To say this was an epic game of unbelievable drama is probably not doing it justice, rather than overstating the incredible committement and emotion we witnessed in Glenfin for the close to two hours this encounter lasted.
Glenswilly 2-6 Killybegs 1-8 (after extra-time, Glenswilly win 3-1 on frees)
Between extra-time, stoppage time and injury time it began to look as we might not have enough light left for the A Final which was due to follow.
It was this reporter’s first experience of the free-kick shoot-out and while it only added to everything that went before it is surely a cruel way to lose a game you have given everything you have too.
But we had to get a result on the day and this is the way that ladies football has deemed it will decide games if necessary and so be it.
Playing against a stiff wind Killybegs started well and led by 1-01 to 0-01 after 15mins. Susanne White got both their scores, a free and then a penalty after Aisleen Cunningham had been fouled. Laura Gallagher replied with a Glenswilly free and then Hannah Mc Nelis scored from play.
After White had added another free, Shannagh Kelly got Glenswilly on level terms with a Brillant solo goal, bursting through from midfield and blasting the ball to the net to leave it 1-02 apiece after 22mins.
Two minutes later Glenswilly were a goal in front as Anne Maire Mc Daid’s super pass found Laura Gallagher and she shook off a tackle before drilling the ball to the net. Gallagher and Kelsey Mulligan then Exchanged points to leave it 2-03 to 1-03 to Glenswilly at the break.
With the wind at their backs Killybegs dominated the opening stages of the second-half, Susanne White kicked four points in a row, three from frees and her sister Maire Dawn added another free to put them two ahead.
That was in the 43mins and remarkably they would only add one more point for the remainder of this game, which taking everything into consideration would last for another 48 minutes approximately, including 17 minutes of normal time plus 4 mins of injury time and then 20 mins of extra-time plus 7 of injury-time.
Mind you Glenswilly didn’t fair much better in the scoring stakes during that period either, but Laura Gallagher showed her class with two Brillant points in a minute to draw Glenswilly level at 2-05 to 1-08.
Susanne White missed three frees of the type she had been knocking over earlier as the nerves set in while at the other end sub Aoife Boyle hit the post after Nadine Friel had cleverly set her up with a flicked pass.
And so to extra time, Maire Dawn White got the only score of the first period and Hannah Mc Nelis replied for Glenswilly in the second period which due to stoppages lasted nearly 16 minutes of nerve racking stuff.
And onwards we went to the free-kicks shoot-out, with each team entitled to five if required. We didn’t need that many as Laura Gallagher, the nerveless Katie Gallagher and the unflappably Maire Mc adden kicked three of Glenswilly ‘s first four while only Aisleen Cunningham succeeded for Killybegs.
A exciting game had finally ended with a winner but it’s hard to describe Killybegs as losers such was their contribution to this epic final.
Glenswilly: Evelyn McBride, Shannon McDaid, Sinead Ward, Katie Gallagher, Niamh Devine, Marie McFadden, Niamh Gallagher, Aine Gildea, Shannagh Kelly (1-0), Anne Maire Harold , Hannah McNelis (0-2), Anne Maire McDaid, Sinead Campbell, Laura Gallagher (1-4), Nadine Friel. Subs used: Aoife Boyle, Fiona Roarty, Emma Tinney, Nakita Burke.
Killybegs: Mairead Gallagher, Claire Boyle, Niamh Gatins, Roseanne Haughey, Aisling Murrin, Kelsey Mulligan (0-1), Yvonne Breslin, Maire Dawn White (0-2f), Orla Kee, Shauna Boyle, Leah O’Neill, Erin Gallagher, Aoife McGettigan, Susanne White (1-6), Aisleen Cunningham. Subs used: Mairead McGuinness and Caoimhe Cunningham.
