Ballymatrin
ladies win against Clonduff
Ladies
Football
Ballymartin 2-05 Clonduff 2-03
Clonduff were the visitors to Pairc
Cois Na Fharrige on Sunday evening
in this ladies intermediate league
fixture. Games between these two
sides are normally very competitive
and this encounter was no exception.
The Ballymartin girls playing their
first home game of the season were
determined to take the 2 league
points on offer.
Ballymartin started brightly and
went in front early on with points
from Katrina Gerstenbrand and Catherine
Logan. Clonduff responded with 2
like scores to bring the game level
with 15 mins gone. Ballymartin dominated
the first half and time and again
they opened up the Clonduff rearguard
but they couldn't make all their
possession count on the scoreboard.
Ciara McGreevy playing at full forward
took a great score to move ballymartin
back in front. Michele Cousins added
a like score after a neat interchange
with Joanne Poland to leave 2 points
between the sides. Shortly after
a simply superb point blank save
from Sinead Rooney in the Ballymartin
goals from a Karen Gribben pile
driver kept Ballymartin in contention.
5mins before the break Clonduff
pulled back a point from a free
to leave the minimum between the
two sides. It was end-to-end stuff
as both sides fought for supremacy
but in a cruel twist with only seconds
remaining in the half, a misunderstanding
in the Ballymartin defence saw Jolene
Brannigan solo through and shoot
to the net. Halftime score Ballymartin
0-04 Clonduff 1-03.
Ballymartin regrouped at the interval
and came out with a renewed fire
in their bellies. A foul on Sinead
Murphy 45 yds out from goal gave
fellow midfielder Nuala McCartan
the opportunity to drive in a long
ball to the edge of the Hilltown
square, a deft flick on saw the
ball land in the hands of Michele
Cousins and she drove the ball to
the net to put Ballymartin back
in control. This was a lead that
ballymartin would retain over the
remainder of the match. In a great
move from defence the ball made
its way via Christine Magorrian
to Catherine Logan who in turn rounded
her marker and fired in a probing
ball which the in-rushing Michele
Cousins flicked round the keeper
to raise the green flag for a second
time and give Ballymartin a four
point lead.
Clonduff are a good side and the
next ten minutes belonged to them
as they effectively camped in the
Ballymartin half but resolute defending
by Carol Rafferty, Clare Morgan,
Eimear Rogers, Christine Magorrian,
Andrea Annett, Roisin Murphy and
Aine Hardy kept the hilltown girls
out. Clonduff kept plugging away
and a great drive from Karen Gribben
hit the underside of the Ballymartin
crossbar, this was adjudged by the
referee to have crossed the line.
And as we fast approached the final
whistle the outcome of this game
was firmly in the balance. In response
Ballymartin found another gear and
when the ball fell to Ciara McGreevy
she weaved once to give herself
that extra yard before firing over
the insurance point. This was a
deserved win for the Ballymartin
girls who along with Clonduff ensured
a very entertaining match, which
kept the large contingent of supporters
on their toes from start to finish.
Team and scorers: Sinead Rooney,
Roisin Murphy, Carol Rafferty, Clare
Morgan, Andrea Annett, Christine
Magorrian, Eimear Rogers, Sinead
Murphy, Nuala McCartan, Joanne Poland,
Katrina Gerstenbrand (0-01), Aine
Hardy, Michele Cousins (2-01), Ciara
McGreevy (0-02) and Catherine Logan
(0-01)
P.J. Cunningham
