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Tuesday 4th April saw the ten winning teams of each of the regional IFA futsal competitions travel to Lisburn Leisureplex for the National Finals. For Ballykeel, the excitement had been building and each player was geared up for the challenge ahead.
In order to reach the semi-final, the girls first had to qualify as winners or runners-up in their group, which comprised of five teams. Ballykeel started brightly and came away with 3 points in a 3-1 win over St Colmcille’s, with goals from Abi Sweetlove (1) and Stephanie Mark (2). This front pairing combined well, each providing assists for the other. There was no time to catch breath as the girls’ second game came hot on the heels of the first. Against a talented and spirited St Mary’s, Ballykeel again took the points with a 3-1 win and goals coming courtesy of Abi Sweetlove (2) and Stephanie Mark (1).
Qualification was within reach and the girls enjoyed a break where they could reflect on their progress so far and look forward to their third group match. Opposition in match three came in the form of St Patrick’s, who had been beaten in their opening two matches. However, it was St Patrick’s who pressed hardest and who came away with the points in a 2-1 win; Ballykeel’s consolation goal came from Abi Sweetlove.
The girls went into their final group game on 6 points against Dundonald, who also had 6 points. With St Mary’s on 9 points and already assured qualification to the semi-final stage, the winner of this game would progress with them. The game was in the balance throughout, and although Ballykeel took the advantage through goals from Abi Sweetlove and Stephanie Mark, Dundonald continued to press. The final minutes were made all the more tense when Dundonald scored, but the Ballykeel girls clung on for a well-earned 2-1 victory, with solid defending from Nicole Rainey and Emily Russell and alert goalkeeping from Hannah Balmer.
With Ballykeel and St Mary’s finishing on 9 points apiece, a penalty shootout was needed to determine the group winners; this was won by Ballykeel (3-2), who progressed to the semi-final and a match against the runners-up in the other group: Bleary. The girls turned on the style in the semi, winning emphatically 5-1. Goals came from the free-scoring Abi Sweetlove (4) and Stephanie Mark (1); again the girls combined well to ensure smooth passage to the final.
The final would present somewhat of a rematch, with Ballykeel meeting St Mary’s for the second time in the tournament. With only a short break between the semi-final and final, Ballykeel barely had time to catch breath. St Mary’s started the brighter, with their talented attacking pair putting them up 2-0. Ballykeel responded through another Abi Sweetlove goal to bring the tie back into contention, but in the quest for the equaliser, St Mary’s struck again to take a 3-1 lead that they would hold until the final whistle.
Each girl on the team played with hearts on sleeves and each gave 100%; they exited the competition with heads held high. On this occasion, victory in the final was just beyond their grasp, but each girl should be congratulated for gelling so well as a team, for playing such high-quality passing football, and for reaching the final of an incredibly tough national competition.
