Arravale Rovers' Munster dream ends as Kerry champions Ballymacelligott prove too strong

Munster Junior Club Ladies Football Championship Final

Arravale Rovers 2-2

Ballymacelligott 3-13

There was Munster Junior Ladies Championship final for Arravale Rovers on Saturday evening. The Tipperary Town outfit came off second-best against a strong Ballymacelligott side from Kerry in their clash played at Mallow.

Despite goals in both halves, one from Ciara O’Hora and the other from Lily Maher, the Tipperary Junior champions were unable to significantly make inroads into the gap that the Kerry ladies had opened.

In the end, their was just too much quality on display from the Kingdom outfit. Player of the Match Cora Savage top scored with 1-6, while a goal in either half from Sarah Scanlon were hammer blows to Paddy Maher’s side.

Having taken the county title, Arravale delivery two fine victors, over Dungarvan and Fergus Rovers (Clare), to bring them to the provincial decider. However, their failure to score in the first 29 minutes of action all-but ended their hopes of an upset.

After a cagey opening period, Ballymacelligott hit the front on 12 minutes, through Rachel Creedon. Along with Kate Collins, who got the next point, Creedon and co were causing havoc on the Rovers kickout.

They would score each of the first five points, before Sarah Scanlon got on the end of a move to bury the opening goal, on 26 minutes. Savage curled over her second free soon after before a moment of joy at the other end.

Arravale worked the ball to Ciara O’Hora, whose dropping shot dropped into the net to cut the gap approaching half-time. Savage added another free, to lead it 1-7 to 1-0 at the interval.

However, despite the encouragement from that goal, it would take another 17 minutes before Arravale had their first white flag. The next 1-2 went to those in blue, which killed any hope of a fightback.

Sarah Scanlon drilled to the net after Róisín Rahilly’s superb build-up, before Savage and Anna Collins added points.

Sub Sophia O’Grady added fresh energy into the Rovers attack and was rewarded when curling over a point from close range. Lily Maher found the net from 20 meters, from the next play, but the gap was still eight points, 2-9 to 2-1.

The Kerry side who will eye up All-Ireland glory in the coming weeks, found a point from Rahilly and a goal from Savage – this on a swift counterattack after Maher thought she was denied a penalty at the other end.

The winners eased away to victory. The final point, a consolation from another sub, Faye O’Dwyer, to leave thirteen between the sides at the final whistle.

Arravale will reflect on a season of success in Tipperary, while Ballymacelligott will await the winners of next weekend's Leinster Junior football final, in the All-Ireland semi-final. Mullinahone, in 2021, remain the most recent Tipperary winners of this competition.

Scorers: Arravale Rovers: Ciara O’Hora, Lily Maher 1-0 each; Sophia O’Grady, Faye O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

Ballymacelligott: Cora Savage (1-6, 0-4f), Sarah Scanlon 2-0, Rachel Creedon 0-2, Anna Collins, Jamie Lee O’Connor, Kate Collins, Róisín Rahilly all 0-1 each.

Arravale Rovers: Saoirse O’Dwyer; Cassie Cremins, Emer Roche, Aine O’Carroll; Katie Cremins, Abi Ryan, Molly Price; Caoimhe Hickey (Capt), Lily Maher; Sarah Duggan, Niamh Sharpe, Nia Donovan; Ciara Ryan, Sarah Rayn, Ciara O’Hora.

Subs used: Eva Cremins for Duggan (HT); Sophia O’Grady for O’Donovan (blood 38 – 47); O’Grady for C Ryan (47); Rebecca Crosse for Price (55); Faye O’Dwyer for O’Hora (55); Lauren O’Dwyer for S Ryan (55).

Ballymacelligott: Robyn White; Niamh Rahilly, Una Kerina Morrissey, Graine Galvin; Keelin Enright, Eve Creedon (Capt), Anna Collins; Aisling O’Connell, Jamie Lee O’Connor; Sarah Scanlon, Cora Savage, Róisín Rahilly; Rachel Creedon, Rachel Griffin, Kate Collins.

Subs used: Tina Donnelly for R Creedon (45); Christina Quinn for R Giffin (45); Caoimhe Carroll for Galvin (55); Ella Quirke for Collins (56); Lisa Curran for Scanlon (56).

Referee: Justin Murphy (Cork)