Girls claim final spot

NI Southern Girls League Cup Semi Final Lurgan Town 1 v Ballinamallard Girls 2

Ballinamallard Girls have booked their place in the final of NI Southern Girls League Cup after an excellent win over Lurgan Town, at Lurgan, on Friday evening.

Having toppled league leaders Killen last week the girls went into the game confident and started well playing good football with the Mallard attack combining well in the final third.

Early chances fell to both Ellie McDonald and Nicole Hetherington for the Mallards while at the other end Niamh Smyth made an important save from point blank range to keep the score at 0-0. Lurgan also had another good opportunity with a long range effort hitting the Mallard cross bar.

With just five minutes to go to the break Ballinamallard broke the deadlock when Kerri Hassard played a superb ball to Nicole Hetherington who rounded the keeper to slot home.

As the second period got underway Ballinamallard doubled their lead with good build up play resulting in a penalty.

Leah Irwin collected the ball after an over lapping run and carried on into the box before releasing it to Gracie Elliott who was then fouled as her pace created a problem for the home defender. Kerri Hassard made no mistake from the spot as the Mallards took a two goal lead.

As the half progressed further chances fell to Aoibhe Judge and Hetherington but neither was taken and Lurgan remained a threat with good play from the wide areas testing the Mallards.

With just ten minutes to go Lurgan pulled a goal back to set up a frantic finish as they went in search of an equaliser. The Mallard girls were determined not to let go however and saw out the game to claim their spot in the 2019 final!

A well contested semi final and we wish Lurgan Town well for the rest of the season.

Huge congratulations of course to the girls and their Coaches and we now look forward to the final.