Premier Division
Youghal Utd 1 – 2 Ballinhassig
11/10/09
Ballinhassig travelled to Youghal as favourites to take the points in this game. However it was the Youghal girls that started the better, and following a ball sent in to the Ballinhassig area it was Ann McCarthy who got her head to the ball and found the net to give Youghal the lead with 13 minutes left in the first half. Both defences had to work hard as this game was going from end to end, Katie Manning in the Youghal defence, on her first game at under 16 level, played a fine first half. Youghal continued to hold on to their slender lead and went in at half time one up.
Ballinhassig came out in the second half and were determined to push Youghal to the limit, and brought a fine save out of the Youghal keeper, Sarah Louise Flaherty, with a shot that had goal written all over it.
With four minutes left it looked like the Youghal girls had done enough to hold on for their first win, however Ballinhassig kept playing football and were rewarded when Ciara O’Leary picked up a great pass on the edge of the Youghal area and rode a strong challenge to get into the Youghal box where she weaved passed the Youghal defence to set herself up and shoot into the far corner and level the game.
Following the kickoff the Youghal girls to their credit pushed forward to try to get the lead back but two minutes later when the Ballinhassig girls won the ball inside their own half they played the ball quickly through the midfield with some lovely passing and Aisling O’Brien made no mistake and finished with a strong shot to the Youghal net to snatch a win with one minute left in the game.
Excellent for Ballinhassig were Miriam O’Riordan, Emma O’Donovan, Claire Christopher and Jane O’Leary, While excellent for Youghal were Kirsty Mason, Biane Roche, Katie Manning and in goal Sarah Louise Flaherty. A very entertaining game and a credit to both teams.