campaign on Sunday last with a trip to Connolly Park to play Austin Stacks.
Early exchanges were even but a couple of points late in the quarter saw the home side lead at the first water break on a 1-6 to 1-1 scoreline. Rachel Creedon with the Ballymac goal.
Stacks got off to a good start in the second quarter and by half time had established a 3-6 to 2-1 lead with Orla O Connor raising the green flag for Ballymac.
Our Girls proved more than a match for their opponents in the third quarter with both sides scoring two points.
Another goal from Orla gave us hope but Stacks point scoring ability saw them run out deserving winners.
Amongst those who impressed for Ballymac on the day included goalkeeper Aoibheann Broderick defenders Alice Brosnan Ashlinn Baily Anna Collins and Niamh Rice.
Rachel Griffin put in a solid hour at midfield in her first match back after a layoff.
Jill Quirke Rachel Creedon and Emma Daly impressed in the forward line.
Our next outing sees us welcome ISG to Ballymac for Round 2 on Sunday next.