BBSE        2 – 6    Faughs   1 – 1

On Sunday our U-15’s were in Cherryfield to play a high-flying Faughs team that were undefeated in the championship up to that point.

We faced a stiff breeze in the first half, but our girls gave as good as they got in the opening exchanges. Deirdre opened the scoring with a smart point from play, but Faughs responded with a point from a “45” and followed this up with a good goal.

After that the exchanges were end to end with no quarter being asked for or given on either side. Scores were hard to come by, before Blathnaid broke the deadlock when she ran through the heart of the Faughs defence to tip over a point. From the puck-out, Ciara Duffy gathered and sent the ball sailing over the black spot. We were motoring at this point. Stalemate in their square almost led to a goal for us, but from the resultant “45” Blathnaid hit the crossbar, and the defence scrambled it away. We were not to be denied for long. Deirdre gathered the next ball, turned on a sixpence, dropped the hurl and found the net with a hand-pass. She was proving a handful for the Faughs full back, and tipped over another point before half time.

The second half began in a similar vein, with neither side yielding an inch. We kept the scoreboard ticking over at our end while our defence shut up shop and kept Faughs scoreless for the half. First Deirdre slotted over a point. Blathnaid then added a goal and Ciara Woodcock finished off the scoring with a good point.

Final score – BBSE 2-6; Faughs 1-1.

This really was a panel effort.

Caoimhe was brilliant in goal with a succession of top class saves, the highlight of which was a pile-driver on the stroke of half-time, when she literally put her body on the line for the cause.

Outside her, Shauna was rock steady, well supported by Aoife and Lauren on the corners. Hannah, Ciara and Cathy formed a solid half back line. Covering across the park and sending delivery after delivery into our forwards.

In midfield, Chloe Murphy and Elaine gave an exhibition of skill and workrate.

The forward line as a whole was brilliant, regularly falling back to support our back as the need arose. Robyn held the centre superbly and improved as the game went on. Ciara McCullough was the master on her wing, while Rachael in the corner never put a foot wrong, before helping in defence when the pressure came on near the end.

Chloe Curran fought tooth and nail for everything when she came on, and showed the scars of battle at the end. Megan, Zara and Mia also contributed handsomely to what was an excellent overall performance.

Next up is a tie against Fingallians on Wednesday, when we can expect another big test.