Breaffy visit the recovery Ward to make historic breakthrough

Mayo LGFA Junior ‘A’ Championship – Final 

Breaffy 3-12

Kilmoremoy 2-14 

Nathan Keane in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar 

A late, late, Vivienne Ward penalty was enough to see Breaffy edge Kilmoremoy by the slightest of margins in Sunday’s junior ‘A’ ladies championship final. It was a great game of football throughout, and it was topped off with an incredibly dramatic ending. It was Breaffy’s first ever LGFA adult title, and they had to overcome a Kilmoremoy side they had lost to earlier on in the competition, to win it outright.

In stark contrast to the final few minutes, the embryonic stages of the match were cagey and low-scoring. The first score of the game did not come until the sixth minute, when Kilmoremoy midfielder Erin Ferguson soared the opening point high between the posts.

Kilmoremoy notched up another four points without reply – three of which coming from full-forward Eimear Treacy, the other from Ciara Whyte. Breaffy eventually got on the scoreboard when Sophie Moran fired over a score from just inside the arc. Kilmoremoy quickly responded with a Milly Sheridan point, and an Eimear Treacy free, to build up a six point lead.

Ten minutes in, Breaffy began to slowly chip away at their opponents advantage. Two points each from Vivienne Ward and Sophie Moran narrowed the deficit to two points after 20 minutes (0-5 to 0-7).

However, Kilmoremoy regained the momentum in the final ten minutes of the half. After a brilliant interception from Finola Collins, Eimear Treacy got her fifth point of the game.

Treacy was heavily involved again shortly afterwards. Following a tidy bit of Kilmoremoy play, she was shoved in the back inside the penalty area, and a penalty was awarded. Treacy stepped up to take it, and she confidently slid her effort into the bottom left corner.

An authoritative Kilmoremoy first-half performance was topped off with a Mary McHale point in added time. They were six points to the good (0-6 to 1-9) going into the dressing-rooms.

The first five minutes of the second-half were played on equal footing, with neither side really taking control. Points from Vivienne Ward and Amy Golden (Breaffy) and Eimear Treacy and Bairbre Moffatt (Kilmoremoy) kept the scoreboard ticking for both teams.

After 40 minutes, Breaffy got their first goal of the game. Amy Golden got on the end of a long ball from substitute Niamh Curran, and bundled the ball into the back of the net. However, there was an instant response from Kilmoremoy. A lovely chipped shot from Ciara Whyte sailed over the head of Breaffy goalkeeper Niamh Flanagan, and into the net.

Breaffy, now seven points behind with fifteen minutes left to play, began to mount a late comeback. A triad of Vivienne Ward frees, and a point from Niamh Curran, helped narrow the gap with five minutes remaining.

The final five minutes of this encounter were sensational. The drama began when Breaffy substitute Maria Walsh played an incredible incisive pass in behind the Kilmoremoy defence to Aisling Flanagan, but Flanagan was denied by a great Kate Monaghan save. Despite this, the play was called back for a Breaffy free. From this placed ball, Vivienne Ward looped the ball into a dangerous area, and it was Aisling Flanagan that directed it into the net, to cut Kilmoremoy’s lead to two points going into added time.

Kilmoremoy thought they had held on to win it, but with seconds left on the clock, Breaffy launched one final attack. From this attack, Katelyn McManamon was fouled in the penalty area, and a penalty was awarded. Vivienne Ward was the player entrusted with the responsibility of taking the kick – and she repaid this trust. She emphatically buried her penalty into the back of the net, with practically the last kick of the game. The Breaffy supporters went wild, as they watched their team clinch the championship title.

Scorers – Breaffy: Vivienne Ward 1-7, Amy Golden 1-1, Aisling Flanagan 1-0, Sophie Moran 0-3, Niamh Curran 0-1.

Kilmoremoy: Eimear Treacy 1-6, Ciara Whyte 1-2, Bairbre Moffatt, Erin Ferguson, Milly Sheridan, Mary McHale, Finola Collins, Meabh Callinan 0-1 each.

Breaffy: Niamh Flanagan; Tara Concannon, Katelyn McManamon, Nora Fallon; Aoife Canny, Ella Fallon, Sarah Cashin; Meadbh O’Shea, Aisling Flanagan; Sophie Moran, Chloe Fahey, Juile Lavelle; Amy Golden, Vivienne Ward, Katie Moran. Subs: Emily Moran, Kate McConway, Niamh Curran, Maria Walsh, Ava Flynn.

Kilmoremoy: Kate Monaghan; Lara Sheridan, Bridget Mills, Genny Hennigan; Tara Regan, Finola Collins, Caoilfhionn Tighe; Erin Ferguson, Ciara Whyte; Bairbre Moffatt, Milly Sheridan, Ailbhe Ferguson; Mary McHale, Eimear Treacy, Maria O’Brien. Subs: Meabh Callinan, Alanagh Ruane, Hannah Jordan.

REF: Garryowen McMahon