It was an overcast evening as the BSJ senior ladies made the trip north to Coolock village for their Round 6 Cup against Parnell’s.  There had been very little to separate the sides during the league game a few weeks previously in Marley and it would prove to be more of the same at the reverse fixture. The Ballinteer ladies travelled with some confidence after good victories in recent weeks versus Templeogue Synge Street and Clann Mhuire but knew that Parnell’s would present a very strong challenge on their home turf.

With the help of a slight breeze BSJ dominated the early exchanges with good defending by the backs and our midfielders and forwards combining well to create numerous scoring chances. Some of the passages of play were sublime with an end-to-end flowing move producing a brilliant goal……...and but for some wayward finishing, the bounce of the ball and a crashing rebound off the crossbar we would have had a much bigger lead at the change of ends. At half time we led by 1-04 to 0-04, a slender lead but not insignificant in a low scoring affair with defences giving very little away. Nought in it. 

BSJ picked up where we left off and started the second half chipping over some sweet points after super teamwork and the lead was extended to 5 points at the midway point of the half. Smart and patient play by the Ballinteer girls had frustrated the Parnell’s outfit and put us in sight of the finish line. Alas the last 15 minutes became very frenetic as we tired and struggled to get out of defence and to hold onto the ball. The effort of the first 45 minutes started to tell and the panel is never very deep this time of the year meaning only 2 subs to call on. Parnell’s sensed their chance, began to control the possession and took their scores to narrow the gap to 2 points with a few minutes to go. A dangerous lead.

Then the most horrible ball to defend in football, the shot for a point dropping short, fell to a Parnell’s forward who crashed the ball off the underside of the bar and down on the line…or marginally across it according to the referee from his perfect vantage point 60 yards away……Huge credit to our Ballinteer girls though, with time running out, they went the length of the pitch holding possession and patiently probing for an equalising score only for a last gasp shot to graze the upright on the wrong side.

Overall there was little between the teams and respect for the comeback by the Parnell’s ladies when other teams might have packed it in with 15 minutes to go. For the Ballinteer ladies there were also loads of positives to take, especially over the first 45-50 minutes when a little more composure (and a little bit of luck) in front of goal might have put us out of sight. 

Great to see another senior debut on the night in the shape of Sophie Fearon playing with her sister Katie for the first time! Definitely a photo for the family mantlepiece. Well done Sophie!