Claremorris
1-15
Ballyhaunis
3-6
Fr
O’Hora Park
Eoin
Horkan
A
goal from Laura Kelly midway through the second half proved decisive as the
home side emerged winners by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling four-goal
contest.
The
visitors from east Mayo were first to make an impression on the scoreboard when
Leah Johnston calmly slotted a free over the bar. That early advantage did not
last long, however, as the hosts responded quickly. Within ten minutes, points
from Ashleagh Salmon and Bree Hession had turned the tide in their favor.
Playing with the benefit of a strong breeze, Claremorris began to press on and
stretch the gap. Claremorris struck three points in succession, the first from
Aine Lynn, while Rebecca Kean added a brace to further punish the visitors.
Despite
being under pressure, Ballyhaunis struck back against the run of play. Katelyn
O’Sullivan weaved her way past several defenders before lofting the ball over
the bar to keep her side in touch. Hession replied almost immediately at the
opposite end to restore the cushion. As the first half moved into its final ten
minutes, the home side wrestled back momentum. Gemma Foody and Kate Madden
chipped away at the deficit before Madden produced the game’s opening goal with
a long-range strike that went into the
net.
The
final minutes before the interval produced more drama, with Nina Wallace and
Laura Kelly adding further scores. When the whistle sounded for half-time, the
hosts held a slender one-point lead.
After
the restart, the home side in blue wasted little time in reasserting
themselves. Hession opened with two scores—first converting from a placed ball
before following up minutes later with a neat finish from play. Madden also
added a point in between, helping to keep her side in the semi-final.
The
key moment of the game arrived just seven minutes into the half when Hession
linked up with Kean, who supplied the perfect assist for Laura Kelly to rifle
the ball into the net. That strike not only lifted the home crowd but also
swung the contest firmly in their direction. The goal was followed by two more
points from Kean and another effort from Kelly, leaving the hosts eight points
clear approaching the midpoint of the half.
To
their credit, Ballyhaunis refused to fold. Led by captain Erin Murray, the
visitors rallied in the final quarter. A point from play by Gemma Foody was
quickly followed by Murray punching the ball to the net with twelve minutes
remaining. Suddenly the gap was cut to four, and with ten minutes left on the
clock, nerves began to spread among both sets of supporters.
Ballyhaunis
sensed an opportunity and kept pressing. Their persistence paid off when a
defensive lapse allowed Foody to close the margin to just a single point with
eight minutes left. The tension was palpable, but the home side responded with
composure. A Hession free steadied the ship, and in the closing stages Isobel
Phillips fisted over to seal the victory.
Claremorris:
Claire Kean:Marina Cawley,Alana Fitzpatrick ,Eilis Higgins;Ashling Cummins,Amy
Cummins,Sienna Kelly;Isobel Phillips(0-1),Siomha McNulty;Ashleagh
Salmon(0-1),Bree Hession(0-5 3fs),Aine Lynn(0-1);Nina Wallace(0-1),Laura
Kelly(1-2),Rebecca Kean(0-4).
Subs
Used:Roisin Horkan for Siomha McNulty, Emma Fallon for Aine Lynn,Mary Ann Ward
for Nina Wallace
BallyhaunisBallyhaunis:Aisling
Tarpey;Laura O’Connell,Mae Hession,Orla Smith;Chloe Ryan,Erin
Murray(1-0),Martina Carney;Aibhinn Herr,Geri Maye Henry;Leah
Johnston(0-1f),Niamh Foody,Leah Finnegan;Katie Madden (1-2), ,Gemma Foody(1-2), Katelyn O’Sullivan (0-1).
Erin Higgins for Geri Maye Henry,Sinead O’Neill for Laura O’ Connell,Geri Maye Henry for Katelyn O’Sullivan
Referee:
Sean O’Neill (Balla)
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