Extra time heartbreak for Balyna
Balyna were beaten in extra time of the LGFA Intermediate final by St Fechins of Louth
KILDARE champions, Balyna, suffered extra time heartbreak when they lost to Louth champions, St Fechin’s in the AIB Leinster LGFA Intermediate Final at Coralstown Kinnegad on Saturday afternoon. In a nervy, free ridden game the sides were locked at 0-3 apiece at half time and at 0-5 apiece at the end of normal time which stretched to eight minutes at the end of the 60. A point from play and one from a free in each period of extra time by St Fechin’s star player and Player of the Match, Ava Briscoe, delivered the title for the Wee County champions.
Balyna captain, Rachel Cribbin opened the scoring after three minutes and wing forward, Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal swung over two beauties with her left foot in the first half but each time these scores were cancelled out by a brace from Briscoe, one free, and one from Molly Matthews.
Both Ní Bhuircéal and Briscoe each added to their tallies in the second half and Balyna midfielder Julia Branigan brought the sides level for the fifth time on 58 minutes but still the sides could not be separated in regulation time. Aoibheann Birchall (Balyna) and Ceire Nolan (St Fechin’s) were sin binned in the tension filled last quarter and the Kildare champions probably had the best of the goal chances towards the end of the game and in extra time but couldn’t convert and the Louth champions prevailed.
Molly Savage; Moya Corrigan, Anna Redmond, Orla Brennan; Leanne Devery, Rachel Beirth, Lana Devine; Orla McEvoy, Ceira Nolan; Alice Johnston, Ava Briscoe 0-6 (2 frees), Hayley McDonnell; Molly Matthews 0-1, Rebeca Howell, Caoimhe Hynes. SUBS: Sara Moore for Alice Johnston 44, Rosie Savage for Rebeca Howell 59, Rebeca Howell for Ceire Nolan E/T, Ella Flanagan Orla McEvoy 9, E/T, Erin McDonagh Hayley McDonnell 10 + 2 E/T, Ceire Nolan for Leanne Davery H/T, E/T, Niamh Kearney for Rachel Beirth 18 E/T.
Ruth Bergin; Kate Langley, Sadie Cullinan, Holly O’Keefe; Lucy Cullinan, Ellen Morgan, Megan Cooney; Julia Brannigan 0-1, Leah Doran; Rachel Cribbin 0-1, Erica Burke, Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal 0-3 (1 free); Lauren Dixon, Grace Gallagher, Aoibheann Birchall. SUBS: Siobhan Hurley for Lauren Dixon 42, Caoimhe Farrell for Holly O’Keefe, 4, E/T, Aisling Holton for Lucy Cullinan 10 + 2, E/T, Robyn Hurley for Erica Burke 12 E/T.
Sinéad McHugh (Dublin)
