Breen points to early Glanmire goal as blow to Ballinamore's All-Ireland Final dream

Mike Tyson said that everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face. Well, the metaphorical punch Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins got when Glanmire’s Orlaith Roche fired the ball to the net just a minute into last Saturday’s CurrentAccount.ie LGFA All-Ireland IFC Club Final was enough to end what Brian Breen has described was a perfect build up to the final in Croke Park.

Speaking in the media room in the bowels of the Hogan Stand last Saturday evening, Breen admitted that Glanmire’s blistering start thwarted much of Ballinamore’s game plan: “The girls really were in good form and I’ve never been involved in a team before where everything up to the first whistle was perfect. We didn’t get the good start we talked about, they got a great start in fact and we were just chasing them for the rest of the game and unfortunately we couldn’t bring the intensity we were looking to bring to the game today.”

In fact, Barney admitted that Glanmire  surprised him with their intensity and performance in GAA headquarters: “They were very intense today, the evidence I had seen before, they weren’t so intense but they probably had a camogie game the day before so that was understandable. They were too good for us today. 

Heartbreak for Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins despite wonderful support in Croke Park - GALLERY

It wasn't their day but Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins fans were out in force as they took on Glanmire in the CurrentAccount.ie LGFA All-Ireland IFC Club Final in Croke Park on Saturday, the Cork side winning out 5-8 to 1-6. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was a busy man snapping photos in the famed statidum as well as The Croke Park Hotel ...... see who you can spot!

“A bit disappointed that we didn’t show up today -  we know that we left it behind us but immensely, immensely proud of the girls. We were winners before the game today in the community, we would have loved to have brought home a Cup, it wasn’t to be but we can only say we’re so proud of them.”

Glanmire paid Ballinamore due respect by obviously analysing their strengths with Laura O’Dowd and Roisin McHugh being marked by two players for most of the game, clogging up the attacking lanes Ballinamore used to good effect in reaching the All-Ireland while their ability to win the breaking ball was also crucial according to Barney.

“Of course, Glanmire kept it very tight in the middle. We talked about the breaking balls at halftime, we looked at those stats - we weren’t winning any of the 50-50 balls and we more or less said that the first ten minutes of the second half would determine the game but we just couldn’t get back in the game. They had a penalty early on and it killed whatever momentum we brought.”

The Ballinamore manager was proud of his player’s refusal to give in but with players of the quality of Orlaith Roche, Glanmire were just that bit too strong on the day: “With ten, 12 minutes to go, we missed our penalty, missed another open goal which could have brought us a bit of life but when your name is not on it, your name is not on it. 

“We just hadn’t the luck today and you always make your luck but in fairness, Glanmire were a better team on the day. We knew Orlaith Roche was going to be dangerous today, she is very fast on the ball and we knew that would be a danger. Croke Park suited her to an extent, lots of space and we couldn’t find that space today with our inside girls.”

Barney also thanked the Ballinamore community and the entire county for the support they received in the build-up to the final and on the day itself: “We were very much well aware of the whole county getting behind us, we were using that as a positive, we knew that we were representing the county as much as our own community and that was very important to us.

“I don’t think the occasion got to them. We took a spin up  to Croke Park last weekend so I don’t think it did. We just couldn’t get our momentum built today that we did in the last few games.”

What appearing in the final will do for Ballinamore Ladies is hard to quantify but Barney believes it can only help both Ballinamore and Leitrim into the future: “We spoke about that out on the field - within our own club, for kids coming through, it will lift it immensely and I hope it will transfer into the county, it is just a pity we couldn’t get the win today.

“We had a great balance this year. We went from Lucy Murphy who is 16 to Sarah McLoughlin who is 30-something, we won’t say! She keeps threatening to retire and she made a retirement speech out there today but nobody is passing any heed on that! We’ve a great blend of girls there and if we can keep them around, there is a good future there. We also understand that we have some great teams in Leitrim and next year will be a different story.”

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

BALLINAMORE SEAN O'HESLINS GLANMIRE

As for his own future, Barney also took on a new job last Thursday when he was elected as the new Youth Officer for Leitrim GAA, laughing when asked about taking on the post “I did for my sins! Looking forward to cutting my teeth on that as well. I was ten years in London, I think I have something to offer there as well.

“I will also say that I made a lot of admissions last week that I took the Ladies team because, one, I was asked and two, I thought it would be a nice way to ease my way back into management. The last few years in London, I was doing more mentorship rather than managing a team. 

“Coming back from London and with a good bit of stuff on at home, I thought I’d ease myself in but little did I know that it would be as intense as anything I’ve done. I enjoyed every inch of the way and working with them girls is an inspiration and long may it continue for them.”