Nab win Minor c/ship semi final in thriller
01 Jun 2005

Ballymacnab are through to the 2005 minor championship final on 21st June after a hard fought but well deserved semifinal win over Keady last night.

It was going to take something special to split these sides and it was a special goal from the boot of dual player Emma McParland that did just that. Brave Emma battled against an injury to turn in an excellent performance in the full forward line and was a constant threat to the very strong Keady full-back trio. However when a player of Emma's calibre gets even a half chance she puts them away and that's what she did 6 minutes into the 2nd half with a sweet turn and kick to the roof of the net.

Keady to their credit never gave up despite playing against a fairly stiff breeze, having ended the first half on a scoreless sheet for both sides.

The half back line of Shauna Smyth, Aileen McParland and Edel McParland was the rock on which this victory was founded with all three girls turning in a display of speed, determination, style and no lack of courage. Catherine Toner was unbeatable at number 1 and pulled off a great save deep into injury time that would have drawn Keady level.

The Nab's fullback line of Hannah Hughes, Orla O'Hare and Erin O'Hare were excellent from start to finish making some brilliant blockages and solo runs out of defence. Captain Geraldine Gray and Corina McKee lorded in midfield.

Mairead McCleland was a constant threat with her thrilling runs upfield ably supported by Natalie Gray (who despite a painful hand injury picked up in the 1st half played a trojan's part) and Colleen McGuigan who battled throughout. Maria Corr was outstanding throughout the game in both fullforward and half forward lines while Aideen Canavan was very unlucky not to continue her score-a-match sequence of recent games.

The team throughout were outstanding and were deserved victors on a 1-1 to 0-1 scoreline. Nabs scorers were Emma McParland 1-0 and Geraldine Gray 0-1. Michelle Murphy recorded Keady's point. Petrina Cosgrove was unlucky not to register a couple of scores when coming on while Amy Lavery fought tooth and nail when brought into the fray.

This was a full squad result with Emma McManus, Nicola McCormack, Laura Gray, Ashling Toner, Shauna Grugan, Shanna Leonard, Sarah Vallelly, Louise Toner, Sinead Murphy and Megan Leonard all playing their part.