Longford LGFA: Ballymore bow out of the Leinster Club Championship

Moate (Westmeath) . . . 1-14 Ballymore . . . 3-6

By Blaithin Mulvihill

Ballymore bowed out of the Leinster Intermediate Club Championship following a two-point defeat against the Westmeath champions Moate in their first round clash at Oliver Lynch Park in Abbeylara on Saturday.

While the final scoreline suggests a close game; in reality this could not be further from the truth. Entering stoppage time, the Longford champions trailed their Westmeath neighbours by eight points and only two late goals from substitute Caroline Kiernan ensured an exciting finish to what had been a completely dominant second half display by the Moate ladies.

Despite trailing Ballymore by three points at the break (1-3 to 0-3) the south Westmeath outfit were level moments after the restart when Tara Hughes found the Ballymore net.

They hit the front a minute later when Chloé Malone pointed from play and from that to stoppage time at the end of the game they were in full control of proceedings, building up a substantial lead and reducing Ballymore to just two Aisling Reynolds frees and a point from centre-half-back Sorcha Dawson before Kiernan's two goal salvo made for an exciting finish.

Played in blistering sunshine at the scenic Abbeylara venue, the game was expected to be a close encounter.

Ballymore had easily accounted for St. Brigids Gaels in the Longford decider three weeks earlier while Moate had prevailed by the minimum of margins against near neighbours Caulry in the Westmeath Final.

The large attendance waited in anticipation of another typical Longford/Westmeath derby.

A frantic opening saw Moate race into a two point lead after five minutes courtesy of Chloe Malone and a Therese Geoghegan free.

We had to wait all of sixteen minutes before Ballymore registered their first score, a pointed free from Aisling Reynolds. A Shauna Heaney point drew the sides level five minutes later.

Eva Fox restored the Moate lead in the 25th minute before, Ballymore despite being outplayed for most of the first half, finished with a great goal from Emer Heaney followed by a fine point from play from Aisling Reynolds to see the Longford champions go in at the break leading by 1-3 to 0-3.

Most in attendance expected a tight second half but after the break Moate wasted no time in dispelling that idea.

On the resumption they took control from the throw-in and unlike in the first half they turned their dominance into scores. Tara Hughes brought the sides level with a brilliant goal in the 32nd minute. Another Chloe Malone point restored her side's lead as the Westmeath girls began to dominate the exchanges.

Ballymore had simply no answer to the Moate charge and following another three points from Hughes(1 free), the home side found themselves four points in arrears 10 minutes into the second half.

Further scores from Chloe Moran (0-2), Chloé Malone (0-1) and Emily Craven extended the Moate lead to eight before Ballymore finally opened their second half account in the 49th and 51st minutes with two Aisling Reynolds frees.

Points from Emily Craven and Tara Hughes restored the Westmeath champions eight point advantage as the game entered its closing stages.

To their credit, Ballymore fought to the bitter end and in added time almost pulled off the impossible with Sorcha Dawson (0-1) and Caroline Kiernan (2-0) bringing the game to a thrilling conclusion.

Moate’s Ella Grennan scored their last point before referee Gary Carthy blew the final whistle, with the Westmeath club through to the next round.

Moate: Grace Coughlan, Lorna Flanagan, Louise Payne, Niamh Palmer, Holly Keenan, Chloe Moran (0-2), Vanessa O’Brien, Therese Geoghegan (0-1, free), Annemarie Moran, Tara Hughes(1-4, 1 free), Stacey Holloway, Lara Deehan, Caroline Malynn, Eva Fox (0-1), Chloe Malone (0-3).

Subs: Emily Craven (0-2) for C Malynn (half-time), Ella Grennan (0-1) for E Fox (57 mins), Aine Bracken for S Holloway (62 mins).

Ballymore: Courtney Murphy, Amy Creegan, Eileen Boyle, Emma Boyle, Rachel Higgins, Sorcha Dawson (0-1), Aideen Kiernan, Elizabeth Kearney, Deirdre Monaghan, Ciara Heaney, Aisling Reynolds (0-4, 3 frees), Marie Martin, Emer Heaney (1-0), Shauna Heaney (0-1), Zara Drake

Subs: Grace McEvoy for C Heaney (half-time), Molly Boyle for R Higgins (44 mins), Alanna Kelly for A Kiernan (55 mins), Caroline Kiernan (2-0) for S Heaney (59 mins).

Referee: Gary Carthy (Dublin).