Dramatic late goal earns Ballygarvan a draw

Ballygarvan 3-3 Sliabh Rua 1-9

(JJ Hurley)

Amy Coveney struck for a late goal as Ballygarvan and Sliabh Rua shared the points in a hotly contested Junior Lily Grant Championship in Riverstick on Monday night.

Ballygarvan looked to be a drift for the first twenty minutes of the second half, before a final ten minutes saw them reel in their opponents as they out scored the home side by 1-2 to 0-1.

A game that had all the hallmarks of a championship clash in front of a large attendance saw Ballygarvan taking an early advantage as they secured two early goals from the sticks of Avril Hourihan and the lively Skye Andrews.

Coming to terms with Ballygarvan’s Catriona Keohane and Susan O’Donovan, Abbey O’Brien began to drag her side into the contest as she opened her account on 15 minutes and added another three minutes later.

O’Brien then put her side into the driving seat as she found the Garvan net, following some impressive build up play from Robyn O’ Brien.

A fine score from Amy Harrington had the sides level 1-3 to 2- 0 after 21 minutes, but the parity didn’t last as a free from Amy Coveney had the visitors ahead again.

Harrington sent over a pressure free to tie up the scores, and two Clara Hennessy scores gave the home side a two-point advantage at the break, 1-6 to 2-1.

Both sides emptied their benches at the break but it did not change the intensity of the game.

Playing into the scoring goal for the second half, Sliabh Rua took full advantage as Harrington and Hennessy stretched their lead to 1-8 to 2-2 after 45 minutes.

However, scores were at a premium as both sides were watertight as Faye O’ Riordan and Niamh Lyons impressed from either side.

Heading into the home stretch, Sliabh Rua looked to be heading for a win but a Catriona Keohane point changed the direction of the game.

Both keepers, Sally Coleman and Kate Cusack were keeping their sides in it and a Hannah Deasy point with five minutes remaining looked to have sealed it for Sliabh Rua,

However, a lifeline arrived in the form of a Deidre Cotter point to leave a goal between the sides and the green flag duly arrived from Amy Coveney with only seconds to spare.  

Scorers for Sliabh Rua: A O’Brien 1-2, C Hennessy A Harrington (2F) (0-3 each), H Deasy 0-1.

Ballygarvan: A Coveney 1-1, Skye Andrews, A Hourihan (1-0 each) C Keohane, D Cotter (0-1).

Sliabh Rua: K Cusack; A White, F O’Riordan, G McCarthy; E Murphy, A Rath, K O’Callaghan; O McCarthy, A O’Brien; R O’Brien, C Hennessy, C Lyons; L Horgan, E Crowley, A Harrington. Subs H Deasy, A Coleman, G Kelleher, E O’Brien.

Ballygarvan: S Coleman; K O’Sullivan, N Lyons, E Murphy; D Lyons, S O’Donovan, C Keohane; A Long, D Cotter; A Hourihan, A Keohane, S Andrews; A Coveney, N Crowley, F Martin. Subs: Mary O’Donovan, G Murphy, R O’Leary, N Crowley, E O Herlihy.

Referee B Barrett.

 Ballygarvan Captain Skye Andrews and Sliabh Rua Skipper Amy Harrington with referee Brian Barrett.