Ballymacarbry win ladies title.

In glorious sunshine in a well appointed Fraher Field Dungarvan on Saturday last, Ballymacarbry won the Waterford Ladies Senior County final in a thrilling encounter with near neighbours Comeragh Rangers. Playing for the Edith Kennedy Cup the large crowd were treated to a great game with fortunes ebbing and flowing throughout the game. The colour and the atmosphere on the day was wonderful. Both teams were paraded around the field by piper Jim Lane and after a rousing rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann all was in readiness for the throw in.

Comeragh were forced to make late changes to their starting fifteen when Geraldine Power and Ruth Kirwan were replaced before the throw in by Katie Murray and Maria Power respectively. Ballymac got possession from the throw in and Aileen Wall was wide with her effort in the first minute and Marian Ryan forced a good save from Comeragh goalie and captain Marian Hogan immediately afterwards. In the next four minutes Comeragh attacked incessantly and were guilty of two goal chances wasted before Michelle Ryan put a point on the board in the 7^th minute to open the scoring for Ballymac. Aoife Dunne levelled things in the 12^th minute and was on hand to put the Comeragh girls ahead two minutes later.

The next four minutes of the game were unreal to say the least as on three separate occasions Comeragh had gilt edged chances to score a goal; the first two were driven wide in one on one situations with goalie Sinéad Grant, while Eibhlín Power cracked a rocket of a shot off the post with the keeper beaten. On 17 minutes Aileen Wall levelled matters with a good point and she was on target again to put the girls from the Nire valley a point ahead on 20 minutes. Aoife Dunne got her and Comeragh’s third point in the 21^st minute and Eibhlín Power was on hand to kick a good point from a quick free to put Comeragh back in front. Marian Ryan steadied the Ballymac ship with a pointed free in the 24^th minute and captain Linda Wall put them back in front on 25 minutes with a good point. The sizable Rathgormack contingent erupted when Katie Murray finished a great pass from her sister Aoife to register the game’s first goal and Katie Murray was instrumental in setting up Kate Hahessy and Aoife Murray for two points to leave four between the teams. Marian Ryan pointed her second free just on the stroke of half time to leave the score line Comeragh Rangers 1-6 Ballymacarbry 0-6 when Kevin Martin blew the half time whistle and give everybody a chance to draw their breaths after a wonderful first half of football.

There was a great buzz around the ground at half time with the patrons wondering would Comeragh be able to keep up the relentless pace that they had produced in the first half or would the guile and experience of the Ballymacarbry girls come to the fore. It didn’t take long for Ballymac to gave their answer with a great goal from Lauren Guiry to level matters after only two minutes and for Marian Ryan to put the champions back in front with a free on 34 minutes. Shauna Dunphy turned the game on its head in the 35^th minute with a goal to put the challengers back in front. Then the Ballymac backroom team made two master substitutions by introducing two new players to the team and they were to have a profound effect on matters for the rest of the game. Sub Shauna Ryan kicked two wonderful points and not to be outdone the other sub Sínéad Ryan kicked a point to put Ballymac back in front 1-10 to 2-6

Marian Ryan and Lauren Guiry stretched the lead before Sínéad Ryan ended the game as a contest with a well taken goal with 10 minutes to go. Sínéad Ryan got another point as did Marian Ryan to bring Ballymacarbry’s tally to 2-14 but the Comeragh  Rangers girls refused to die and Aoife Murray kicked a consolation point in the 54^th minute. Comeragh’s day was best summed up in the dying minutes when a shot from Shauna Dunphy once again rebounded back off the post before the Ballydurn girl closed the scoring to leave Ballymacarbry champions for a 33^rd consecutive year on the final score Ballymacarbry 2-14, Comeragh Rangers 2-8.

The cup was presented to Ballymac captain Linda Wall who was winning her 17^th county senior medal. Comeragh Rangers will rue the chances missed when dominating in the first half but management team of Joe Murray Stephen Fitzgerald and Kevin Power can be well proud of their charges in an extraordinary game. Ballymac now move on to the Munster club championship with the hopes of Waterford with them all the way. Team management of Mike Guiry, Catherine Ryan and Ger McGrath will be pleased with the result and especially with the way the team dug deep in the second half when they showed their experience and footballing know how to win the game.

Ballymacarbry captain was named player of the match but indeed there were brilliant performances all over the field all day Aoife Dunne, Katie and Aoife Murray, Eibhlin Power, the four Dunphy’s all stood out as did goalie Marian Hogan. For Ballymac the three Wall’s, Michelle and Karen McGrath especially when Michelle moved out field, subs Treasa McGrath, Shauna Ryan and Sinead Ryan all impressed. A great days sport and a great advertisement for Waterford Ladies Football, well done to all concerned.