Moate ladies pass Leinster test despite late scares

Moate 1-14 Ballymore 3-6

By Blaithin Mulvihill

Moate overcame Ballymore of Longford more comfortably than their two-point margin of victory suggests in this Leinster LGFA Intermediate Club Championship first round clash at Oliver Lynch Park, Abbeylara last Saturday.

While the final scoreline suggests a close game, in reality this gives a false impression. Entering stoppage time, the Longford champions trailed their Westmeath counterparts by eight points and only two late goals from substitute Caroline Kiernan ensured an exciting finish to what had been a completely dominant second half display by the Moate ladies.

Despite trailing Ballymore by three points at the break (1-3 to 0-3) the south Westmeath outfit were level moments after the restart when Tara Hughes found the Ballymore net.

They hit the front a minute later when Chloe Malone pointed from play and from that to stoppage time at the end of the game they were in full control of proceedings, building up a substantial lead and reducing Ballymore to just two Aisling Reynolds frees and a point from centre-half-back Sorcha Dawson before Kiernan's two goal salvo made for an exciting finish.

Played in blistering sunshine at the scenic Abbeylara venue, the game was expected to be a close encounter. Ballymore had easily accounted for St Brigid's Gaels in the Longford decider three weeks earlier while Moate had prevailed by the minimum margin against near neighbours Caulry in the Westmeath final. The large attendance waited in anticipation of another typical Longford/Westmeath derby.

A frantic opening saw Moate race into a two-point lead after five minutes courtesy of Chloe Malone and a Therese Geoghegan free.

We had to wait all of 16 minutes before Ballymore registered their first score, a pointed free from Aisling Reynolds. Shauna Heaney drew the sides level five minutes later.

Eva Fox restored the Moate lead in the 25th minute before Ballymore, despite being outplayed for most of the first half, finished with a great goal from Emer Heaney followed by a fine point from Aisling Reynolds. This meant the Longford champions went in at the break leading by 1-3 to 0-3.

Most in attendance expected a tight second half but after the break Moate wasted no time in dispelling that idea. On the resumption they took control from the throw-in and, unlike in the first half, they turned their dominance into scores.

Tara Hughes brought the sides level with a brilliant goal in the 32nd minute. Another Chloe Malone point restored her side's lead as the Westmeath girls began to dominate the exchanges.

Ballymore had simply no answer to the Moate charge and following another three points from Hughes (one free), the home side found themselves four points in arrears ten minutes into the second half.

Further scores from Chloe Moran (0-2), Chloe Malone (0-1) and Emily Craven extended the Moate lead to eight before Ballymore finally opened their second half account with two Aisling Reynolds frees (49th and 51st minutes).

Points from Emily Craven and Tara Hughes restored the Westmeath champions' eight-point advantage as the game entered its closing stages.

To their credit, Ballymore fought to the bitter end and in added time almost pulled off the impossible with scores Sorcha Dawson (0-1) and Caroline Kiernan (2-0) bringing the game to a thrilling conclusion.

Moate’s Ella Grennan scored their last point before referee Gary Carthy blew the final whistle, with Ken Berry's charges through to the next round away to Annacurra of Wicklow on Saturday (throw-in 2pm).

Scorers - Moate: T Hughes 1-4 (0-1 free); Chloe Malone 0-3; C Moran and E Craven 0-2 each; E Fox, E Grennan and T Geoghegan (f) 0-1 each. Ballymore: C Kiernan 2-0; A Reynolds 0-4 (3f); E Heaney 1-0; S Dawson and S Heaney 0-1 each.

Moate - Grace Coughlan; Lorna Flanagan, Louise Payne, Niamh Palmer; Holly Keenan, Chloe Moran, Vanessa O’Brien; Therese Geoghegan, Annemarie Moran; Tara Hughes, Stacey Holloway, Lara Deehan; Caroline Malynn, Eva Fox, Chloe Malone. Subs: Emily Craven for C Malynn (half-time); Ella Grennan for E Fox (57 mins); Aine Bracken for S Holloway (62).

Ballymore: Courtney Murphy; Amy Creegan, Eileen Boyle, Emma Boyle; Rachel Higgins, Sorcha Dawson, Aideen Kiernan; Elizabeth Kearney, Deirdre Monaghan; Ciara Heaney, Aisling Reynolds, Marie Martin, Emer Heaney, Shauna Heaney, Zara Drake. Subs: Grace McEvoy for C Heaney (half-time); Molly Boyle for R Higgins (44 mins); Alanna Kelly for A Kiernan (55); Caroline Kiernan for S Heaney (59).

Referee - Gary Carthy (Dublin).