Croke Park adventure is something Grainne and Ballinamore will never forget

We use the phrase ‘once in a lifetime’ to describe many things but captain Grainne Prior hopes that Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins’ journey to the CurrentAccount.ie LGFA All Ireland Intermediate Club Final can inspire future generations of female footballers in Ballinamore.

“When this opportunity came to us, we had to take it as a once in a lifetime thing,” said the Ballinamore captain after Saturday’s 5-8 to 1-6 loss to Glanmire in Croke Park, adding “The result is obviously disappointing, I don’t think it displays how much we would have loved to win but we were just up against a stronger side. 

“It was amazing to be here and an amazing day for the club and everybody here - I’m sure they still enjoyed themselves and they’re still proud of us.”

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

If that can inspire future female footballers, Grainne will be thrilled: “I would hope so - we won the Connacht and that was such an amazing day, it was an historic day for the club. Seeing the young children around shows how much it meant and it makes it so much more special to see that. 

“There is no reason why any girl from Ballinamore or any girl from Leitrim can’t get to this point. There is so much potential in Ladies football in Leitrim and we might not have shown it here today but getting here today hopefully will have shown that.

“When you are playing in the middle of December, it is obviously a good sign that you’ve got this far. Winning the Connacht was absolutely amazing, winning the All-Ireland Semi-Final down in our own home grounds was one of the best days of all of our lives so it is definitely a year that we’ll never forget, no matter what happened here today.”

The entire experience is one that will be savoured by Grainne and her teammates: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last few weeks, the build-up to this game, it has been incredible. The buzz around the town, the buzz around the whole county, seeing how much it means to everybody, it is something that we definitely will not forget and I think it is something that will stand to us, regardless of the result today.

“It has been amazing - that video you’re talking about, none of the management or any of us had anything to do with that, that was just Ballinamore coming together and showing what a great community we have and how passionate we are about our club.

“We’ve had great support from the other clubs as well, lovely messages from other players that you’d usually be marking and who’d be your worse enemy but when it comes to something like this, everybody wants you to do well. Absolutely, it won’t last long but we’ll enjoy it, it meant a lot to us.”

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!

Analysing the game, Grainne admitted that Glanmire were deserving winners but felt their experience helped the Cork women: “They got two goals early enough in the game and that left us with a big hill to climb. They obviously had the momentum and we were chasing them the whole game. They were definitely the better side today and deserving winners.

“Aoibheann’s goal gave us a little bit of hope but unfortunately from then on, I don’t think we had that many chances until the second half but what can you do, we didn’t take the chances. Glanmire are a very experienced club and they were here five years ago winning the Junior All-Ireland so you can see they have the experience. 

“We probably weren’t expecting to come up against such a strong side but that’s our own fault and something we can look at.”