Heroics from Killeen not enough to deny Breaffy
The girls of Breaffy National School near Castlebar celebrate their victory in the Cumann na mBunscol Division 1A Girls final. Pictures: Michael Donnelly Photography
In what was perhaps one of the most intense, physical Cumann na mBunscol finals ever played out in MacHale Park, Breaffy broke the hearts of Ballinrobe late on to win a fourth county title in-a-row.
There were heroic displays across the field for the Robesiders, but three girls stood a class above the rest. Goalkeeper Mia Killeen, Enya McGarry and Katie Grimes displayed courage and quality beyond their years and the trio will be ones to keep an eye on in the coming years.
But a school does not win four titles in succession without resilience. Despite an early lead, Breaffy struggled to find a way through goalkeeper Killeen, who produced save after save to keep them at bay.
With a strong wind against them in the second-half, Breaffy had to choose their moments wisely to push for scores and Lauren Lyons struck two brilliant frees while a late goal by Arya Bristow left too tall a mountain to climb for Ballinrobe.
It was one-way traffic for much of the first-half, as Lauren Lyons gave Breaffy the perfect start with a goal and a point. Katie Grimes got Ballinrobe off the mark before Killeen made the first of her big saves to deny Bristow.
Lyons extended Breaffy’s lead with her second free before Bristow got her first goal of the final. Bristow would be denied again by Killeen, however, as the Ballinrobe shotstopper pulled off four big saves in a five-minute period, also saving efforts by Aoife Connor and two from Lucy Murphy.
Another free by Lyons found its mark before Killeen denied Murphy once more with another big save, and Ballinrobe points by Grimes and McGarry, a free, left six between them, 2-3 to 0-3, at half-time.
With the wind now at their backs, the power of McGarry’s right boot was causing havoc in the Breaffy defence. She kicked two nerveless frees before another Grimes point halved the deficit.
Lyons got Breaffy’s first score of the second-half midway through, but a goal from Grimes and another pair of McGarry frees edged Ballinrobe in front for the first time with minutes left to play.
But there would be one last sting in the tail as Lyons kicked a fifth free before Bristow’s soccer style finish sealed a memorable win.
