Ballinamore P.P.S. 2-08 St. Bridget’s Tuam 2-04
The under -14 girls continued their winning season with a fine victory over a very good Mercy Tuam team in the Connaught B Quarter Final on Tuesday last. After winning their group games against Carrick on Shannon, Ursuline Sligo and St. Attracta’s Tubbercurry, this was another significant step up in standard to which the girls were equal. The girls now advance to a semi-final meeting with Glenamaddy Community School.
The game was played in difficult conditions with heavy rain and soft underfoot conditions. Despite these obstacles the team played some excellent football. Tuam made the better start to the match, scoring the first point of the game after five minutes and looking dangerous. It took an excellent defensive performance to hold their score to a minimum, with Shannon O’Rourke, Keely Doonan and Lisa Maguire heavily involved in keeping the opposition at bay.
Settling into the game in the opening quarter, the midfield pairing of Eilish O’Dowd and Roisin McHugh gradually took control of the match. With a good supply of ball into the forward line, Ballinamore began to make the possession count. Aileen Maguire was on the score sheet with two points, one from a free. Carla LeGuen, at centre forward, was causing all sorts of difficulty with decisive runs, cutting through a strong Tuam defence. On 20 minutes Ballinamore scored the opening goal of the game. A terrific move, the whole length of the pitch, finished with Aisling Maguire cracking a fantastic shot past the helpless Tuam goalkeeper. A quick fire comeback by Tuam made life difficult for Ballinamore before Aileen Maguire settled them again and finished the half with a well taken goal to add to her four points in the first half alone.
The second half saw Ballinamore dominate possession inside the St. Bridget’s half. Despite obvious superiority scores were difficult to come by. It took a fine Eilish O’Dowd solo effort to open the scoring and this was followed by another Aileen Maguire point. With 20 minutes gone in the second half, St. Bridget’s once again sprung into life. A goal, scored after breaking at speed, brought them back into the game and Ballinamore could have been punished for their wastefulness. However, the girls were not to be denied. Some excellent defending by Shauna Plunkett, Ruth McNiffe and Francis Farry in crucial situations resulted in turnovers and eased the pressure somewhat. Roisin Mc Hugh made a vital interception, after covering acres of ground, to set Ballinamore on their way again. It was inevitable that Aileen Maguire would kick the final score of the game moving them four points clear, and to victory.
Overall, a terrific team performance was responsible for this latest success. To win every game thus far is a wonderful achievement against such quality opposition. Each player has made a great contribution and continues to produce the ability, work rate and effort needed at this high level of competition.
Squad: Shannon O’ Rourke, Francis Farry, Shauna Plunkett, Ruth McNiffe, Roisin O’Toole, Keely Doonan, Lisa Maguire, Roisin McHugh, Eilish O’Dowd(0-1), Rebecca Rowley, Carla LeGuen, Leighanne Flynn, Rachel Creamer, Aileen Maguire (1-7), Aisling Maguire (1-0), Sarah McWeeney, Grace McBarron, Bronagh McGovern, Niamh Timmins, Kate Reynolds, Julie Reynolds, Fiona Deering, Aoife O’Sullivan