GAA: Late show gives New York win over Ballymacarbry

 

Despite being down by seven points at the half, they battled back with sub Mairead Brennan having a huge hand in the recovery, while scoring sensation Molly O’Rourke fired in two goals. 

 

The game opened with the visitors getting first blood, an Aileen Wall goal on three minutes. They matched their hosts point for point in the following six minutes to hold a 1-3 to 0-3 lead after 10. 

 

The game then game in scoring waves as first Ballymacarbry had three points on the trot before New York ran off five of their own. Mary O’Rourke had two, with Molly, Courtney Traynor, and Kelly Troche getting the others. 

 

It left Phil Sheridan’s side all square at 0-8 to 1-5 with seven minutes left in the first half. Those minutes were all Waterford as Michelle Hopper McGrath took over the game. 

 

Sinead Ryan had a screamer of a point before Hopper had an exceptional goal. She then worked with Linda Wall to set up Aileen Wall for her second goal and the team’s third for a 3-6 to 0-8 halftime lead. 

 

Ballymac added a Michelle Ryan free to open the second half, but then the New York comeback began. They had four points while also hitting the crossbar and upright in the next 10 minutes. 

 

Two came from frees off the foot of Molly O’Rourke while Mary O also hit the mark. Aileen Wall did fire over a point after good approach work from  Ryan and Hopper, but a Brennan score on 15 minutes left the scoreline 0-13 to 3-08. 

 

After Danielle Hallahan and Brennan swapped scores, New York finally got the goal they needed to get a result. It was fortunate, but you take it whatever way it comes. 

 

A long free by Molly O’Rourke after she had been fouled went all the way to the net. On the resulting kickout the ball was played short by the defense and lost. Again O’Rourke was on hand, and she pushed the ball to the net for goal number two and the lead. 

 

Ballymacarbry attacked and hit the upright, and on the rebound Hallahan shot a foot wide before Alison Leydon made a tremendous save on Aileen Wall. The side worked the ball up the field and they were able to add to their advantage with a further two points, with Linda McKeon’s an exceptional effort. 

 

Ryan did have a point from a free with the last kick of the game, but it was not enough to steal a result and New York held on.

 

New York: 1 Alison Leydon, 2 Catrina Lynch, 3 Tracy Ann McCullough, 4 Imelda Mullarkey, 5 Louise Lilly, 6 Cathriona Brady, 7 Joanne Monaghan, 8 Linda McKeon (0-2), 9 Aine Dwyer, 10 Ashlin Gormley, 11 Kelly Roche (0-1), 12 Maeve De Burca, 13 Courtney Traynor (0-1), 14 Molly O’Rourke (2-6), 15 Mary O’Rourke (0-3). Subs: Mairead Brennan (0-3), Niamh Britton.  

 

Ballymacarbry: 1 Sinead Grant, 2 Marie Walsh, 3 Michelle McGrath (1-0), 4 Linda Wall, 5 Amanda McGovern, 6 Teresa McGrath, 7 Karen Henry, 8 Louise Ryan, 9 Mairead Wall, 10 Aileen Wall (2-1), 11 Michelle Ryan (0-6), 12 Mary Ann Gormley (0-1), 13 Danielle Hanlon (0-1), 14 Sinead Ryan (0-1), 15 Michelle O’Gorman.

 

Referee: Alan Hearty.

 

Player of the game: Molly O’Rourke (New York).