Barryroe GAA

Ahiohill, 18:30PM

Barryroe 3-04 Clonakilty 3-03

It was a foggy evening when we arrived in St. Oliver Plunkett’s GAA grounds but visibility improved greatly before the game began. It was nip and tuck for a lot of the game but our girls proved to be the hungrier and more clinical with their scores especially in the second half.

Andrea Tobin opened the scoring with a pointed free. Clon cancelled that out and also went on to score a goal. Then Jessica McCarthy pointed from play. Next Aideen O’Riordan delivered a ball into Roisin McCarthy who finished it off in the back of net. Clon replied with two goals. Naomi Murphy, Clodagh Moloney and Shannon Chapman were doing great work in the backline clearing ball. Orla Deasy was unlucky not to score. The Clon girls had a 5 point lead at half time, Barryroe 1-02 to Clon 3-01.

Clon opened the second half from a pointed free to advance their lead further. But whatever Pat Tobin said to our girls at half time, it worked the oracle as he instilled the belief that they could do it, as would be evident in this half. From a great Therese McCarthy puck out, Grace Tobin distributed the ball into the half forward line and Jess ran onto it and sent in a rasper to the back of the net. Andrea, then from a free, sent in a ball over the head of the goalie for a beautiful goal. Clon replied with a pointed free. The Clon girls started to dominate for a brief period but it was now game on for our girls. Maeve Whelton and Chloe Collins were creating scoring opportunities and putting huge pressure on Clon’s defense. Ciara Collins, a second half sub, in her first touch made a great impact on the game. Roisin Dullea and Eva Scallan Dowd were very dependable using their space efficiently. There was 11 minutes to go when Ciara O’Sullivan made a burst for it and pointed from play. We were now level for the third time in the match. It was a nail biting time for our supporters but our girls kept cool heads & it was Ciara O’Sullivan who went onto score the crucial winning point before the final whistle blew.

Our spirits were raised and with a lovely red sky appearing overhead, the Cup was presented by William McCarthy (Ballinascarthy) to our team captain, Clodagh Moloney. It was then off for a tour of the parish, a convoy of hooting cars and flashing lights. Our final destination was Grange Tavern for much appreciated refreshments where we continued the celebrations.

Panel: Therese McCarthy, Naomi Murphy, Clodagh Moloney (C), Shannon Chapman, Aideen O’Riordan, Roisin Dullea, Eva Scallan Dowd, Grace Tobin, Andrea Tobin (1f-01f), Jessica McCarthy (1-01), Maeve Whelton, Chloe Collins, Roisin McCarthy (1-00), Ciara O’Sullivan (0-02), Orla Deasy, Ciara Collins, Saphira Ruprecht, Megan Murphy, Sarah O’Regan (injured), Lauren Tobin (injured).

Trainer: Pat Tobin