McCormack on song as Ballycomoyle take the win

Ballycomoyle 3-9, St Paul's/Delvin 1-4

A superb individual performance from Caoimhe McCormack was one of the key reasons why Ballycomoyle were crowned the Wright Windows Junior B champions for 2023 in fine conditions in Coralstown-Kinnegad GAA last Saturday as the Westmeath Ladies Finals weekend got underway.

While Lauryn Sheridan was the clinical finisher for the Castlepollard side, the efforts from elsewhere were key – Emily Barker with multiple saves, Meabh O’Hagan as the defensive rock, and the midfielders and forwards who linked play so well.

An early free from Sheridan settled the blue and white troops but it could have been much better in the coming minutes had it not been for the outstanding goalkeeping exploits of Mary Quinn, denying McCormack and Shaunna Briody. Olivia Kelleghan got things back level for St Paul’s Delvin but they were still struggling to cope with the speed of the opposition breaks at pace as Alva McCabe and Reanna Kennedy got things going. Two scores from Sheridan and Kennedy put a gap between the sides before a minute of chaos in the Ballycomoyle goalmouth ended with nothing for Delvin – somehow!

The trailing side did level after 20 minutes when Karen Larkin (short free) and Kelleghan pointed but that only spurred Darren Tyrell’s charges as they hit 3-in-a-row from the 26th minute through Sheridan (long-range free and a curling point) and Briody. With the half almost done, Delvin managed to find a goal against the run of play. Leigh Greer the architect and Kerry-born star Gemma O’Sullivan the finisher. Incredibly, within sixty-seconds, McCormack reacted to a long-shot to tip home for a goal at the other end. Half-time and Ballycomoyle were ahead 1-6 to 1-3 after a pulsating ending.

The lead was extended quickly after the restart. McCormack’s effort bouncing back off the crossbar where Shannon Farrelly was waiting to fire in the rebound – 2-6 to 1-3. For Delvin, it was a very disappointing half as they only found one score in the final minute. In the meantime, Ballycomoyle tagged on several more scores. Áine Shaw’s foul allowed Sheridan find another before goalkeeper Emily Barker pulled off a great reaction save from Hannah Ivory’s shot. Indeed, in the final ten minutes both keepers pulled off saves to freeze the scoreboard before Larkin found her sides only score with time almost up. As if to rub salt into the wound, Ballycomoyle – having just seen Megan Dolan hit the post at the far end – hammered home their third and final goal through Shaunna Briody, completing the trio of goals for the half-forward line.

Captain Shannon Farrelly was presented the cup by Geraldine Giles as Ballycomoyle were crowned the first ever Junior B champions following the change of format in the junior section this year.

Scorers - Ballycomoyle: L Sheridan 0-7 (2f), S Farrelly, C McCormack, S Briody 1-0 each, R Kennedy, S Maher 0-1 each

St Paul’s Delvin: G O’Sullivan 1-0, O Kelleghan, K Larkin (1f) 0-2 each

Ballycomoyle: Emily Barker; Aoife Flynn, Ciara Keague, Jessie Ginnell; Alva McCabe, Meabh O’Hagan, Reanna Kennedy; Ellen Higgins, Orlaith Winters; Shannon Farrelly, Caoimhe McCormack, Shaunna

Briody; Shaunagh Maher, Lauryn Sheridan, Emma Gilchrist. Subs Used: Sabrina Dermody for Gilchrist (inj., 52)

St Paul’s Delvin: Mary Quinn; Aoife Cannon, Áine Shaw, Fiona Dunne; Eimear Sherwin, Leigha Greer, Mya Frazer; Lauren Finnegan, Emma Finnegan; Olivia Kelleghan, Susie Dolan, Ciara Higgins; Gemma O’Sullivan, Karen Larkin, Hannah Ivory. Subs Used: Lauren Anderson for L Finnegan (h-t), Aoife Burke for O’Sullivan (45), Megan Dolan for Ivory (45), Darcey Ryan for Cannon (48)

Referee: Ken Daly (Loughnavalley).