County title number 33 for Ballymacarbry.

Ballymacarbry Senior Ladies Football team claimed a thirty-third successive County Senior Football Championship on Saturday afternoon last when they beat Comeragh Rangers in an exciting game, having six points to spare at the end of the hour.

For much of the first half it looked as though Ballymacarbry’s long reign as kings or should that be queens of the game in Waterford as the mid county side really put it up to their neighbours from across the Comeragh Mountains.

For one player on the Ballymacarbry team, the day was all the more special, as Linda Wall not only captained the team, but she also scored a point and also won a seventeenth senior medal with the club.

The club is no stranger to producing good players, but Linda Wall will when the clubs history is eventually recorded on paper be accounted as one of the best.

Not only has she helped her club win seventeen county finals, she also has in her impressive collection of medals, four Munster Senior Club medals and six Intermediate Club medals won with Waterford in the last six years.

The position of Manager for the Waterford Intermediate Football Manager for 2015 was advertised lately, and who ever will be selected to be in charge of the team for the year ahead, going on what was seen in this game will have plenty of material to work with.

Eight members of the Ballymacarbry team that started on Saturday afternoon last were involved with the Waterford Intermediate’s in 2014 and it could be assumed that all eight could again be part of the panel again in 2015.

Two of the Ballymacarbry subs introduced on Saturday afternoon last made a real impact and it would be no surprise if Sinead Ryan were also to get a call up to the panel.

Four members of the Comeragh Rangers panel that started on Saturday afternoon last also played in the championship with Waterford this year and all four would be expected to find a place in the panel in 2014.

However, should more players find themselves included it would not be a surprise. Ann Dunphy missed out this year. She had a great game in the middle of the field for Comeragh Rangers on Saturday afternoon last and would be a plus to have back in contention for a place in the team in 2015, while the Murray triplets, Aoife Dunne, Eibhlin Power and Marian Hogan win for themselves a place in the panel they would greatly strengthen Waterford.

Ballymacarbry for much of the opening half had to play second fiddle to a very determined Comeragh Rangers side who should had lady luck being on their side at times would have gone to the dressing rooms with a much bigger advantage than the 1-6 to 0-6 lead that they actually held.

In every game there are turning points, and in this game the turning point came on forty-two minutes when Comeragh Rangers win back Aisling Hahesy was sin binned.

At the time Comeragh Rangers held a 2-6 to 1-8 advantage, but when Comeragh Rangers had their full quota of players restored ten minutes later, Ballymacarbry had put 1-4 past Comeragh Rangers who in that same ten minutes failed to score.

Ballymacarbry made all the early running in this game, but failed to show their dominance on the score board.

Comeragh Rangers had their first chance of the game on three minutes. Kate Hahessy  took a quick free kick which found its way to the very impressive Aoife Dunne who forced Sinead Grant into making a good save and putting the ball over her own end line. From the resulting Forty-Five the ball was worked into Shauna Dunphy in the opposite corner to Aoife Dunne. She attempted her luck in having an early Green flag waved at the road end of the ground, but she saw her effort fizzle just wide of the upright.

The games first score came on seven minutes when Inter county player Michelle Ryan kicked a delightful point for Ballymacarbry.

The Ballymacarbry lead however was a short lived one, as Aoife Dunne kicked a brace of points on twelve and fourteen minutes to give the challengers the lead for the first time.

In fact, Comeragh Rangers at this stage could have been even further in front as Aoife Murray shot just wide in another attempt for an early goal on ten minutes.

Linda Wall levelled matters on eighteen minutes when she kicked a point and almost straight away, Kate Hahessy was again very unlucky not to have had a green flag waved.

On twenty minutes, Comeragh Rangers again tried for a goal. This time Eibhlin Power saw her effort rebound off the post and from the resulting rebound Aoife Dunne put the mid county side back in front with her third score of the game. From the restart, Ballymacarbry worked the ball down field very quickly and Aileen Wall pointed to level the game, three points a piece.

Eibhlin Power from play and Marian Ryan with her first of the afternoon from a free swapped scores on twenty one and twenty three minutes to keep large crowd in the stand sitting on the edges of their seats.

Linda Wall six minutes from the break put Ballymacarbry back in front, but it was again a short lived lead as Katie Murray scored a delightful goal on twenty-six minutes after some good work up the left hand side of the field.

Comeragh Rangers were forced into making changes before the game, Katie Murray being one of two players brought in to the published team. She showed her appreciation to the selectors for giving her the nod, as after just scoring a goal, she played an instrumental roll in setting up Kate Hahessy and her sister Aoife for points which gave the challengers a four point lead.

Ballymacarbry in the opening half found themselves in a lot of trouble and made two changes in a bid to try and steady the ship. They worked, and they gave themselves some hope for the second half when Marian Ryan kicked a free for the side just before the break to leave them trailing 1-6 to 0-6 at the turn around.

Sometimes games can be won and lost by what is said and done during the few minutes during the break. Ballymacarbry kept their players on the field during the break and had them back in position for a few minutes before Comeragh Rangers returned from the dressing rooms.

What ever was said to the Ballymacarbry players worked and so do did the introduction of Sinead Ryan.

Just one minute of the second half was played and the sides were level after Lauren Guiry finished to the net. Four minutes later Ballymacarbry were in front when Marian Ryan put over another free.

However, almost straight away Comeragh Rangers were back in front when Shauna Dunphy hit a second goal for her side.

Shauna Ryan kicked a point for Ballymacarbry on thirty-nine minutes to leave just one between the sides.

Three minutes later Comeragh Rangers were dealt a blow, a much bigger one to loosing two of their published team before the game started when they lost Aisling Hahesy for ten minutes after referee Kevin Martin sin binned her.

From the resulting free after her sin binning the ball was worked quickly to Shauna Ryan who kicked a point to level matters with eighteen minutes to spare.

With a numerical advantage Ballymacarbry began to make it count. Sinead Ryan pointed on forty-six minutes and a minute later Marian Ryan put over a free to give her side a two point lead.

Lauren Guiry kicked a point with eleven minutes left on the clock to send Ballymacarbry three clear and three minutes later the writing was on the wall for Comeragh Rangers when Sinead Ryan doubled her sides lead after she kicked the team’s second goal of the game.

Stacey Whelan came on for Comeragh Rangers in the closing minutes to restore their full complement of players. She was not long on the field when it was Ballymacarbry’s turn to have their numbers cut when Treasa McGrath another of their first half changes was sin binned.

Aoife Dunne pointed for Comeragh Rangers on fifty-four minutes but it was to prove to be a mere consolation score. Further scores from Sinead Ryan and Marian Ryan from a free followed for Ballymacarbry to give them a seven point lead, but Aoife Murray kicked another late score for Comeragh Rangers but it was too little too late as Ballymacarbry ran out comfortable six point winners.

All players that played a part in this game played a roll in making this a very enjoyable game. Both sides had within their ranks however players that really impressed.

For Comeragh Rangers they had fine performances on the day from Aoife Dunne, Katie and Aoife Murray, Nora, Ciara, Ann and Shauna Dunphy, Marian Hogan and Eibhlin Power, while for Ballymacarbry they were best served by Michelle and Karen McGrath, Sinead Ryan, Shauna Ryan (who play’s her inter county football with Tipperary), Lauren Guiry, Mairead, Linda and Aileen Wall as well as Marian Ryan.

Ballymacarbry: Sinéad Grant; Mairéad Wall, Karen McGrath, Bríd Cooney; Siobhán Ryan,  Michelle McGrath, Eibhlis Cooney; Louise Ryan, Laura Mulcahy; Linda Wall, Marian Ryan, . Lauren Guiry; Laurissa Hogan, Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan. Subs: Shauna Ryan for Laurissa Hogan, Treasa McGrath for Brid Cooney, Sinead Ryan for Laura Mulcahy.

Scorers: Marian Ryan 0-5 (4f), Sinead Ryan 1-2, Lauren Guiry 1-1,Shauna Ryan, Aileen Wall 0-2 each, Michelle Ryan, Linda Wall 0-1 each.

Comeragh Rangers: Marian Hogan; Nora Dunphy, Ciara Dunphy, Aisling Hahessy; Aisling Hahesy, Clodagh Keane, Emma Murray; Maria Power, Ann Dunphy; Kate Hahessy, Katie Murray, Eibhlin Power; Aoife Dunne, Aoife Murray, Shauna Dunphy. Sub: Stacey Whelan for Aisling Hahesy.

Scorers: Aoife Dunne 0-4 (1f), Katie Murray, Shauna Dunphy 1-0 each, Aoife Murray 0-2, Eibhlin Power, Kate Hahessy 0-1 each.

Referee: Kevin Martin (Ballyduff Upper).