Minor Ladies
Division 1 Vincent Murphy
Ballymacelligott 3:06 v Castleisland Desmonds 5:08
In what was a disappointing finish to our first season in Division 1, it was great to see a squad of 21 turn out for Ballymacelligott Ladies. However this did have an effect on our performance, as Castleisland Desmonds could only field 11, this meant that we would have to field two entirely different teams each quarter. We led by an Eve Creedon point to no score at the first water break and managed to score three more points in the second quarter from Holly Geary and two from Mary Ann Fleming. However Desmond’s scored two goals, to lead 0-4 to 2-0 at halftime, though it could have been more except for a few good saves from Kerry Hennessy in goal.
The second half started well with a very well taken goal by Roisin Rahilly, as bamboozled the Desmond’s defense and Eve Creedon followed up with a quick point. Then disaster happened as Castleisland hit us with two quick goals and a point. Then we just collapsed and conceded 1-3 up to the second half water break.
The final quarter saw us fire back with 2-1, with goals Lisa Curran and a second from Roisin Rahilly, with a point from Ella Quirke. But Castleisland were still able to score a further 1-4. This left the final score as 5-8 to 3-6 in favour of Castleisland Desmond’s and the end of a tough first season for our minor ladies in Division 1.
Squad was Kerry Hennessy, Lorna Daly, Roisin Long, Grainne Galvin, Caoimhe Carroll, Sinead McKeown, Shonagh Griffin, Cait Rice, Emma Leen, Aisling O’Connell, Ellie McElligott, Eve Creedon, Ella Quirke, Keelin Enright, Roisin Rahilly, Lisa Curran, Emer Curran, Holly Geary, Kate O’Connor, Maryanne Fleming and Alyssa Leen O’Shea.
And well done to the management team of Anthony Curran, Donal Rahilly, Siobhan Leen, Sean Hennessy, Una Kerins and Emma Sweeney for all the effort put in over the year.
U16 Ladies
Rose Hotel Division 1 Round 5
Ballymacelligott 2:05 v Austin Stacks 4:06
Second week in a row at home in Ballymacelligott, but not a great night for football, with consistent mist making underfoot conditions difficult. Up against our local rivals Austin Stacks, who handed out a right beating to us two years ago the pressure was on our girls to measure up. Stacks jumped into a strong early lead with 1-3 on board before we got our first point from a Ciara Palmer free, by the water break it was 1-4 to 0-1. Alyssa Leen O’Shea added a further point but another 1-2 was scored by Stacks, however our girls had put in a far more improved performance and were very unlucky with a few goal and point chances. Our defence was outstanding over the whole game with Abby Leahy outstanding in the left corner back spot and Cathy Palmer very effective outside her. Lorna Daly was getting the better of two or three different players that were tried on her. Grainne Galvin and Alyssa Leen O’Shea were dominating the centre spots and Kate Collins working very hard on the right flank, making defense splitting runs forward. Where we got caught was in turning over the ball too easily in the opponent’s side of the field, with 2-4 conceded from turnovers in the first half.
The second half was all Ballymac, with the girls putting in a massive performance. Two quick points from Rachel Creedon was followed by a breakaway goal by Stacks. But what a response from our girls with two goals, one each from Emer Curran and Niamh Lynch, who were causing all sorts of problems to the Stacks defense. Stacks did reply with a breakaway goal. Kerry Hennessy made a couple of great saves in the dying minutes, ably assisted by Emma Leen and the hard working Roisin Rahilly. Our scores were finished off by a Grainne Galvin point from a free, won by herself after a great passing move up the field by our girls. Shonagh Griffin worked really hard in midfield alongside Roisin Rahilly, with our half forward line of Ciara Palmer, Keelin Enright, Ella Quirke, Rachel Griffin and Charlotte Geary got on a lot of ball linking between backs and forwards. The inside line of Jill Quirke, Anna Collins, Emma Leen (Joint Captain), Roisin Raggett, Rachel Creedon, Niamh Lynch and Emer Curran (Joint Captain) converted our chances and were really unlucky with a number of chances.
On next to our County Division 1 semi-final, which is most likely away to Southern Gaels.
U12 Ladies
Sunday evening 6th September the ball was thrown in @5 in Dingle for the eagerly awaited Shield final against Ballymac&Dingle.
What a contrast game to the same teams who met each other last Sunday in Dingle. Ballymac was dominant from the first whistle with Jamie Lee opening the scoreboard with a lovely point from play in the first 5 minutes.
The girls excelled as the clock ticked on … dominating with possession and showing lovely ball skill… even though Dingle were always ready to pounce given a opportunity so the girls never let their pace slacken or took the foot off the pedal and become complacent.
Molly O Connor stepped up in midfield tonight and proved her strength and skills. Jamie Lee O Connor had a stormer of a game with endless energy, strong tackles and excellent ball skill working very nicely alongside Hazel Geary who was solid and confident tonight.
As always Laura West was a rock in defence in partnership with Fallyn Boyle… what a defence combination!
Sinead Scanlon showed great confidence and determination tonight which can’t go unmentioned. Michelle O Connor was a pleasure to watch as always as she popped over lovely 4 points from play even though getting some heavy knocks from a physical strong Dingle team.
Lovely goals saw the back of the net courtesy of Hazel Geary, Molly O Connor, Aibhe O Connor, Jamie Lee, Sarah O Rourke
With great pride the Ballymac u12 team lifted the Shield trophy with a final whistle score 5 8 to 2 2 and smiles all round on the long drive home.
This team is only finding their stride.. and their future is bright and exciting in the Ballymac colours. A utter pleasure to mentor, support and encourage.