Ruthless Glanmire end Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins All-Ireland dream

Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins dream’s of Croke Park glory were ruthlessly shattered by a clinical and powerful Glanmire in Saturday’s CurrentAccount.ie LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final.

A Glanmire goal with almost their first attack of the game set the tone of the game for a battling Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins who were never able to cope with the Cork women’s pace through the middle and ability to dominate on the kickout.

Aoibheann Flynn’s ninth minute goal briefly halted Glanmire’s gallop but a strong finish to the first half from the Cork women saw them lead by seven points at the break and when the impressive Orlaith Roche grabbed her second goal after a 60 yard run, the writing was on the wall for Ballinamore.

The Leitrim women never stopped battling and will rue missed goal chances from a saved Roisin McHugh penalty and Laura O’Dowd driving a goal chance wide late on but Glanmire just had too much power and pace for the Leitrim and Connacht champions.

Glanmire got off to a dream start when they goaled after just a minute - a long delivery, a  hand pass over the top saw two Glanmire players collide in pursuit of the ball but the dangerous Orlaith Roche emerged with it and drove the ball past Leighanne Flynn for a goal.

Both sides hit wides, Laura O’Dowd unlucky after a quick free, but Ballinamore had an escape when Roche barged into Leighanne Flynn, the goal rightly disallowed.

Good work from Laura O’Dowd and Aoibheann Flynn saw Roisin McHugh fire over Ballinamore’s first ever point in Croke Park after five minutes but four minutes later, Glanmire grabbed a second goal when a long ball found Michelle Dullea and she off-loaded quickly with a handpass to Evie Twomey who buried the ball down the near side of the Ballinamore net.

Megan McGovern shot wide from distance but Ballinamore got themselves back into the game in spectacular fashion when a long ball found Roisin McHugh in space. A quick pass to Aoibheann Flynn in behind the Glanmire defence and she buried a rocket into the Davin End net after 14 minutes.

Glanmire really should have goaled on their next attack but Dullea lifted her shot high over the bar under pressure from Deborah McGourty. Midfielder Abbie O’Mahoney drove over a long distance point on 18 minutes before the McCarthy wing forwards, Ava & Ally, both pointed within a minute and both scores could have been goals.

Glanmire were also missing chances as they were cutting through the centre of Ballinamore’s defence but the next score fell to the Leitrim side when Laura O’Dowd saw a shot blocked but an earlier foul allowed Roisin McHugh to convert a free on 25 minutes. Deborah McGourty dropped a shot into the Glanmire keeper’s hands as Ciara McGoldrick replaced Lisa Maguire.

The Cork women would add two more points before the break with Roche and Twomey both on the mark at the end of strong runs through the centre to leave Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins trailing 2-7 to 1-2 at the break.

Glanmire had a great chance to put the game before reach when referee Siobhan Coyle awarded a penalty after Orlaith Roche was fouled on her way through, shooting just wide. However, when centre-back Ellen Twomey stepped up to take the kick, Aoibheann Flynn made a superb save to deny Glanmire the goal from the penalty spot.

Glanmire also saw Michelle Dullea missed a free from the right hand corner while Roisin McHugh saw a long range free tipped out by Sarah McLoughlin for a wide. However, from the kickout, Glanmire keeper Ava Carey took too long and Roisin McHugh fired over the free after six minutes,

Just as they did in the first half, Glanmire’s first half was a goal from Orlaith Roche, this time the full forward racing in from over 60 yards out, beating four defenders before planting the ball in the net.

Ballinamore almost had the perfect response when Laura O’Dowd put Aoibheann Flynn through but keeper Ava Carey came out quickly to save her shot, Glanmire clearing the danger.

It would prove a valuable save as Glanmire’s next attack led to a fourth goal for the the Cork women, a great move finished from a tight angle by Niamh McAllen on 41 minutes. 

Ballinamore kept battling with Laura O’Dowd seeing a shot blocked after a long range free. From the resulting fifty, Ballinamore won a free that Roisin McHugh converted although Glanmire were missing chances at this stage with Emma Honeyman making a great block on Ally McCarthy after 47 minutes.

Michelle Dullea added a free before Ciara O’Dowd ended a fine move started by her sister Laura’s free and a McHugh pass with a fine point from play on 53 minutes, 

Ballinamore then worked a great move with Megan McGovern finding Aoibheann Flynn in behind the defence. Glanmire keeper Ava Carey took Flynn down for a penalty but the keeper redeemed herself with a fine save from Roisin McHugh’s subsequent penalty.

Ballinamore had another goal chance after a McHugh free but Laura O’Dowd dragged her shot wide of the near side post after a brilliant move cut the Glanmire defence open after a throw-ball, although the Cork players were down numbers with an injured player receiving treatment at the time.

Glanmire finished as they started, with a goal when Ally McCarthy was taken down as she went through on goal and sub Riona Crowley firing the spot kick past Aoibheann Flynn to seal victory for the Cork side.

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Roisin McHugh 0-5, 4f; Aoibheann Flynn 1-0; Ciara O’Dowd 0-1

Team: Leighanne Flynn; Deborah McGourty, Abbi Sweeney, Emma Honeyman; Lisa Maguire, Mollie Murphy, Grainne Prior; Megan McGovern, Laura O’Dowd, Ciara O’Dowd; Roisin McHugh, Laoise Moran; Aoibheann Flynn, Sarah McLoughlin, Lucy Murphy. Sub: Ciara McGoldrick for Maguire (26); Laura Maguire for McGourty (39); Emma McKiernan for L Murphy (57); Aoibhinn McGoldrick for Honeyman (62)

GLANMIRE

Scorers: Orlaith Roche 2-1; Evie Twomey 1-1; Michelle Dullea 0-3, 2f; Niamh McAllen & Riona Crowley (P) 1-0 each; Abbie O’Mahony, Ally McCarthy, Ava McCarthy 0-1 eac

Team: Ava Carey, Eibhlis Dillon, Michelle Barry, Kayla O’Connor, Clodagh O’Donovan, Ellen Twomey, Ava Fitzgerald; Abbie O’Mahony, Ellen Murphy, Ally McCarthy, Niamh McAllen, Ava McCarthy, Evie Twomey, Orlaith Roche, Michelle Dullea. Subs: Riona Crowley for Ava McCarthy (41); Claire Murphy for O’Donovan (42); Amy O’Lehan & Aisling MCallen for Dillon & Roche (48);  Megan Sheehan for Ellen Murphy (54)

Referee: Siobhan Coyle (Donegal)