Laune Rangers 1-7 (10), Ballymacelligott 2-13 (19)
Senior Ladies opened their Bon Secours Junior A Championship campaign on Sunday afternoon in JP O’Sullivan Park with a home game to Ballymacelligott. Ballymacelligott produced a strong second half performance to overcome Laune Rangers and secure victory.
The game began with Laune Rangers on the front foot, Ciara O’Brien striking the opening point after just four minutes. Ailbhe Clifford quickly added another. Lisa Curran kicked Ballymacelligott’s opening point of the game, Áine Hassett then added a point from free. At 15 minutes, Ailbhe Clifford was fouled, and Laune Rangers were awarded a penalty which Ciara O’Brien buried to extend their advantage to five points. But Ballymacelligott started to settle and showing composure dominated the latter end of the first half – points coming from Kate Collins (3), Lisa Curran (1), Roisín Rahilly (1) and Sarah Scanlon (1). Ailbhe Clifford kicked a free for the home side in the closing seconds of the first half.
Half -Time: Laune Rangers 1-4 (7), Ballymacelligott 0-7(7)
The restart saw Ballymac’s determination shine with Sarah Scanlon quickly opening the scoring for the visitors by adding a point but Laune Rangers struck back with efforts from Ailbhe Clifford and Ciara O’Brien to edge in front again. Kate Collins then powered home a goal to stretch Ballymacelligott’s lead to two and that goal was the turning point in the game. Ballymacelligott took the game to Laune Rangers and produced some tenacious defending.
Sarah Scanlon’s reliable free-taking kept the scoreboard ticking, and Rachael Evans narrowed the gap with a fine point. Rachel Griffin then came to the fore, firing over twice in quick succession before Tina Donnelly blasted home a crucial goal, swinging the game firmly Ballymac’s way.
From there, Ballymac never looked back. Scanlon added another free and Collins clipped over her third point of the half, stretching the gap to nine as the clock ticked towards full time. Laune Rangers battled hard in all areas of the field but were missing players due to injury and work commitments, as a team they tried hard to contain Ballymac attacks however Ballymacelligott ran out deserved winners after an impressive second-half display.
Laune Rangers: Sarah O’Connor, Laura Patton, Andrea Nolan, Sophia Doherty, Ciara O Brien © (1(pen)-2), Orla O Brien, Riadh O Sullivan, Kayleigh McGlashan, Rachael Evans (0-1), Ciara Horgan, Sarah O Brien, Sara Leslie, Aine Hassett (0-1), Ailbhe Clifford (0-3), Sally McGillycuddy.
Fodhla Houlihan (inj), Aisling O’Connor (inj)
Ballymacelligott: Kerry Hennessy, Emily O’Brien, Keelin Enright, Grainne Galvin, Anna Collins, Jamie Lee O’Connor, Eve Creedon, Aisling O’Connell, Roisín Rahilly (0-1), Rachel Creedon, Sarah Scanlon (0-4), Tina Quinn, Kate Collins (1-4), Rachel Griffin (0-2), Lisa Curran (0-2). Subs: Robyn White, Laura Kelly, Ciara Kerins, Tina Donnelly(1-0), Emily Heffernan, Fiona McCarthy, Alice Savage, Cora Savage, Una Kerins Morrissey, Caoimhe Carroll, Ella Quirke
Referee: Brian O’Sullivan