Gaelic Games Women's All-Ireland Club final Ballyboden St Enda's 1-6 Donaghmoyne 0-6: An eventful day for last year's All-Ireland women's club football champions Ballyboden St Enda'sstarted with the team bus breaking down in Julianstown en route to Drogheda and ended triumphantly when they retained their title.
Fortunately a supporters' bus was made available to them and they got to the venue in good time. The obliging fans later travelled to the match on the repaired team bus.
The problems for the champions continued on the pitch during the early exchanges when they were confronted by an unexpected level of stern opposition from a Monaghan team that had not been fully envisaged. Fortunately for the Dublin side two key factors came to their rescue.
Brilliant goalkeeping by Suzanne Hughes and a goal from a penalty by Louise Kelly eight minutes into the second half did the trick.
Former soccer international Kelly deserved the player-of-the-match award. Her footballing skills were confirmed by the manner in which she booted four points, two off frees.
The penalty eight minutes into the second half, and with the champions unpredictably on the back foot trailing by 0-3 to 0-5, was crucial.
Kelly's screaming shot from the spot into the top right-hand corner of the net gave Lynda Martin no chance. Fortunately for Ballyboden, Louise decided some time ago to relinquish a good soccer career to concentrate on Gaelic football with Dublin and her club.
"I practice taking penalties a lot and thankfully it paid off," said the Ballyboden player. Kelly was one of three players in the game yellow carded and sinbinned. The others were Sarah Denver, the winners' left-corner forward and Fiona Courtney, the Monaghan midfielder.
It was easy to understand how the Monaghan champions had gone for 16 games without defeat before this unlucky setback.
Their defence was buttressed by the Courtney sisters, Sharon and Joanne, with team captain Áine Gilsenan playing a major role in the middle.
Another one of the Courtney sisters Fiona continually boosted Donaghmoyne's unexpected midfield authority. Majella Woods at centre-half forward and Angela Lennon at full forward were a persistent threat to the eventual winner's defence.
But not surprisingly Pat Nash, the Ballyboden manager, was the first to acknowledge that "all our defenders, especially in the first half, kept us in the game when we were under a lot of pressure".
A searing attempt at goal by Angela Lennon brought out the best in Ballyboden's unbeatable goalkeeper Hughes.
The champions' performance was marked by intermittent phases of authority and slow-burning power. It was just about enough for them to scramble a victory inspired by Louise Kelly, Joanne O'Sullivan and roving full forward Claire Butterly.
The overall consensus was that the Monaghan team deserved a draw at least. They led by five points to three at half-time and dominated for full spells while Ballyboden failed to consolidate their position for lengthy periods.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: S Hughes, A Farrelly, N Comyn, T Allen, S Farrelly, J O'Sullivan (0-1), S White, F Ni Chorcorain, M Farrell, G Fay (0-1), L Kelly (1-4, two pointed frees), N Hyland, O Scollard, C Butterly, S Denvir. Subs: K Hopkins for Denver (50 mins).
DONAGHMOYNE: L Martin, J Geoghegan, M Grimes, N Lynch, S Courtney, A Gilsenan (0-1), J Courtney, A Casey, F Courtney, A O'Toole-Duffy, M Woods (0-2), K Hall, C McConnell (0-2), A Lennon (0-1), H Kingham. Subs: L Kingham for O'Toole-Duffy. C Courtney for Hall.
Referee: D Corcoran (Mayo).
