Strong finish sees Ballinamere/Durrow crowned Division 2 champions

The scoreboard possibly leaves this looking like a very one sided affair in Bretland Park on Saturday afternoon, however, it took 3-2 in the last five minutes for the Ballinamere/Durrow ladies to push on and claim the silverware in a heavily contested Division 2 league final.

Offaly Ladies Football Division 2 League final

Ballinamere/Durrow 3-18

Naomh Molaoise 3-7

Ballinamere/Durrow raced into a quick lead early on when Saorah Doyle and team captain Roisin Mealiffe pointed early on for their side.

Doyle added three more fine scores to her tally before Naomh Molaoise finally got off the mark at the other end of the field through a Ciara Walsh free, the same player pointed from play moments later. 

Once again it was Doyle who kept the scoreboard ticking over for the B/D ladies, 2 either side of a third from Ciara Walsh, this was soon followed by Doyle’s and the game's first green flag of the game on the stroke of half time.

Meadbh O’Brien got the second half scoring up and running for the Ballinamere/Durrow side with a lovely point from play.

Naomh Molaoise’s purple patch soon followed and they made hat whilst the sun was shining scoring 2-3 in a seven minute spell with all scores coming from the boot of Ciara Galvin, the points all being from frees leaving two between the sides with eight minutes remaining. 

Jane Maher came close to raising a green flag for the B/D outfit but her shot was blasted off the crossbar with the resulting rebound breaking to Trasa Bracken who blasted over the bar. 

Doyle and Galvin traded frees at either end of the park before the latter got her, and her side's third goal of the afternoon reducing the gap back to three with five minutes remaining on the watch. 

That was to be as good as things got for her side as Ballinamere/Durrow got back into the groove and late goals through Treasa Bracken and the brilliant Sairah Doyle ensured that it was going to be their sides day as they ran out eleven point victors.

MATCH ANALYSIS

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Saorah Doyle (Ballinamere/Durrow): For the victors Roisin Mealiffe put in an excellent shift for her side. On the Naomh Molaoise side Ciara Walsh was lively as was former county player Ciara Galvin and Sinead Rigney.

The nod, however, has to go to Ballinamere/Durrow full forward Saorah Doyle. On a day when the county panellist finished with a superb 2-11, 2-6 of which came from open play, one could not look past her for this award. Her work rate and leadership was incredible also and she really showed her class.

THE TEAMS

Ballinamere/Durrow: Niamh Lydon; Saraid McDonald, Chloe Buggy, Grace McNally; Niamh Bracken, Shauna Slattery, Brooke McDermott; Amy Kelly, Niamh Galvin; Meadbh O’Brien, Róisin Mealiffe, Jane Maher; Trasa Bracken, Saorah Doyle, Una O’Brien. Subs: Laura O’Neill for B.McDermott, Ava Grennan for S.Doyle

Naomh Molaoise: Leah Murphy, Eabha Joyce, Róisin Donagher, Lauren Leavy; Molly Kelly, Helen Hensey, Cara Todd; Sinead Rigney, Rebecca Sweeney; Rebecca O’Connor, Ciara Galvin, Aoife Greene; Ciara Walsh, Nicole Heffernan, Sinead Todd Subs Ashling Scally for M.Kelly, Noelle Fisher for H.Hensey

Referee – John Sampson.

VENUE WATCH

Bretland Park was in great condition, pitches marked out, scoreboard in operation , programmes and car park available. All they lacked was team announcements and speaker/microphone for presentation. 

REFEREE WATCH

John Sampson was the man in the middle here and while officiating these games isn’t easy, Sampson could have done better. 

His knowledge of some of the rules was poor and his consistency was low which was very frustrating for players and mentors in both camps

B/D should have been reduced to fourteen at one point for a clear striking offence, however, he only decided it warranted a yellow card, while no one likes to see anyone sent off the rules are still there for a reason.

Saorah Doyle also should have had a penalty in the second half when she was hauled down in the square, the foul occurred closer to the goalmouth than the edge of the box but a free was only awarded here.

While these things didn’t affect the overall result, It’s not ideal in a league final to have these things happening especially when the stakes are so high for both clubs. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Thoughts will turn to championship for both sides now which are due to start in eight weeks time.

THE SCORERS

Ballinamere/Durrow: Saorah Doyle 2-11 (5f), Treasa Bracken 1-3, Róisin Mealiffe 0-3, Maebh O’Brien 0-1

Naomh Molaoise: Ciara Galvin 3-4 (4f), Ciara Walsh 0-3.