Assumption are on a high after victory in shield

Assumption are on a high after victory in shield

17 January 2024

HAD two late strikes on the Ballynahinch goals hit the target instead of flashing wide, Assumption could have lost this Senior Medallion Shield final on Monday evening in Coláiste Feirste – but they would only have had themselves to blame.

After a bad start when they conceded a fourth minute goal that really raised their opponents’ confidence, Ballynahinch got going midway through the first half and dominated the second quarter to lead by 1-6 to 1-1 at the break. 

Indeed, the lead could have been more pronounced with the Derry school’s defence stretched on a few occasions and players left unmarked. However, the final pass didn’t make it through for the killer punch.

In the second half, the Down school created another three goal chances. The first came after 35 seconds but Daire O’Shea’s effort was brilliantly turned away for a 45 that O’Shea converted. 

There were at least two other clear cut chances, but each time the final strike was absent. So too was the clinical accuracy from frees that was evident in the second quarter.

It all meant that St Conor’s were still in with a chance as the game entered injury time. Assumption can thank Erin Douglas and her defenders for making sure the line wasn’t crossed. 

A ‘lucky’ early goal and four points from Ellie McCartney, a roving half back with a beautiful clean strike from distance, was all the defence conceded and full credit is due to Caitlin McGrattan and Erin Daly in particular.

The two defenders, Caileigh McConnell, Alannah McKay and Corra Croskery were all in the running for player of the match, but McCartney’s defiance earned her the award by a short head.

Leah Marron’s early goal unsettled Assumption. Marron shot for a point but the sliotar dipped in under the bar. It lifted St Conor’s and Ellie McCartney, Éabha Mullan and Conla Kerr took the game to Assumption during the first quarter.

However, they didn’t breach the Assumption defence and Corra Croskery eventually got Ballynahinch off the mark with a 14th minute point. Although McCartney fired over a sublime long range point a minute later, the rest of the half belonged to Assumption.

Caileigh McConnell’s goal, after good work from Corra Croskery, tied the teams in the 17th minute before Assumption added five unanswered points from junior team players – four from free-taker Daire O’Shea and the other from Dromara’s Alannah McKay.

They should have pushed on after the break. O’Shea’s point from a 45 in the first minute didn’t get them going. Instead McCartney ped a free in around the Assumption goal and Sinéad O’Connell got a touch to put over the bar – it could have been a goal.

McCartney closed the gap to four with a long range point, while at the other end shots were going wide or dropping short.

Eventually McConnell raised an eighth white flag for Assumption. McCartney immediately cancelled it, but St Conor’s were no further threat until injury time. The Ballynahinch goals lived a charmed life on a couple of occasions. Eventually the Down side went on a break and Alannah McKay pointed to kill the tie.

It was some turnaround from the opening game of the competition back in November when St Conor’s crushed Assumption by 9-9 to 4-4 at Mallusk. This time Assumption were in control and always looked poised to take their second title, ten years from the only other outright victory.

Not only do they follow another Down side, Our Lady’s, Newry, to victory in the competition, but Ballynahinch have now won provincial senior, junior and sevens titles this school year and can look forward to two All-Ireland semi-finals in the next couple of weeks.

The seniors have to travel to Our Lady of Lourdes, Rosbercon, in south Wexford on Saturday, January 27, and a week later the Leinster junior champions have to make the trip north. That Leinster junior final takes place this weekend.

Assumption: Erin Douglas, Emma McLaughlin, Caitlin McGrattan, Tara O’Neill, Ellie McCabe, Erin Daly, Alanna McLaughlin, Lena Mason, Shannon Coulter, Áine O’Neill, Corra Croskery (0-1), Alannah McKay (0-2), Rose Carson, Caileigh McConnell (1-1), Dáire O’Shea (0-5, 4f).

Subs: Olivia Sharvin for Áine O’Neill, Clodagh Cultra for Rose Carson.

St Conor’s: Ciara O’Neill, Rionach Kearney, Anna Mullan, Anna O’Neill, Ellie McCartney (0-4), Éabha Mullan, Anna Quinn, Leah Marron (1-0), Conla Kerr, Annie Leadon, Grace Draine, Ellie McAfee, Sinéad O’Connell (0-1), Roise Smyth, Naoise Henry.

Subs: Hannah O’Neill for R Kearney, Anna Graham for A Quinn, Jojo Darragh for S O’Connell, Clare Henry for E McAfee.

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna).