BALLYMACNAB ARE AL IRELAND DIV II FEILE CHAMPIONS
23 Jun 2009

St Brenda’s Ballymacnab have done it again! They have travelled into the heart of hurling in Leinster and came up against the best, faced them all and brought home the All Ireland crown. They played teams from County Offaly (their gallant Feile hosts Shinrone and St Rynaghs) and County Westmeath (Lough Lene Gaels) in their section and won all three games and then turned in a performance that was out of this world to get past the semi final challenge of Laois team Camross. In a thrilling final they overcame the stubborn challenge of O’Moores of Laois by a two point margin (2-4 to 2-2) with the match winning goal coming from the smallest player on the pitch Allana Loughran who, despite being off balance flicked a superb and unbeatable shot to the top of the net, a goal worthy of an All Ireland title. Jane Lavery who had been brilliant all weekend had a stormer of a first half to notch up four great points but the Nab went in two points down after conceding two goals. In the second half, tired and weary limbs were not aided by the aches of injuries that had plagued some of the Nab’s big players over the weekend, one of these being Laura Smyth who somehow managed to forget about her badly injured ankle to play through the pain barrier and to come up the field to score an unforgettable goal to level the game up after O’Moores had gone three up from a pointed free. Another pointed free from O’Moores that would surely have been a goal had it not been for the efforts of Michelle McParland who got her stick to the piledriver that was heading goalbound to deflect it over the bar. When it looked like the Nab’s great All Ireland dream was coming to an end when up popped marathon woman Michelle McCone who ran everywhere, to send in a great ball from midfield that was collected by Allana who soloed forward only to see her shot saved by the keeper but Allanna’s followup strike sent the 150+ Nab supporters wild (added to by the gaels from Cuchullians and Keady hurling clubs who had come in support). Ballymacnab continued to drive forward for the insurance score but didn’t mind when this didn’t come when the final whistle sounded to signal the Nab’s third All Ireland feile title this decade.

Each and every one of the Nab team were heroes not only on Sunday but all weekend. Michelle McCone in midfield was collussal, playing no small part in this great victory. Michelle has an engine in her that keeps running all day and she must have covered the length of a marathon from Friday to Sunday and she was the provided for so many of the Nab’s scores over the weekend. Aife Crilly was simply the best, better than all the rest, playing fantastic defensive and attacking camogie and Aife has written her names into the annals of Ballymacnab camogie with style. Michelle McParland was outstanding all weekend in the number 3 position blocking time and time again and making some brilliant strikes upfield 50plus yards, a great weekend’s work from Michelle who can now stand shoulder to shoulder with all three big sisters Stephanie, Edel and Emma who are also All Ireland Feile champions.

Olivia Keenan was excellent over the weekend making some fine blockages and had great strikes outfield for puckouts, a great comeback from Olivia befitting this quiet and unassuming but great member of the Ballymacnab squad. Shauna Livingstone and Aoife Grugan were brilliant, both girls making their unique and indelible mark on this great weekend for Ballymacnab. Edel O’Hare and Ciara McKee showed brilliant maturity and coolness. It was often the wing half forwards that were the running threats from opposing teams but Edel and Ciara showed that they could run with the best of them and they let their opponents away with very little.

Hannah Gray had a brilliant weekend, her style and skill causing great problems for all the teams she met, they just couldn’t handle Hannah’s quick turn of speed and soloing and her ability to take great points from play.

Amy Caldwell worked like she had never worked before, she tackled and harried for every ball as if her life depended on it and Amy’s name was on many Nab scores over the weekend as the assist.

Aoibhinn O’Hare stepped up to the mark and showed great commitment and skill. Aoibhinn really shone in the Camross match where she scored a vital goal to settle the Nab down and set them on their way, a great contribution from Aoibhinn. Danielle McKee was absolutely brilliant in the final and really worked hard to curb the very strong midfield duo of the Laois champs. Danielle played trojan camogie all weekend and despite being on the receiving end of many hard knocks she kept getting up for more. Captain Jane Lavery has had it all written before but why not say it again, Jane is one of the strongest under14’s around and one of the best players to put a ball into the corner of the net. This she did many times over the weekend and took her four final points sublimely. A real captain’s role from Jane over the weekend.

Meabh Smyth came into the fray in most of the Nab’s matches and made an impact in every one, Meabh fought for everything and really gave it her all. She played a large part in this great victory for St Brenda’s. Also coming on at times was Laura Gribben whom is afraid of nobody, one of the best players around to go into a tackle Laura defended sturdily and make timely interceptions when the Nab needed them. Colleen McParland also joined in the action over the weekend and showed just what a great wee player she is with great fight and spirit.

Other panel members who may not have been in action in Offaly but whose action over the months from February have made this the great team it is are: Aine Maguire, Aoife kennedy, Eimear Fearon, Meave McArdle, Lauren Curry and Shauna McCarthy. These girls have pushed all the other to fight for their places and whilst they may not have been on the field at Feile weekend they are an invaluable part of the team and have to take credit also for its success, well done girls.

The Ballymacnab girls are All Ireland Champions- an great feat after a fantastic weekend display of skills, courage, commitment and self belief. These girls were a credit to their very proud club and to Co Armagh, both on and off the field of play. Well done girls and to the management team of Gerard Gribben, Seamus Loughran, Orla O’Hare and Shauna McKee.

THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL HOST CLUB SHINRONE FORM OFFALY WHO WERE OUTSTANDING AND PUT ON A WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS. LAST YEAR WE MADE GREAT OFFALY FRIENDS IN KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY, THIS YEAR WE MADE EVEN MORE GREAT FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE GAELS FROM THE FAITHFUL COUNTY. MANY MANY THANKS TO SHINRONE FOR YOUR PART ON OUR SUCCESS AT FEILE 09 XXX