AIB All-Ireland Intermediate club championship final By Eamonn Byrne
Bennekerry-Tinryland 2-10 Annaghdown (Galway) 1-7
A fairytale journey to the mecca of gaelic games Croke Park turned into reality shortly after 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 14th December 2024 when Bennekerry-Tinryland ladies were crowned AIB All Ireland Intermediate football champions.
Having dominated at Leinster level and then shocking All Ireland favourites Mullahoran of Cavan in the semi-final the BT women were still ranked as outsiders against former All Ireland champions Annaghdown from Galway.
Straight from the throw in on Saturday BT went on the offensive and had an early goal chance cleared off the line. Taliswoman Cliodhna Ni She then stepped up to open her teams account in the 2nd minute with a converted free and it was obvious that the Carlow and Leinster champions were settling better than their Western opponents. Cliodhna then had another chance in the 4th minute but was narrowly wide with a goal bound shot. The Bennekerry-Tinryland advantage was then doubled after 7 minutes when Lauren Dwyer scored a point before Annaghdown opened their account with a Bronagh Quinn point. Lauren was then narrowly wide in the 11th minute and after another 3 scoreless minutes the Carlow team were rocked back to reality when Annaghdown full forward Ciara McCarthy crashed the ball past Shannen Cotter. This score however proved to be a false dawn for the Tribeswomen as it was their last score of the opening half as BT upped the ante on the wide expanse of Croke Park. Playing wonderful football the scored a wonderful point from Cliodhna after great play by Nuala Mohan. It got even better then for the ladies in amber and black at both ends as Cliodhna scored a wonderful goal after receiving a pin point pass from Lauren Dwyer. At the other end Annaghdown were denied 2 certain goals by BT keeper Shannen Cotter who certainly played her captains part on and off the field on Saturday.Thje final act of a very satisfactory first half was a brilliant Sinead Hayden point which left the half time scoreboard reading Bennekerry-Tinryland 1-5 Annaghdown 1-1 when Waterford referee Patrick Smith sounded the interval whistle. BT players were given a rousing ovation as they retired to the dressing rooms by the huge Tinryland and Carlow support. It could have been even better for the eventual winners at this stage as they kicked 8 wides in that opening half.
The 2nd half was only 15 seconds old when Annaghdown served notice that they were very much alive scoring a point from centre forward Ciara Hegarty which reduced the margin to 3 points with most of the 2nd half still to play.
BT quickly responded with a Lauren Dwyer point quickly followed by one of the best points of the game from the magical Sinead Hayden. Another wonderful point from Cliodhna stretched the advantage out to 6 points as the large support from Barrowside dared to believe that this was their day. The Bennekerry-Tinryland backroom team then sprung super sub. Maeve O’Neill in the 34th minute to give fresh impetus to the attack. In the 37th minute the advantage was increased to 7 points as the Carlow ladies combined brilliant forward play with excellent defending scoring another point via Ni She. Annaghdown then looked to their bench introducing Caoimhe O’Neill for Emma Keane as the Connacht champions slotted over an immediate point which left six between the teams with 20 minutes remaining. BT with their tails up now as the finish line was in sight reinforced their domination with Lauren Dwyers 4th point with the clock now showing 12 minutes remaining.
Bennekerry-Tinryland were already well on course for victory at this stage and the result was placed beyond doubt when Cliodhna Ni She drilled a 52nd minute penalty won by Sinead Hayden past Annaghdown goalie Eleanor Lynch.
The closing stages saw Annaghdown stage a mini revival with 4 unanswered points from Ciara Hegarty (3) and their captain Riona Quinn but the day would not be spoiled for the BT ladies who were soon lifting the All- Ireland trophy with Shannen Cotter excelling with her victory speech just as she had in the match itself. As she received the cup from LGFA president Michael Naughton the Hogan stand erupted with amber and black flags waving with the Carlow crowd easily outnumbering their Galway counterparts.
All players and subs Maeve O’Neill and Dee Tomlinson who received a rousing welcome excelled on Saturday as did the magnificent back- room team of Chris Townsend (Manager) Conor Byrne, Niall Barrett, Alison Miller and former BT star Fiona O’Sullivan. The defence of Katie Bullen, Leanne Corcoran, Leah Mullins, Ruth Bermingham, Nuala Mohan and Marie Cranny hardly put a foot wrong while at midfield the cousins Elaine Ware and Liz Lowry were excellent. Up front Aoibhin Webb, Cliodhna Ni She and Lauren Dwyer were immense tormenting the Annaghdown defence throughout while the inside line of Orla Woods, Sarah Nolan and Sinead Hayden were a lethal trio that the Galway club could not handle. A Big shout out also to the BT committee led by Fionnuala Ni Mhordha mammy of Cliodhna and Yvonne Bullen-Cranny mammy of Katie and Jane together with Tasha Lyons, Sinead Anderson, Libby Dwyer, Henry O’Neill, Michael O'Neill, Anne Byrne, Linda Nicholl and founder members Pat McArdle, Anne and Tommy Lyons for their hard work for the club and local ladie’s football which bore fruit in a big way in Croke Park on 14th December 2024.
Bennekerry- Tinryland: Shannen Cotter (Captain), Katie Bullen, Leanne Corcoran, Leah Mullins, Ruth Bermingham, Nuala Mohan, Marie Cranny, Liz Lowry, Elaine Ware, Aoibhin Webb, Cliodhna Ni She 2-4, Lauren Dwyer 0-4, Orla Woods, Sarah Nolan, Sinead Hayden 0-2. Subs: Maeve O’Neill for Katie Bullen (34), Deirdre Tomlinson for Sarah Nolan (56).
