Whelan to the fore as Ballyroan make it two wins from two in Laois LGFA Senior Championship

Ballyroan have made it two wins from two in this year’s LOETB Laois LGFA Senior Championship thanks to a superb performance against Shanahoe on Tuesday evening in Ballacolla.

Ballyroan came into the game having defeated Timahoe in the opening round by two points, but Shanahoe weren’t able to handle their firepower as they racked up 4-17 in the end.

Laois team mates Faye McEvoy and Andrea Moran combined for the first white flag of the game while McEvoy raised a green flag only minutes later with a finish into the top corner, quickly followed by a point from play. Mary Griffin opened her side’s account by splitting the posts, but Ballyroan drove on through their top-scorer Kate Whelan who pointed three in a row, two from frees.

Griffin pointed from a placed ball which proved to be Shanahoe’s final score of the half in the 16th minute. Rachel Fitzgerald’s goal-bound shot turned into a penalty when the ball was fouled in the small square. Whelan stepped up from the spot and slotted the ball past Eimear Barry. Rachel Fitzgerald had the ball in the net for a third Ballyroan goal, but it was disallowed by referee Robbie Moran for a square ball. Whelan fired over another three on the trot, one from a free which brought the half to a close. Ballyroan led by 12 at the break, (2-8 to 0-2).

Ballyroan almost got their second-half off to the perfect start, but half-back Sarah Delaneysaw her shot saved by Barry. Whelan then took her tally to an impressive 1-7 with a fourth free. Shanahoe did manage to raise a green flag when Mary Fitzpatrick’s effort rattled the crossbar with Isabel Finlay on hand to finish the rebound.

Whelan pointed two more frees with Rachel Fitzgerald getting a score in the middle of the placed balls. Griffin then fired over a brilliant long-range effort to get her side’s third point before she added another score soon after.

Ballyroan ended the game with a further 2-5 to deepen Shanahoe’s woes. Andrea Moran set up Aideen Gee to round Barry and get their third goal before Whelan and McEvoy added a point each to their individual tallies.

Whelan pointed two more scores before the end while substitute Laoise Dunne scored 1-1 from the bench to record a 22-point victory.

Ballyroan will put their unbeaten streak on the line against County Champions St Conleth’s while Shanahoe will take on Timahoe with both sides looking to register their first points of the championship.

Final Score

Ballyroan 4-17

Shanahoe 1-4

SCORERS— Ballyroan: Kate Whelan 1-12 (0-7 frees, 1-0 pen), Faye McEvoy 1-2, Laoise Dunne 1-1, Rachel Fitzgerald 0-1. Shanahoe: Mary Griffin 0-4 (0-1 free), Isabel Finlay 1-0.

BALLYROAN: Aoife Mullins; Aine Carter, Clodagh Mulhall, Emily Mulhall; Isabelle McWey, Alannah Brennan, Sarah Delaney; Andrea Moran, Faye McEvoy; Aishling Bruen, Kate Whelan, Roisin Fitzgerald; Leah Kelly, Rachel Fitzgerald, Aideen Gee. Subs: Laoise Dunne for Roisin Fitzgerald (42 mins), Lauren Mulhall for Rachel Fitzgerald and Caoimhe Delaney for Carter (both 59 mins), Sasha O’Keeffe for Brennan (62 mins)

SHANAHOE: Eimear Barry; Caoimhe Cassin, Ruth McDermott, Hannah Bailey; Marian Ferns, Kate Jacob, Isabel Finlay; Niamh O’Sullivan, Megan Walsh; Ava Tynan, Mary Fitzpatrick, Grainne Phelan; Martha Guilfoyle, Maggie Fitzpatrick, Mary Griffin. Subs: Molly Cassin for Phelan (HT), Aoife Bergin for Mary Fitzpatrick (45 mins), Mary Fitzpatrick for Ferns (54 mins, inj).

Referee: Robbie Moran (Graiguecullen)

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