Strong second half sees Shanahoe defeat Ballyroan and reach final

Ballyroan 1-7 Shanahoe 2-11
Laois Ladies IFC semi-final

Shanahoe are through to the Ladies Intermediate football final following a seven point win over Ballyroan this evening.

They will now go forward to face Park-Ratheniska in the final after pulling off something of a surprise tonight.

Ballyroan were favourites for this competition after winning all of their group games while Shanahoe’s only group win came against Clonaslee – but none of this matters now as Shanahoe will take their place in the final.

The game got off to a slow start with both teams only registering a point each in the opening ten minutes. Andrea Moran and Mary Griffin exchanged points during this period as both defences were on top.

Shanahoe played with Kate Jacob operating as a sweeper. Jacob played this role expertly as she helped her side turnover the ball on numerous occasions while also forcing Ballyroan into kicking many wides.

After the waterbreak the game burst into life. Shanahoe’s forwards dispossessed the Ballyroan defenders in possessions on numerous occasions resulting in points via Jane Madden and Lisa Tynan. This gave Shanahoe a two point lead over Ballyroan – 0-3 to 0-5

On the stroke of halftime Ballyroan broke at pace and scored a brilliant goal. Emile McWey picked the ball up and drove at the heart of the Shanahoe defence. She then blasted the ball into the roof of the net which gave Ballyroan a one point lead at the break.

Ballyroan got the second half underway with a point from Katie Whelan. However, they would not score again for nearly twenty minutes as Shanahoe dominated. They kicked three points in a row to put them a point ahead through a brace from Alice Walsh and one from Griffin.

Just before the water break Shanhoe got their first goal of the game. Alice Walsh saw Griffin free on the edge of the box and found her with a delightful ball over the ballyroan defence. Griffin made no mistake and placed the ball into the corner of the net putting Shanahoe four points clear – 1-4 to 1-8.

Shanahoe then quickly added their second goal of the game via Paige Hyland. A high ball was played across the box and Hyland was able to punch it into the back of the net to further extend their lead.

Ballyroan replied with points from Whelan and Liadan Greally while Lisa Dunne and De Tootquet kept the scoreboard ticking over for Shanahoe as we approached the latter stages of the half.

Ballyroan put immense pressure on Shanahoe’s defence in search of goals but they remained resolute to see Shanahoe win by seven points. Thus, booking their place in this years final.

SCORERS – Ballyroan: Kate Whelan 0-5 (four frees), EmileMcWey 1-0, Andrea Moran, Liadan Greally 0-1 each. Shanahoe: Mary Griffin 1-4 (two frees), Paige Hyland 1-0, Lisa Dunne 0-3, Alice Walsh 0-2, Jane Madden, Jeanne De Tootquet 0-1 each.

BALLYROAN: Shona Phelan, Caoimhe Delaney, Clodagh Dunne, Emma Cass; Leah Kelly,Sarah McMahon, Isabelle McWey; Andrea Moran, Emily Mulhall; Eimear McWey, Emile McWey, Faye McEvoy; Rachel Fitzgerald, Kate Whelan, Finola Kehoe. Subs: Liadan Greally for Kehoe (37), Jennifer Cass for Delaney (40), Ellen Donoghue for I. McWey (49).

SHANAHOE: Eimear Barry, Hannah Bailey, Katie Reddin, Valerie Lalor; Issy Finlay, Leanne Hyland, Emma Finlay; Aoife Finlay, Jeanne De Tootquet, Maggie Fitzpatrick, Mary Griffin, Alice Walsh; Kate Jacob, Lisa Tynan, Jane Madden. Subs: Laura Finlay for Fitzpatrick (36), Paige Hyland for Madden (36), Grainne Phelan for Walsh (50), Marian Ferns for Lalor (50).

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/09/17/strong-second-half-sees-shanahoe-defeat-ballyroan-and-reach-final/