Congratulations to the Holycross Ballycahill Ladies Football U16 Team who won their County Final with a victory over Ballyporeen in New Inn on Monday 6th May.
Back Row: Catherine Maher, Pat Morrissey, Kate Brennan, Sarah Kennedy, Shauna Carey, Saoirse Harrington, Bridin Ryan, Shelleana Bourke, Elaine Dwan, Roisin Lowry, Mary Dwan, Avril O Mahoney, John Joe O Connor, Sharon O Connor
Front Row: Rachel Spillane, Elaine Brennan, Katie Ryan, Lily Maher, Eimear Ryan, Emma Ryan, Cara O Connor, Roisin Meehan, Jodie Maher (Captain), Laura Ryan, Claire Stakelum
Rhonda Spillane-PRO
The girls brought great pride to our parish as they victoriously defeated Ballyporeen in the County Ladies Football U16 D Final in New Inn. We never thought when we started the football club that we would have two county finals under our belt in one year. This is a tremendous achievement and one that will hold great memories for all involved for many years to come. Last year our U18 girls won the County D Plate Final and this year we have been blessed to have won the U16 D County Final, under the expertise of two dedicated trainers Pat Morrissey and John Joe O Connor. What a great way to kick start the year, our U14 and U18 teams have gained great respect for this young panel of girls, and will look up to them with admiration, they are a great example for the rest of our club members.
County Final Monday 6th of May 2013
Excitement, tension and nerves were defiantly in the air in New Inn when our U16 team walked proudly onto the playing field to await their opposition Ballyporeen. The girls where supported by family and friends on the day. Their support and encouragement filtered through the air and gave the girls and trainers the support to keep going until the final whistle was blown.
The game started off at a fast pace both sides looked even after the first ten minutes. Our girls started to settle and shifted gear to dominate with points coming in from Claire Stakelum and Soairse Harrington. Great passing coming from mid field down to the skillful forward line of Rachel Spillane, Claire Stakelum, Cara O Connor and Jody Maher. The feisty full forward line Roisin Meehan, Bridin Ryan and Roisin Lowry fought tooth and nail and where victorious with a goal that rattled the back of the net, coming from Roisin Meehan after 25 minutes of play in the first half. This gave the girls a needed lift in the game and kept the girls going until half time. It was a nail biting experience for all who came to support on the day.
Our backs where kept busy as Ballyporeen counter acted scoring a goal, great saves came from our reliable goalie Sarah Kennedy, who was put under alot of pressure in the first half, but remained calm throughout the entire game. Our backs defended excellent on the day, outstanding skill and defending coming from Emma Ryan, Mary Dwan and Avril O Mahoney, the girls made great clearance to our half back line and centre field players, Katie Ryan, Shauna Carey and Laura Ryan these three players made it very difficult for Ballyporeen to attack our defense the girls covered huge ground and made some great clearance once again relieving the pressure in the full back line. All players in the back line including Kate Brennan who came on in the second half, played outstanding on the day they are a force to be reckon with.
It was certainly a game of two halves with tension in the air when the whistle was blown for half time, we where ahead by a narrow lead of two points, 1-3 to 1-1. As the whistle blew for the second half the girls displayed great composer as they headed back onto the field. We had the wind with us in the second half to our advantage. From the get go, the girls knew they had a job to do, and do it they did. They settled into the game and as a result some excellent display of skill and team work was witnessed by all who came to see this young panel of players. The forwards rattled the net of the Ballyporeen goals, scoring an outstanding four goals, one coming in the second minute by Saoirse Harrington, ten minutes later Claire Stakelum scored a goal, followed by Shelleana Bourke’s goal in the last ten minutes of the game, and finally the last goal coming from Claire Stakelum in the last few minutes of the game. The goals couldn’t have been scored if not for the accurate passing of some of our younger players such as Elaine Dwan and Lily Maher. Great points were scored in the second half coming from Saoirse Harrington, Shauna Carey and Claire Stakelum. As the last blow of the whistle was blown the final score was 5-6 to 2-7.
Our Captain Jody Maher thanked Ballyporeen for such an excellent game of football they are to be commended for their performance on the day, I am sure we will meet again in the near future. Jody thanked the referee and her team players and trainers, and finally Jody thanked Biddy Ryan Treasurer of theCountyFootballboard who presented Jody with the County Final D Plate.
The team headed back to Morielli’s of Cashel for a celebratory meal.
Winning a county final is not done by individuals but by a team, its not just about who scores or who blocks the ball it’s a lot more than that its about having each others back, supporting and encouraging each other, this team has all that. The girls and their trainers should be very proud of this achievement, many teams dream of winning a county final, we can now cherish it and for that be grateful and proud of our success.
A huge thank you to all who came on the day to support the girls, sincere thanks to the County Football Board, for their advice and support that they have given to us, since the setting up of our club last year 2012. A thanks to our committee members who are working hard behind the scenes, thanks to our trainers Pat Morrissey and John Joe O Connor for the hard work they put into the club and training the girls, a thank you to our two ladies Sharon O Connor and Catherine Maher who work with our trainers in making sure the girls are looked after well.
It is a very proud moment for our newly established club and our parish, this is the first ever ladies U-16 Gaelic Football Final to be won in our parish, and to be part of this achievement is a huge honour. The girls now take a well deserved break as the U-14 girls prepare for their first league match on Tuesday the 7th of May against Clerihan we wish the girls the very best of luck in the league. A lot of our U-16 panel also plays with the U-14 team some of our players showing huge potential are Eimear Ryan, Elaine and Kate Brennan, Katie Ryan, Elaine Dwan, Roisin Lowry, Lily Maher and Avril O Mahoney well done girls keep up the good work.
Fundraising Event
Our first fundraising event, Church Gate Collection will take place on Saturday and Sunday the 18th and 19th of May, we will be collecting at Masses in Ballycahill and Holycross on both days, Saturday and Sunday mass times 9am, 10am, 11am, 7pm and 8pm. Your kind support would be gratefully appreciated.
Best wishes to all who are preparing for exams in the near future.