Ballinteer travelled to Clanna Gael Fontenoy on Wednesday evening for their LGFA Division 2 football clash. With their previous league game postponed due a bereavement it was 3 weeks since the team played so everyone was keen to get back on the field. On a nice dry evening for football there was a stiff breeze blowing down the field and Ballinteer faced into it for the first 30.

Despite the layoff, and a few late withdrawals from the named team, the Johns girls started brightly with little signs of any match rustiness and had 1-1 on the scoreboard within the opening 5 minutes, the goal scored by Katie Mae Leonard who was only drafted into the starting lineup 60 seconds before the throw in as a replacement for a player feeling poorly after the warm up. An incredibly good start for Katie Mae and the Ballinteer girls.

Midfield dominance, good support play and clever use of the ball stretched the CNG defence and saw further scores from a forward line that was moving well and ably supported by an attack minded half back trio. When CNG did break out the Johns defence was marshalled very tightly and only gave up two scores over the course of the half, a nice score from play from the CNG No.15 and a close in free. Ballinteer added 5 points of their own during this period to cap an impressive display in the first half with wind advantage to come in the second period. A glance at the scoreboard showed the visitors in front at the break by 1-06 to 0-02.

The break came at a good time for CNG, and they used the interval to reorganise and come out strongly. Suddenly, the Johns girls were struggling to move as freely as they had in the first period. Chances that were being converted in the first period were going astray and the wind which had helped CNG in the first half seemed to drop off entirely. To be fair the CNG girls had also upped their game and slowly but surely began to eat into the deficit. With 15 minutes to go CNG had methodically picked off 5 points in a row reducing the Johns lead to a manageable 2 points with 15 minutes to play. 0-07 to 1-06. Game on.

The threat of the comeback however jolted the Ballinteer girls back into some of their first half form. A couple of quick-fire steadying points over the next 5 minutes by Ruth Nolan & Niamh Leahy were followed by a beautifully finished team move that saw Luisagh Guerrine finish to the back of the CNG net. With renewed confidence about their play Ballinteer added 2 more points to play out a stress free last 5 minutes.

Well done to the group for coping with some late withdrawals and getting back to winning ways in a competitive league. A special mention and congratulations to minor player Katie Mae Leonard on being nominated as the Player of the Match, scoring 1-01 and playing in 4 separate positions over the course of the game. Well done Katie Mae!

Next week it’s a packed agenda with St. Brigid’s visiting Marlay on Wednesday evening, the 18th June @ 7.30 and then St. Patrick’s Donabate visiting on Sunday afternoon 22nd June @ 12.45 in a back-fixture.

All support would be very welcome!!