Late drama sees Ballyhaise land first Intermediate title

Ladies IFC final

Ballyhaise 2-5

Mullahoran 1-6

Aideen Coyle at Kingspan Breffni

The ladies Intermediate final was contested between last year’s beaten finalists Mullahoran and Ballyhaise who were playing in their club’s first ever IFC final. Ballyhaise had previous Junior championship success in 2003 and 2013 while Mullahoran previously lifted the Intermediate title in 2014. The side’s last met in the 2022 championship semi-final, a game which Mullahoran won in extra time after a tight encounter. A similar clash was expected on Saturday between Martin Tackney and Seanie Smith’s sides.

The opening half was low scoring and underwhelming for large parts with just seven scores in the half, played in difficult playing conditions with heavy rain pouring down. However, the closing stages of the game made up for it as Ballyhaise struck the net deep into injury time to land their first IFC title after a more lively, fast paced second half which saw the net hit on three occasions.

Philippa Watters opened the game’s scoring with a pointed free after a foul on midfielder Ellie Brady. From the resulting kickout, won by Annie Deneher, Emilia Mussi opened her team’s account with a fantastic long-range effort.

Two points in as many minutes from Elaine Brady and a Watters free put Ballyhaise ahead by two with 10 minutes of the half played. Corner forward Fainche Higgins started the game very brightly for Mullahoran and two points from the boot of the youngster in the 11th and 17th minutes left the sides level once again.

Scores were hard to come by in the closing stages of the half as both sets of back-lines worked tirelessly. Alex Peters, Áine Brady and Sorcha Brady were excellent in defence for Ballyhaise while Aoibhinn Galligan, Niamh Hayes and Emma Mulligan made vital tackles at the opposite end.

On two occasions Ballyhaise were forced into temporary subs with both Sinéad Moore and Sorcha Brady being forced off the field of play but this didn’t disrupt their game as Ballyhaise pointed their fourth in injury time to lead by the minimum at the break. A fantastic long-range effort from Brady sailed over the bar to give them a 0-4 to 0-3 lead at half-time.

With less than 20 seconds on the clock in the second half Mullahoran hit the game’s opening goal which set the tone for the half to come. Annie Deneher won the throw-in and played a long ball into first half substitute Kate Fegan. Fegan superbly rounded goalkeeper Emma Mulvanney and fired the ball to the net, soccer style.

They had the opportunity to extend their lead to three but a superb block from the outstanding Alex Peters on Higgins denied a certain score moments later.

Four minutes later they did go three ahead as Kate Smith pointed a close range free following a foul on Emilia Mussi, who had a brilliant game for the Dreadnoughts. With the tie hotting up a brilliant block from Kate Fegan on Ellie Brady was closely followed by a sin-bin to captain Laura Costello, leaving Mullahoran with a numerical advantage.

They made use of this straight away and hit the next point from a Kate Smith free to go into a four-point lead after hitting 1-2 without reply in the opening ten minutes of the half.

It took Ballyhaise 17 minutes to open their account with the opening point came from substitute Lucy Jayne Grant who replaced Watters in the forward line. Her point kicked her team into action and three minutes later the sides were level as player of the match Brady found the back of Cullen’s net. A mistake in the Mullahoran backline proved costly in the build up to Brady’s equaliser, undoing their strong start.

Neither side registered another score for over ten minutes as both team’s worked hard around the middle third of the field. Annie Deneher superbly blocked Sinead Moore before the returning Costello made a vital tackle to deny Higgins another score.

In the 28th minute Grant had a glorious chance at goal after a pass over the top from Clodagh Clarke found the forward in space, but her shot went narrowly wide. Mullahoran’s wide count for the half accumulated but a brilliant interception from Smith on a loose Ballyhaise kickout led to Geraldine Sheridan pointing in the 31st minute.

With five minutes of additional time called by the match referee Conor Dourneen, Mullahoran nervously held on to the possession of the ball whilst Ballyhaise worked tirelessly to win it back.

Mullahoran also had the burden of playing with 14 as full-back Niamh Hayes was shown the game’s second yellow card.

But in sport it’s never over till the final whistle goes and after chasing the ball for several minutes Ballyhaise’s Ellie Brady overturned possession at midfield.

The athletic youngster tore down the field and shot at goal.

The initial shot was saved by Cullen but landed favourably at the feet of super sub Grant who buried the ball to the net for the final play of the game-snatching victory from the faces of defeat deep into injury time in the clash.

Player of the Match was awarded to Elaine Brady who registered 1-2 with Alex Peters and Emilia Mussi also close contenders on the day.

Club captains Laura Costello and Orlaith Prior accepted the cup for the first time in their club’s history from county chairman Philip Wilson.

Ballyhaise: Emma Mulvanney, Laura Costello, Aine Brady, Aoife Rudden, Ciara Lee, Alex Peters, Eimear Rudden, Ellie Brady, Sinead Moore, Emma Duggan, Clodagh Clarke, Elaine Brady (1-2, 1f), Philippa Watters (0-2f), Elaine Reilly, Sorcha Brady

Subs used: Ruby Gilmartin for E. Reilly, Lucy Jayne Grant (1-1) for P. Watters

Mullahoran: Kathryn Cullen, Hannah Brady, Niamh Hayes, Emma Mulligan, Shólagh Briody, Aoibhinn Galligan, Ciara Brady, Emilia Mussi (0-1), Louise Sheridan, Cathy Shiels, Annie Deneher, Sheila Reilly, Kate Smith (0-2f), Geraldine Sheridan (0-1), Fainche Higgins (0-2)

Subs used: Kate Fegan (1-0) for C. Shiels, Orlaith Reilly for S. Briody, Maria Mussi for F. Higgins

Referee: Conor Dourneen