Goals decisive as Kildare IFC champs Balyna advance to Leinster Club semi

Balyna 4-8

Graiguecullen 0-14

Balyna, with the help of four goals, came out of a cloudy, patchy and slightly cold Johnstownbridge last Saturday afternoon with a Leinster semi-final spot to look forward to.

The Kildare champions, with the help of a brace of goals, held a six point lead at half-time. Two further goals in the opening ten minutes of the second-half, with a possible hint of fortuity, pushed them into a double digit advantage, before holding on against a Graiguecullen team who kept fighting until the very last whistle.

Both teams were on the board two minutes into the game, thanks to Erica Burke of Balyna and Lauren Walsh of Graiguecullen.

The Laois champions would push ahead on five minutes thanks to a superb Kelly O’Neill free from distance, before the hosts would strike for their opening goal moments later, after Aoibheann Birchall cut through from an angle to find the net with power on her side. Birchall would point along with Grace Gallagher before Graiguecullen responded through Lauren Walsh’s free.

Grace Gallagher fired over a further two points from play for the Lillywhite side, while Aoibheann Birchall landed a monster free from 40 metres away.

For the O’Moore County, Emer Cawley, Lauren Walsh and Caoimhe Fitzpatrick added to their account.
Grace Gallegher would then find the net for Balyna on 29 minutes, when she cut through the centre of the opposing defence to fire her shot into the corner of the net with conviction to leave the Kildare side 2-6 to 0-6 ahead at half-time.

SECOND HALF
Lauren Walsh’s free got Graiguecullen off to a lively start to the second-half in the 37 minute, before Julie Brannigan’s shot for a point dropped all the way into the corner of

Maryann O’Neill’s net a minute later. Only moments after that, Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal’s effort for a score from a tight angle was just as effective, giving Balyna an eleven point advantage.

Graiguecullen battled on though, and points from Lauren Walsh and Kelly O’Neill ate away at the gap before Aoibheann Birchall pointed 14 minutes after Balyna’s last score. Her goalkeeper Ruth Bergin had to pull off a fine save to force a 45 on 45 minutes. Robyn

Hurley converted the Kildare champion’s final point of the game a minute before added-time after only just coming onto the field, which ensured Jade Nolan and Kelly O’Neill’s further scores for Graiguecullen wasn’t enough to deny Balyna an extended championship run.

BALYNA: Ruth Bergin; Kate Langley, Sadie Cullinan, Holly O’Keefe; Lucy Cullinan, Ellen Morgan, Megan Cooney; Julie Brannigan 1-0, Leah Doran; Rachel Cribbin, Erica Burke 0-1 (black-card 44-54 minute), Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal 1-0; Lauren Dixon, Grace Gallagher 1-2, Aoibheann Birchall 1-4 (0-2 frees). Subs: Siobhan Hurley for Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal (blood sub 30 to half-
time), Caoimhe Farrell for Kate Langley (52), Siobhan Hurley for Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal (57), Robyn Hurley 0-1 for Rachel Cribbin (59).

Graiguecullen: Maryann O’Neill; Izzy Humphries, Caoimhe Brennan, Sara Kerfah; Sally Amond, Georgina Donovan, Jasmine Kinsella; Caoimhe Fitzpatrick 0-1, Jade Nolan 0-1; Lauren Walsh 0-5 (0-4frees), Mags McEvoy, Emer Cawley; Mia Branagan 0-1, Kelly O’Neill 0-6 (0-4frees), Ella Byrne. Subs: Hanna Kerfah for Ella Byrne (half-time), Kathlyn Timmons for Sally Amond (41), Shayna Howe for Emer Cawley (49).

REFEREE:
Gerard Egan (Longford)

Player of the Match: Aoibheann Birchall (Balyna)

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