Ballymacarbry are preparing for All-Ireland Club Ladies Football final

Ballymacarbry 1-11 Clann Eireann 0-5

Having won ten All-Ireland Club titles between 1987 and 1998 and appearing in two other finals in 1985 and 1988, Ballymacarbry senior ladies’ footballers are back in an All-Ireland Club final, after they proved too strong for Clann Eireann, playing on their own grounds in Armagh on Sunday afternoon last.

They now face Kilkerrin/Clonberne from Galway, who are going for a three in a row, in the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland final at Croke Park at 5pm on Saturday week, December 16.

Mike Guiry’s side always knew that they faced strong opponents in the semi-final.

From the start, Ballymac were always the better team. They never allowed their opponents to settle on the ball, and when they did have the ball they often found themselves surrounded by players in blue and white shirts and they pulled players back in numbers.

Ballymac turned around at the break with a one-point lead after the home team played the first half with a strong sun in their eyes.

The game’s only goal two minutes into the second half all but killed off any chance Clann Eireann had of winning a place in the All-Ireland final.

The home side opened the scoring when Niamh Murray put over a free on seven minutes. Ballymacarbry, however, responded with a brace of scores from Brid McMaugh within a minute of each other in the 11 and 12th minutes to take the lead, even if Niamh Murray levelled matters on 20 minutes when she put over another free.

In a low-scoring game KellyAnn Hogan and Summer Peters edged Ballymacarbry two in front with two minutes of the first half to play, but a third point from Niamh Murray, again from a free, meant that Ballymacarbry went to the dressing rooms at the break with a 0-4 to 0-3 lead.

Clann Eireann came out for the second half intent on making life difficult for their opponents, with the sun now in their eyes.

But while they created chances in the opening minutes after the restart, they did not add to their tally.

The only goal of the game came on 32 minutes. After the home team had wasted a chance, kicking the ball over the endline, Lauren Fitzpatrick went long with her kickout. The ball bounced in front of Aileen Wall and her marker, bouncing high over the heads of both players.

But Aileen Wall is fast. She turned her opponent and ran onto the loose ball. She gathered and played a one-two with Brid McMaugh before Aileen Wall was faced down by the home side’s full back line. She would not be put off facing a wall of players, as she waited and when the chance came she shot past Catherine Lawless to give her side a four-point lead.

Ballymac went further in front when Muireann Boyce split the posts with five minutes of the half played.

In their Ulster Final win all six Clann Eireann forwards scored. Here, they were not allowed any time on the ball, as anytime they got the ball they were hunted down in numbers.

Murray hit her fourth of the game on 39 minutes, her first from play, but it was already looking that it was goals her side needed and against the Ballymacarbry defence, that was not going to happen.

KellyAnn Hogan, Brid McMaugh and Summer Peters all added to the Ballymacarbry tally before the midway point of the second half. The latter score was unlucky not to have resulted in the raising of a second green flag, as Summer Peters slipped as she shot at goal and the ball rose over the crossbar.

Brid McMaugh and Niamh Murray swapped scores from play as time ticked down and three minutes from time Claire Walsh got her name on the scoresheet when she fired over to well and truly seal the win for Ballymacarbry.

Ballymacarbry: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Gretta Nugent, Michelle McGrath, Maeve Ryan; Karen McGrath, Louise Ryan, Ruby Browne; KellyAnn Hogan, Aoife Barron; Aileen Wall, Summer Peters, Brid McMaugh; Sadhbh Hallinan, Claire Walsh, Muireann Boyce.

Subs: Michelle Ryan for Muireann Boyce (43), Grace Carrigan for Summer Peters (55).

Scorers: Brid McMaugh 0-4, Aileen Wall 1-0, Summer Peters, KellyAnn Hogan (1 free) 0-2 each, Claire Walsh, Muireann Boyce 0-1 each.

Clann Eireann: Catherine Lawless; Ashleigh Fleville, Clodagh McCambridge, Grainne Carville; Roisin Mulligan, Meabh Moriarty, Cait Towe; Tierna Grimes, Megan McCann; Dearbhla Coleman, Niamh Henderson, Niamh Coleman; Meabh McCambridge, Niamh Murray, Aoibhin Donoghue.

Subs: Evie McCafferty for Megan McCann (39), Aaliyah Delaney for Ashleigh Fleville (48).

Scorer: Niamh Murray 0-5 (3 frees).

Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan).