Ballycran queens in dramatic charge to pip Liatroim at post

5 September 2012

BALLYCRAN retained their title after a thrilling clash with Liatroim in Portaferry on Sunday.

It certainly was a very close and competitive match which had both sets of supporters on eggshells right to the final whistle with the Ards girls triumphing by two points.

Liatroim got off to the better start and created a few scoring opportunities, but none registered on the scoreboard. It was Ballycran who opened the scoring when Catherine McGourty demonstrated precisely why she is considered one of the finest ball strikers in the country by blasting the ball into the roof of Liatroim’s net from a 20 metre free.

The experienced heads on the Liatroim players remained composed and put the ‘Cran defence under pressure with direct running and good passing movement.

Their first point came from the ever-alert Karen McMullan whose great run through the centre of the Ballycran defence was found by an accurate side line cut from Lisa McCrickard. Both sides traded points, but two more well grafted open play points from Lisa McCrickard left the sides level at 1-1 to 0-4.

With both defences controlling their opponents, scores were at a premium and it was down to the sharp shooters Catherine McGourty and Catriona McCrickard to convert the opportunities from the placed ball. They added two points each to leave the half-time score Ballycran 1-3 to Liatroim 0-6.

Within two minutes of the second half Catherine McGourty restored Ballycran’s lead from a free, but Liatroim translated their possession into a point lead with Catriona McCrickard’s great accuracy from frees.

For the first time in the game Ballycran found themselves behind and they responded like true champions with their first scores from open play. Nicola Braniff picked off a point, but the pivotal score when Catherine McGourty’s long ball in found her sister Brid who hurled it first time into the Liatroim net.

With plenty of time left on the clock Catriona McCrickard score a great point from play, but a few other Liatroim’s chances drifted wide of the target. Laura Hughes capped her player of the match performance with a delightful point from play to restore the three point lead.

With the game inside the last five minutes a Liatroim free hit the woodwork and was cleared by the very busy Ballycran defence. With a puck off the ball between the teams Lisa McCrickard brought down to a two point game, and the Fontenoys sensed a real upset on the cards and their goal mouth pressure was rewarded with a forty five.

Lisa McCrickard launched a high testing ball right into the Ballycran square only to see it come off the cross bar and cleared away. It was the Ards girl’s day and they survived a late Liatroim onslaught to retain their title.

Despite the lack of scores from open play this tense final gave many young players from both sides the chance to test their ability on the big stage and in Aimee McAleenan and Laura Hughes there is great potential for the future.

Ballycran 2-6

Liatroim 0-10

DOWN SENIOR CAMOGIE FINAL

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