Glen Rovers 5-6 Ballygarvan 5-1

Glen Rovers were crowned County under16B league champions when they defeated Ballygarvan in a thrilling final at the new Glen Rovers pitch on Sunday last. Ballygarvan hit the front with a goal from Rachel Keohane and the Glen girls had hit four wide’s before Karen O Connell opened their account with a point which was quickly followed by one from Sinead O Halloran.

Working hard to get back on level the home side were rocked when Sabrina O Mahony extended the Ballygarvan led with her side’s second goal. Switching their captain Lydia Cunningham to centre back and Denise Luby to half forward the Glen girls began to settle and apply the pressure they had the lead down to a point when Sinead O Halloran struck for a goal inside fifteen minutes of the half. O Halloran and Luby proved to be the thorn in Ballygravan side twice in as many minutes linked up superbly as Luby laid off two excellent moves for O Halloran to blast to the net as Glen rovers opened up a three point lead.

Ballygarvan worked hard with Aisling Byrne and Mary Ellen ODonovan giving it their all but they could finding now way past a strong Glen defence where Alice Keating, Ciara O Keeffe and Clare Walsh. With six minutes to the interval Karen O Connell struck for goal number four and she quickly followed striking a superb long rang effort over the bar and with the half time whistle looming Ballygarvan clawed their way back when Mary Ellen O Donovan blasted a close in free to the net as Glen turned around 3-4 to 3-0 ahead. Both defences came under pressure through the second half with both inside lines shooting wide’s glen again found their shooting boots when O Halloran and Luby again linked up this time Denise Luby finding the net from close ranger after good work from O Halloran. From the puck out Glen attacked again a long ball from Luby finished to the net by the in rushing Sinead O Halloran after a good save from keeper Aine Keohane. Just when they looked in danger of been over run Ballygarvan upped the tempo Aisling Byrne finishing to the net to cut the arrears to seven points Again Glen responded and driven on by Cunningham, and an ever improving Sinead Gallen at mid field, they pressurise Ballygarvan Karen O Connell who through the hour was a constant danger to the Ballygarvan struck to the roof of the net for her sides fifth goal and when Luby pointed a forty five the title looked to be on its way to the Blackpool girls.

Never letting their heads drop Ballygarvan battled to get something back Aisling Byrne grabbing her second goal three minutes into injury time before pointing a free to cut the lead to five points but by now the glen girls had done enough to secure the title. After the game Glen Rovers Denise Luby as named by county board Chairperson Tracy Sheehan as the Player of the game following on a superb display and she was presented with her trophy by Tracy.

TEAMS Glen Rovers E Dunlea, L. Egan, Z. Buckley, C O Keeffe C Walsh, D Luby (1-2 0-1 from 45” meter free), A Keating, L Cunningham ©, S Fahy, K O Connell (1-2), S Gallen, L Crowley, H Keane, S Clifford, S O Halloran, (3-2) Subs A Murphy for L Egan (inj 47mins), S Busteed for H Keane, A Rea for S Clifford Ballygarvan: A Keohane, L O Callaghan, B Keohane, F O Halloran, K O Sullivan, M E O Donovan,(1goal from free) L Kennefick, M Moynihan, C Murphy, R NI She, R Byrne ©, A Byrne (2-1) S O Mahony(1goal), R Keohane(1goal), R Murphy Subs S Quilligan for S O Mahony (30mins), L Browne for F O Halloran,(39mins) C white for L Kennefick (44mins) A Walsh for L O Callaghan (50mins) Ref G Sheehan Douglas