Heartbreak as Ballymahon girls denied Leinster Final glory by Eureka late, late show

There was absolute heartbreak for the gallant girls of Mercy Ballymahon as a goal with the final kick of the game by Eureka’s Ella McGlue denied them Leinster glory in the cruellest of circumstances at St Loman's GAA Grounds, Mullingar last Friday.

Lidl Leinster Post Primary Schools Ladies Football Senior B Championship Final: Mercy Ballymahon 1-11 Eureka Kells 3-8

Mercy Ballymahon, who performed with great heart and skill throughout, looked to have one hand on the silverware as they led by 1-11 to 2-6 as the encounter drifted into additional time.

However, in the three minutes allowed by referee Eoghan O’Neill, Eureka plundered for 1-2 without reply and their Houdini heroics left Ballymahon crestfallen and devastated.

The trusty left boot of Jane Hetherton accounted for the two late points and when her attempt for a point fell short and into the onrushing McGlue, she duly blasted her close range strike to the net and the Kells girls were delirious.

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There wasn’t even time for Ballymahon ‘keeper Sally Ryan to launch a kick out. It was a sweet way to win and the horriblest way to lose.

Captain and impressive centre back Emma Farrell, tenacious full back Eimear Dempsey, powerful running mid-fielder Sian Gallagher, Rachel Keenan (who contributed a tally of 0-8), industrious attacking live wire Maria Hayden and Sarah McCormack were among Ballymahon’s most prominent performers and the very least they deserved was a draw.

When the dust settles, Ballymahon will look back on the contest with regret. Backed by the breeze they enjoyed a 0-9 to 1-3 half time lead but the gap should have been wider as they were unable to execute the goal opportunities they created.

By the 43rd minute Eureka were in front, 2-5 to 0-9, and during that third quarter Ballymahon’s Sarah McCormack (from play) and Ava Garcia (from a penalty) were denied goals by smart saves from Caragh Reilly Brady.

When McCormack confidently netted a 46th minute Ballymahon penalty won by Maria Hayden the pendulum swung back their way and they looked the likely winners until Eureka’s late, late resurgence.

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Ballymahon began positively and were 0-7 to 1-0 in front after 19 minutes as Rachel Keenan (5, including four frees), Sarah McCormack and Grace Cullen were on target. McCormack was extremely unlucky in the 15th minute when her powerful goalward bound shot rebounded to safety off the upright.

Hetherton netted the Kells goal in the 8th minute as their visits into the Ballymahon half were pretty infrequent. That changed when they hit a purple patch between the 20th and 25th minutes that yielded three crucial points from Katie Kavanagh (2) and Deirdre O’Reilly. Ballymahon finished the half with points by Sian Gallagher and Keenan (free). Half-time: Ballymahon 0-9 Kells 1-3.

Kells were two points ahead by the end of the third quarter as Ella Morgan and Hetherton (free) raised white flags and Deirdre O’Reilly netted their second goal, 2-5 to 0-9.

Ballymahon were awarded a second penalty in the 46th minute after Maria Hayden was dragged down and Sarah McCormack drilled this to the twine. Keenan (free, 48 mins) and Hetherton (53 mins) swapped points before Keenan’s 8th point after a lovely 58th minute move put Ballymahon 1-11 to 2-6 up.

One would have forgiven Ballymahon if they ‘parked the bus’ and put all their players behind the ball at this stage to protect their lead and in a highly dramatic finish Kells grabbed glory.

SCORERS
Mercy Ballymahon: Rachel Keenan 0-8 (0-6 frees), Sarah McCormack 1-1 (1-0 penalty), Grace Cullen 0-1, Sian Gallagher 0-1
Eureka Kells: Jane Hetherton 1-4 (0-2 frees), Deirdre O’Reilly 1-1, Ella McGlue 1-0, Katie Kavanagh 0-2, Ella Morgan 0-1

TEAMS
MERCY BALLYMAHON: Sally Ryan (St Joseph’s); Caitlin Derwin (St Brigid’s Ardagh), Eimear Dempsey (Carrickedmond), Katie O’Brien (Longford Slashers); Sarah Hughes (St Brigid’s Ardagh), Emma Farrell (St Brigid’s Ardagh), Isabel Finn (Milltown); Sian Gallagher (St Brigid’s Ardagh), Edie Hogan (Grattans); Michaela Hand (Grattans), Grace Cullen (Rathcline), Rachel Keenan (St Brigid’s Ardagh); Maria Hayden (St Brigid’s Ardagh), Sarah McCormack (Carrickedmond), Ava Garcia (St Brigid’s Ardagh).
Subs: Ruby Victory (St Brigid’s Ardagh) for S Hughes (half time), Sarah Glennon (Longford Slashers) for G Cullen (48 mins), Niamh Keane (St Brigid’s Ardagh) for C Derwin (58 mins).

EUREKA KELLS: Caragh Reilly Brady; Nicole Smith, Issey McKeon, Dearbhaile Flynn; Aifric Larking, Katie Lynch, Eadaoin Morgan; Katie Kavanagh, Cara McDonnell; Ella Morgan, Lauren Finnegan, Cara Brennan; Jane Hetherton, Ella McGlue, Deirdre O’Reilly.
Sub: Jodie Loughran for C Brennan (51 mins).

REFEREE: Eoghan O’Neill, Laois