Scanlon the hero as Ballyfin secure Division 2 ladies title

LOETB LGFA Division 2 Final 

Ballyfin 2-6 

Shanahoe 1-8 

BALLYFIN were crowned LOETB Ladies Division 2 champions after beating Shanahoe by a point in a drama filled ending which included eight minutes of added time in Stradbally on Friday night.

Chloe Scanlon was the Ballyfin hero as she hit over the winning point in the 67th minute to crown her side champions.

The first half was a slow burner until added time where two goals on either side were scored, but the second half made up for the poor first half and it turned out to be compelling viewing right until the end.

Shanahoe took the early lead from a free from the brilliant Martha Guilfoyle in the fifth minute of the game We had to wait until the 26th minute for the next score as Ballyfin through level from a Chloe Scanlon free. In between all that there were several wides, and both teams couldn't breakdown either defence.

Guilfoyle then put Shanahoe back into the lead as the game finally burst into life. Ballyfin would strike for their first goal soon after.

A great run from Caoimhe Drennan who went past several defenders and found Scanlon who found the back of the net.

Shanahoe replied with a goal of their own straight away through Maeve Hennessy as the game started to finally open up.

The victors then hit two points in a row through Scanlon and Niamh O'Rourke to give Ballyfin the lead as half time was beckoning.

Martha Guilfoyle drew the teams level before half time as it was 1-3 to 1-3 at half time.

Guilfoyle who was on fire up front hit the first point of the second half just like the at the start of the game.

Ballyfin hit back in emphatically and hit 1-2 in a row, Sinead O'Rourke kicked two inspirational scores to give Ballyfin the lead.

Then after a brilliant team goal Holly Murphy was on the end of the move to finish the ball into the back of the net to open up a four-point lead.

Shanahoe then sprung Noirin Butler from the bench and she made an instant impact straight away with two points in a row to close the gap to two in the second minute of injury time.

Kate Jacob added a free before the game was level with a brilliant point from Paige Hyland as the game looked certain for extra time.

But the drama wasn't finished as Ballyfin threw bodies forward for the winner and they got it in the 67th minute through Chloe Scanlon.

Shanahoe then pushed on for the equaliser and Noirin Butler had two effort that just missed the post as Ballyfin hung on for the win.

SCORERS:

Ballyfin: Chloe Scanlon 1-3 (0-3fs), Holly Murphy 1-0, Sinead O'Rourke 0-2, Niamh O'Rourke 0-1.

Shanahoe: Martha Guilfoyle 0-4 (0-3fs), Maeve Hennessy 1-0, Noirin Butler 0-2, Paige Hyland and Kate Jacob 0-1 each.

BALLYFIN: Laura McEvoy; Katie Maher, Aine Seale, Rachel Wheeler; Emma Heffernan, Niamh O'Rourke, Orlaith Meade; Orla Carroll, Caoimhe Drennan; Niamh Gorman, Sinead O'Rourke, Eva Cullinan; Aoibheann O'Rourke, Ella Kealy Dunphy, Chloe Scanlon.

Subs: Holly Murphy for Carroll, Rachel Walshe for Heffernan (ht), Michelle Lynch for Dunphy (52m), Isabel Conroy for Aoibheann O'Rourke (57m).

SHANAHOE: Niamh Stackpool; Isabel Finlay, Marian Ferns, Aoife Delaney; Hannah Bailey, Leanne Hyland, Molly Cashin; Maeve Hennessy, Megan Walsh; Mary Fitzpatrick, Maggie Fitzpatrick, Ava Tynan; Martha Guilfoyle, Grainne Phelan, Kate Jacob.

Subs: Paige Hyland for Delaney (ht), Ruth McDermott for Cashin (41m), Noirin Butler for Fitzpatrick (46m), Niamh Ryan for Tynan (50m).

Referee: Michael Tarpey (Kilcavan)