Ballymacarbry and Mourneabbey expected to fight out close Munster Senior Ladies Football Final

What has proved to be a successful year for Ladies Football in Waterford with the County capturing All-Ireland titles at Under 16 and Intermediate levels could become even better on Saturday afternoon when Ballymacarbry who have captured a thirty-fourth County Senior Final in a row recently take on Cork side Mourneabbey in the Munster Senior Club Final in Mallow with the game having a 4pm throw in.

The Cork side head into this game following on from a very busy few days.

On Saturday evening last they drew with Saint Vals in the Cork Senior County Final, 1-11 a piece at the Cork IT grounds and had to replay on Wednesday evening at Carrigaline to find a winner to take part in this weekends Munster Final.

The reigning champions going into that game retained their crown with a comfortable 3-9 to 0-9 win.

The eventual winners who appeared in last years All-Ireland Club Final where they lost to Termon from Donegal on a 3-12 to 1-13 score line did much of the spade work for this win in the first half at the end of which they held a 2-6 to 0-5 lead.

In a tight opening few minutes of the game Vera Foley and Síle O’Callaghan hit early points for the winners with Lara Fitzgerald pulling one back for a young St Val’s side.

It was at this point that Mourneabbey began to put pressure on the St Vals defence as they created three goal scoring chances but took none of them.

The winners however did break the deadlock on the quarter of an hour mark as a high ball was sent in around the St Vals square which was misread by the defensive players and hit the back of St Vals goalkeeper and went into the net.

And when Laura O’Sullivan hit a second goal for Mourneabbey six minutes later, the game looked to be all over as a contest.

Trailing by seven at the break St Vals came out for the second half hitting the opening score of the half but once Doireann O’Sullivan set up Brid O’Sullivan hit her sides third goal there was only going to be one outcome to the game.

Ballymacarbry come into this game on the back of some good results.

After overcoming the challenge of Comeragh Rangers in a re-arranged County Final in early September, in the last two weekends they have beaten Tipperary side Brian Boru’s in the Munster ‘B’ Final at New Inn and last weekend bear Banner Ladies in Tipperary Town to win the Munster ‘B’ Final, hitting impressive tallies in all games.

The Cork side will come into this game looking for big performances from their Cork senior players such as Ciara, Doireann, Méabh, Roisin and Brid O’Sullivan as well as Roberta Harrington, Katie Healy, Laura Fitzgerald and Marie O’Callaghan.

Ballymacarbry in their win last weekend called on all their experience to see them past Banner Ladies.

With forty seven minutes played in that game the sides were locked at fifteen points each, but after Tipperary inter county player Shauna Ryan hit a goal they outscored their opponents 1-7 to 0-2 in the final thirteen minutes of the game to record an excellent win.

Like Mourneabbey, Ballymacarbry will be looking to their inter county players for inspiration in this game.

All year the likes of Michelle McGrath, Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Linda Wall, Louise Ryan, Aileen Wall, Sinead Ryan and Michelle Ryan have been in outstanding form and will look for one more big performance her and will also be looking to the likes of Tipperary inter county player Lauren Fitzpatrick in goal as well as fellow Tipperary players Teresa McGrath and Shauna Ryan, while big performances will also be required from the likes of Becky Hogan, Laura Mulcahy, Marian Ryan, Eibhlis Cooney, Danielle Hallahan and Lauren Guiry if and when they are called upon.

Like in many other games at this time of the year with so much on offer to the sides taking part, this game could well go right to the wire.

The fact that Mourneabbey had a game during the week that they might have not necessarily want to play will have taken something from the players. However it is often the case that the more players play at this time of the year adrenalin takes over and any tiredness from playing games in close proximity is forgotten about.

The Cork side with their experience of playing in last years All-Ireland Club final and with so many players involved with the all conquering Cork Senior Ladies Football team will have to go into the game as favourites.

But this is a good Ballymacarbry team and if they were to upset the odds, few would be shocked. Its Ballymacarbry for me here in what could be a very close game.