LGFA - Ballyboden St Endas are crowned PTSB Junior O Champions

PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior O Club Championship Final

Ballyboden St Enda’s E 5-08 St Margaret’s B 4-05

Report by Cóilín Duffy

Ballyboden St Enda’s survived a spirited second-half comeback from St Margaret’s to claim PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior O honours in the inaugural final at St. Margaret’s GAA Club on Friday night.

A blistering start laid the foundations for Ballyboden’s success, with Hannah Bury and Dearbhla McCarthy finding the net inside the opening four minutes. Keeva Finlay and Fiona McDonnell had already registered points, leaving St Margaret’s facing a considerable early deficit.

Nessa Madigan provided the response when she converted a free for a goal in the eighth minute. Two points from Tegan Ratcliffe kept St Margaret’s in contention, but Ballyboden struck another decisive double before the interval.

Nicole McGinn raised their third green flag after 18 minutes and Finlay followed with another goal less than a minute later. Aoife Mellett also added a point as Ballyboden’s pace and movement continued to trouble the St Margaret’s defence.

Madigan claimed her second goal in the 25th minute and subsequently converted a free, but Finlay’s placed-ball point ensured Ballyboden carried a 4-5 to 2-3 advantage into the interval.

St Margaret’s emerged with renewed purpose and Lauren Bruton’s goal nine minutes after the restart reduced the deficit to five points. Ratcliffe then landed her third point to leave just four between the teams.

Ballyboden manager Cathal O’Toole responded by introducing Stephanie Hamm, Ellie McAree and Ava Gray in quick succession. Gray made an immediate impact, scoring a point within three minutes of her arrival before adding another midway through the half.

The decisive score arrived in the 25th minute when McCarthy struck her second goal, restoring Ballyboden’s nine-point advantage. St Margaret’s refused to surrender, however, and Madigan completed her hat-trick moments later.

Mikayla Flood narrowed the gap to five points approaching injury time, but McCarthy completed her personal tally of 2-1 with the final score. Her clinical finishing proved central to the victory, while Finlay contributed 1-2 and Gray delivered two important points from the bench.

St Margaret’s were more economical overall, converting nine of their 17 scoring attempts, while Ballyboden scored from 13 of 28. The winners’ ability to create goal chances ultimately separated the sides.

Madigan was outstanding for St Margaret’s with 3-1, including 1-1 from placed balls, while Ratcliffe contributed three points. Despite their determined second-half challenge, the damage inflicted by Ballyboden’s four first-half goals proved too great to overcome.

After the game Dublin LGFA secretary Paul Manning presented the cup to Ballyboden St. Enda’s captain Ciara Beggan, while Keeva Finlay received the PTSB Player of the Match award.

Ballyboden St Enda’s E: Kate Coffey; Laura McGrath, Roisin O’Sullivan, Emma O’Riordan; Caoimhe McCarthy, Ciara Beggan, Rachel Byrne; Emily Byrne, Fiona McDonnell (0-1); Hannah Bury (1-0), Aoife Mellett (0-1), Keeva Finlay (1-2, 1f); Sinead Sweeney (0-1), Nicole McGinn (1-0), Dearbhla McCarthy (2-1).

Subs: Stephanie Hamm for Laura McGrath (HT); Ellie McAree for Sinead Sweeney (HT); Ava Gray (0-2) for Nicole McGinn (HT); Eabha Kelly for Hannah Bury (49); Leyla Randall for Aoife Mellett (58).

St Margaret’s B: Gina Cowley; Fiona O’Grady, Jackie Martin, Ceri Rogers; Carly Brennan, Rebecca Monks, Alex Woolsey; Ellie Clarke, Jess Lumley; Lauren Bruton (1-0), Caoimhe Redmond, Niamh Mullally; Tegan Ratcliffe (0-3), Mikayla Flood (0-1), Nessa Madigan (3-1, 1-1f)

Subs: Bernadette McGuinness for Rebecca Monks (30).

Referee: Anthony Davis (Round Tower, Clondalkin)

PTSB Player of the Match: Keeva Finlay (Ballyboden St. Enda’s)