Ballycomoyle clinch Division 2 title after dramatic finish
Ladies Division 2 Féile Football final
Seamus Dunne
Ballycomoyle captured the Féile Division 2 title in TEG Cusack Park on the May Bank Holiday Monday, with a last gasp Emily Nolan point giving her side victory over St Joseph's.
The Streamstown-based girls had been leading for much of the game and were ahead by a point at half-time (0-2 to 0-1), but a goal from Ballycomoyle’s Aine Brennan drew the sides level late on, before Emily Nolan scored the winner in a dramatic finish.
St Joseph’s seized the initiative in this final and the opening score at Westmeath GAA headquarters came from Aimee Slevin, who sent over a free from close-range.
Ballycomoyle responded through a free of their own, Caoimhe Ginnell stepping up and placing between the posts.
St Joseph’s then went close on two occasions to getting a goal, but were denied both times by the capable Ballycomoyle 'keeper Clodagh Gallagher.
First it was Carol Anne Finn who had a shot for goal, after being assisted by Lucy Martin, before Aimee Slevin was also denied, after receiving a pass from Mollie Conlon.
For the remainder of the first half, both defences were very much on top with scoring chances at a premium.
However, St Joseph’s went in with the lead at the break, a good run from Mollie Conlon, before she fed Aimee Slevin, Aimee firing over to give Joseph’s a one-point advantage at the interval, 0-2 to 0-1.
BREAKING BALL
At the start of the second half, both teams were guilty of several wides until Joseph’s Lucy Martin accurately placed between the posts to put her side two points ahead.
St Joseph’s began to take a grip on proceedings, they went three ahead when Aimee Slevin converted a free, before the same player waltzed by several players minutes later and pointed, her fourth point of the day. There was now a four point gap between the sides with Ballycomoyle needing scores fast. They went close to a goal through Keelan Nolan, but her effort was well-saved by Joseph’s goalkeeper Aoibheann Kelly.
With 10 minutes to play, Ballycomoyle got their second score of the day. A free from Eleanor O’Neill dropped into the square and Keela Nolan was first to the breaking ball shooting over the bar.
That reduced the gap to three points and with the clock winding down, Ballycomoyle got themselves a lifeline by raising a green flag.
Rebecca Ward put a ball into Áine Brennan and she turned and finished to the net from close-range, setting up an exciting finish as we headed towards injury-time. Despite a strong Joseph’s second half, the teams were now level with the final hanging in the balance.
It was a well-worked Ballycomoyle move that would lead to the decisive score of this Division 2 final.
Rebecca Ward, Aine Brennan, and Eleanor O’Neill were all involved before the ball found its way to Emily Nolan. Emily composed herself and excellently fired over the bar to the delight of the sizeable Ballycomoyle support in TEG Cusack Park.
It was a dramatic finish and very cruel on a St Joseph’s side who led by four points at one stage in the second half. However, goals change games and Aine Brennan got the girls in blue right back into the contest, before Emily Nolan’s last gasp winner captured the Division 2 crown for Ballycomoyle.
Ballycomoyle scorers: Aine Brennan 1-0, Keela Nolan 0-1, Caoimhe Ginnell 0-1, Emily Nolan 0-1.
St Joseph’s scorers: Aimee Slevin 0-4, Lucy Martin 0-1.
Ballycomoyle: Clodagh Gallagher, Caitlin Masterson, Doireann Manley, Aimee Gaffney, Kayla Kennedy, Lily O’Farrell, Keelan Kavanagh, Rebecca Ward, Eleanor O’Neill, Chloe Wong, Keela Nolan, Caoimhe Ginnell, Emily Nolan, Ava Murphy, Shona Gilsenan. Panel: Aine Brennan, Amelia McCabe, Hannah Burke, Arwen Briody, Amy Higgins, Alesha Kennedy, Aideen Kavanagh, Skye McCoarmack, Grace Murtagh, Emma O’Reilly.
St Joseph’s: Aoibheann Kelly, Alannah McCormack, Emma Tandy, Hannah Conlon, Lucy Martin, Sally Ryan, Rebecca Keegan, Megan Quinn, Jane Ryan, Mollie Conlon, Ava Cuffe, Isabelle Scally, Carol Anne Finn, Alison Murray, Aimee Slevin. Panel: Katie Meares, Lorna Nolan, Ruby Phelan, Ava McDonnell, Emma Lynam, Rachel Connell, Anne Marie Leahy, Aoife Keegan, Meabdh Gorman, Emma Meares.
Referee: Ken Daly (Loughnavalley).