Report By: Tom Ryan. Div 1 final. Balyna deservedly took the Senior League Division 1 crown in sweltering Naas last Saturday when they had 5 points to spare over a disappointing Leixlip. The winners started well and had the two first scores, points in the 7th & 8th minutes from Aisling Holton and Miriam Murphy after both sides had missed a brace of opportunities. When Leixlip got their first scores, a point each from Aisling Newton and Maria Moolick, Balyna responded to each with a like score. Miriam from a free and Ais Holton were again on target. Rachel Cribbin then banged over another free and on 22 minutes came the games’ only goal. A Balyna forward shot for a point but saw her shot blocked by Aishling Savage. The break wrong-footed the defence but not Siobhan Hurley who grabbed the loose ball, sailed past a couple of defenders and neatly placed her shot from the right corner just inside the far post. It then got worse for Leixlip as Jenna Murphy intercepted a short free and sent Ellen Morgan clear for the 6th point and all Leixlip could manage before the break was a couple of poor wides and having had the advantage of the slight breeze they trailed by 7 points, 1 – 6 to 0 – 2 at the break. , The resumption saw Aisling Holton add another quick point but her side were not to score for the next 20 minutes as the Leixlip midfield and half backs got a grip. Stacy Cannon powered over a long range point and Avril Lambert collected the kick-out to score. Karen O’Shea then drove over a long free and Leixlip looked to be about to make a right game off it with 20 minutes still to play but solid Balyna defence augmented by regular defender Shonagh Farrell dropping deep from her wing forward posting held the maroons scoreless for more than 10 minutes and when they did lift the siege Caoimhe Keoghegan knocked over free on 50 and 63 minutes. While Leixlip did respond immediately to both with Tara Hallinan and Karen O’Shea the scorers it was obvious in that last quarter that Leixlip would need a goal or two, their chances were limited with both Karen O’Shea and Grainne Lyons had sniffs but both were closed down and a few late desperation attacks saw efforts from Maria Moolick and Aishling Savage well blocked although Maria did take a nice smack in the kisser which the otherwise excellent Liam Herbert missed. The conditions might have been great for the spectators but for the players they were a massive test and both teams gave it their all from the first to the last minute and each and every one deserves great credit for serving up a powerfull display of football. The big difference between the sides was in support play. Too often the Leixlip player was left to go it alone with her team mates standing still while the Balyna player always had support with runs off the shoulder in support the norm and they also defended in numbers when necessary.. Aoine O’Donoghue had a steady game in the Balyna goals and got excellent cover from Jane O’Donoghue, Jenna Farrell and Leanne Farrell. Centre half back Clodagh Flanagan did her primary duties with aplomb sweeping up in defence and linking the play from defence to attack. Aisling Holton was the outstanding midfielder on the pitch and her 3 points from play were vital. Caoimhe Keoghegan gave her excellent support while up front Siobhan Hurley did a mountain of work with able support from Miriam Murphy, Rachel Cribbin and Ellen Morgan and Careen Farrell showed her class in her late cameo. For Leixlip Shannon Holland was brave and strong in goals sweeping well behind the backs while Aishling Savage, Donna Berry, Shona Killeen and Niamh Lyons defended well. Midfielders Karen O’Shea and Joanna Timmins did some good work and did dominate most of the second half exchanges but the forwards never fired with none of them scoring more than once but Aisling Newton, Tara Hallinan and Maria Moolick did battle hard right to the end. Scorers Balyna Aisling Holton 0 – 3 Siobhan Hurley 1 – 0, Caoimhe Keoghegan 0 – 2 (Frs), Miriam Murphy 0 – 2, (0-1 Fr), Rachel Cribben 0 – 1 (Fr) Ellen Morgan 0 – 1. Leixlip Karen O’Shea 0 – 2 (Frs) Aisling Newton 0 – 1, Maria Moolick 0 – 1, Stacy Cannon 0 – 1, Tara Hallinan 0 – 1. Balyna 1 Aoine O’Donoghue, 2 Orla Keoghegan, 3 Jane O’Donoghue, 4 Jenna Murphy, 5 Louise Codd, 6 Clodagh Flanagan, 7 Leanne Farrell, 8 Aisling Holton (CPT 0-3) 9 Caoimhe Keoghegan (0-2), 10 Miriam Murphy (0-2), 11 Siobhan Hurley (1-0), 12 Shonagh Farrell 13 Rachel Cribben (0-1), 14 Ruth Bergin, 15 Ellen Morgan (0-1). Subs: Careen Farrell for R Bergin (Inj 48 min). Ciara O’Donoghue for R Cribbin (60+2 mins) Leixlip 1 Shannon Holland, 2 Karen McHugh, 3 Aishling Savage, 4 Niamh Lyons, 5 Shona Killeen, 6 Donna Berry, 7 Amy McGrane, 8 Karen O’Shea (0-2) 9 Joanna Timmins, 10 Avril Lambert (0-1), 11 Tara Hallinan (0-1), 12 Aileen Quinn, 13 Stacy Cannon (0-1), 14 Maria Moolick (0-1), 15 Aisling Newton (0-1), Subs Grainne Lyons for A McGrane (38 min), Michelle de Carvallo for A Lambert (45 min) Ellie Christie for D Berry (Inj 60 +2 min).. Referee: Liam Herbert
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 19:56:45 +0000
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