Ballyroan edge Sarsfields to claim Laois LGFA Minor ‘A’ crown

Ballyroan are the 2025 LOETB Laois LGFA Minor ‘A’ champions after edging out Sarsfields by four points in Kellyville on Friday evening.

Heavy rain left the St Joseph’s GAA pitch soft underfoot, making control difficult for both teams, with players struggling to bounce the ball or gather possession cleanly.

The match was also briefly delayed as referee Eoghan O’Neill ruled that the jerseys were too similar, forcing Sarsfields to turn theirs inside out before play began.

Many of the Ballyroan players will hope Friday’s success is just the start of a memorable weekend, as several of them are also part of the St Lazarian’s panel contesting Sunday’s Leinster Club Junior Camogie final in Carlow.

Sarsfields made the better start, taking the lead after three minutes when Aoibhe Foyle set up Lily Conroy, who finished emphatically to the roof of the net. However, that early goal would prove their only major highlight of the opening half, as they added just one more point before the break.

Ballyroan responded steadily, though it took them 16 minutes to get off the mark through a Sarah McGrath free. Laoise Dunne then struck two points in quick succession, one from play and another from a free that went over via the inside of the post, before Emma Delaney replied for Sarsfields. McGrath added another free late in the half to leave the sides level at 1-1 to 0-4 at the break.

Ballyroan hit the ground running after the restart, scoring 1-1 within two minutes. A McGrath free dropped short, and Aideen Gee reacted quickest to finish from close-range before McGrath added another point. Foyle briefly reduced the deficit for Sarsfields, but Ballyroan struck again when Gee was fouled in the square and McGrath converted the resulting penalty to stretch the lead to four.

Sarsfields battled back through substitute Lilymae Conroy and another Foyle free, but McGrath’s accuracy kept Ballyroan in control as she moved her tally to 1-4. At the other end, Ballyroan goalkeeper Grace Foxe produced two outstanding saves, first from Delaney and then from Rachel Heffernan, to preserve the lead.

Conroy added her second point to bring Sarsfields back within four, but Foxe again came to Ballyroan’s rescue with a third crucial stop, denying Heffernan with her boot late on. Ballyroan managed possession well in the closing stages, running down the clock before referee O’Neill’s final whistle confirmed their deserved victory and county title.

FINAL SCORE

Ballyroan 2-6

Sarsfields 1-5

SCORERS– Ballyroan: Sarah McGrath 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-4 frees), Aideen Gee 1-0, Laoise Dunne 0-2 (0-1 free). Sarsfields: Lily Conroy 1-0, Aoibhe Foyle (0-1 free) and Lilymae Conroy (0-1 free) 0-2 each, Emma Delaney 0-1.

BALLYROAN: Grace Foxe; Grainne Scully, Ella Kelly, Sasha O’Keeffe; Aine Carter, Sive O’Reilly, Sienna Shore; Kaylah O’Mara, Maeve Dowling; Laoise Dunne, Lauren Mulhall, Siofra Fitzpatrick; Grainne Dowling, Aideen Gee, Sarah McGrath. Subs: Aoibheann Carter for Dowling (HT), Niamh Scully for G Scully(52 mins), Kate Kenna for Kelly (62 mins)

SARSFIELDS: Sadhbh Whelan; Sioda Davis, Annie Dunne, Emily Hyland; Caoimhe Fitzpatrick, Julie-Ann Bennett, Sarah Hibbits; Nicole Matthews, Jayne Hyland; Niamh Peake, Evanna Ryle, Lily Conroy; Aoibhe Foyle, Emma Delaney, Emer Conroy. Subs: Lilymae Conroy for Peake and Lucy-Jane Burke for Davis (Both 36 mins), Rachel Heffernan for Ryle (48 mins)

Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Ballykelly, Kildare)