Malone entertained Ballincollig in the newly formed Women’s All Ireland Conference on Saturday afternoon at Gibson Park. Pleasingly the teams were able to accommodate a 12:00 noon kick off and it was great to catch a senior women’s game in daylight.
Ballincollig enjoyed the better of the opening quarter and they were able to work the flying winger Heather Kennedy into some space out on the right. Still a bit of work to do, Kennedy’s fine step saw her wrongfoot the Malone defence for the opening score.
Malone started to work their way into the game but they struggled to get much change out of the Ballincollig defence. However, a kick ahead by Holly Brannigan was successfully chased down by Emma Jordan for the equalising score as the game approached the half hour mark.
Ballincollig regrouped and they were able to find Kennedy out wide for the second time and an outrageous step left her a clear run in to take the score to 5 – 10 in Ballincollig’s favour at the break.
Malone enjoyed a strong third quarter and they looked well set to push on and take the game after Jill Stevens ended a prolonged period of pressure on the Ballincollig line with a well taken try out wide. However, the visitors had other ideas and the experience Denise Redmond crashed over from close range, and landed a crucial conversion to give Ballincollig a 10 – 17 lead at the start of the final quarter.
The home side hit back fairly quickly with Brannigan breaking clear for a score but, with the conversion missed, Malone still trailed by two points.
With a precious win on the road to defend the Ballincollig defence worked overtime and they managed to keep Malone well away from the try line for the remainder of the game. Final score Malone 15 Ballincollig 17.
Malone: Holly Brannigan, Donna McGovern, Emma Jordan, Ella Durkan, Sophie Armstrong, Alexa Grudgings, Shirelle Wilson, Sarah Murphy, Ashleigh Currie, Chrissie McKee, Hannah Beattie, Jasmine Ward, Jo McMorris-Cloughley, Peita McAlister, Lauren Maginnes. Replacements: Aoife Cahill, Anna Smith, Erin Jones, Cara O’Neill, Rachael McIlroy, Jill Stephens, Jana McQuillan.
Ballincollig: Lauren Fahey, Heather Kennedy, Jayne Pennefather, Mona Fehily, Alison Kelly, Kelly Griffin, Gemma Lane, Alix Cunneen, Clodagh Walsh, Roisin Ormond, Sarah O’ Donovan, Denise Redmond, Katelyn Fleming, Niamh O’Regan, Kira Fitzgerald. Replacements: Aoife Flynn, Niamh Gorman, Róisín Long, Gillian Coombes, Áine Dunniece
Gallery Below
