Ballymacarbry 2-10 Clonakilty 0-13 (after extra time)
Almost a year on from losing last year’s All-Ireland Club Final to Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Ballymacarbry Ladies Footballers added a Munster Senior B Championship to their impressive roll of honour at Mallow on Saturday afternoon last when they overcame Clonakilty after extra time.
In what was a tight game throughout the 80 plus minutes played on the day, a late goal from former inter-county player Karen McGrath proved decisive for the Ballymacarbry ladies.
The Cork side had a great start as Sinead O’Donovan hit an early score and they added to this with efforts from Aisling Moloney and another from Sinead O’Donovan to go three points up.
KellyAnn Hogan had Ballymacarbry’s first score, but it was soon wiped out with a score from Katie O’Driscoll at the other end for the Cork side. Brid McMaugh, however, kicked another score for the West Waterford team, leaving two between the sides.
KellyAnn Hogan made it a one-point game but scores from Siofra Pattwell and Aisling Moloney widened the gap to three (0-6 to 0-3) with 22 minutes played.
Points from KellyAnn Hogan (two) and Lily Browne drew the sides level just before the break.
As they did in the first half, the Cork side began by kicking the first score through Siofra Pattwell. However, Ballymacarbry wasted no time in responding in the best possible manner as on 32 minutes, a Brid McMaugh delivery was finished to the net by Aileen Wall, despite the best efforts of Martina O’Brien in the Clonakilty goal.
KellyAnn Hogan followed up with another point to put her side 1-7 to 0-7 in front.
Siofra Patwell responded with a score for the Cork side midway through the second half and Sinead O’Donovan pointed to leave one between the teams midway through the second half.
Kiya O’Mahony made it a one-score game when she pointed shortly after coming on as a sub, and moments later the West Cork side thought they had gone three up when Sinead O’Donovan finished to the net, but referee Seamus Mulvihill ruled out the score for a foul on the ball.
The West Cork side went a point ahead when Sinead O’Donovan pointed, but a late effort from KellyAnn Hogan at the other end ensured that the game went to extra time to decide the winner.
Siofra Patwell opened the scoring in extra time for the Cork side, but an Aoife Barron effort before the break ensured that the teams were still all square at the turn around. Ballymacarbry could be out of sight had lady luck shone on them, as both KellyAnn Hogan and Karen McGrath saw efforts come crashing back off the post.
Both sides added points in the second half of extra time, Ballymacarbry’s coming from KellyAnn Hogan. Just as it looked as if a winner would not be found over 80 minutes, Ballymacarbry never panicked and used their experience to retain possession, and when Karen McGrath was spotted in space and when she was picked out she finished to the net to earn her team the title.
Ballymacarbry: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Sadhbh Hallinan, Michelle McGrath, Maeve Ryan; Karen McGrath, Ruby Browne, Clodagh Hallinan; Aoife Barron, KellyAnn Hogan; Aileen Wall, Brid McMaugh, Grace Carrigan; Lily Browne, Clare Walsh, Summer Peters.
Subs: Ciara Ryan for Lily Browne (36), Becky Hogan for Sadhbh Hallinan (80).
Scorers: KellyAnn Hogan 0-7 (0-4 f), Aileen Wall, Karen McGrath 1-0 each, Brid McMaugh, Lily Browne, Aoife Barron 0-1 each.
Clonakilty: Martina O’Brien; Niamh Kennedy, Siobhan Callanan, Niamh Desmond Collins; Ruth Shanley, Ashling Hutchings, Méabh O’Donovan; Kate O’Donovan, Millie Condon; Aisling Moloney, Katie O’Driscoll, Laura Daly; Siofra Pattwell, Sinead O’Donovan, Aoife O’Flynn Meade.
Subs: Kiya O’Mahony for Laura Daly (h-t), Clodagh McCarthy for Aoife O’Flynn Meade (41), Laura Daly for Clodagh McCarthy (70).
Scorers: Sinead O’Donovan 0-5 (0-1 f), Siofra Pattwell 0-4 (0-2 f), Aisling Moloney 0-2, Katie O’Driscoll, Kiya O’Mahony 0-1 each.
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill, Kerry.
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