NEWS BSJ Ladies Crowned Intermediate Champions
Ladies PTSB Intermediate Championship Final
BSJ 5-15 Lucan Sarsfields 1-09
BSJ Ladies Crowned Intermediate Champions
The first article I wrote for the senior BSJ Ladies team was about a championship game against Lucan in September 2023. We lost 2-13 to 4-10. We were 15 points behind at half-time and produced a masterclass in the second half, only to lose to a last-minute Lucan goal.
The second-half display was stunning. After the game, the recently appointed mentors were strangely positive. I wondered why and soon learnt that they had a deep, inherent belief, in the pit of their Gaelic hearts and souls, that this team could be champions one day.
I was a little sceptical at the time, but be God, they were dead feckin' right.
Fast-forward to last Saturday 3 October 2026, after 67 minutes of play in St. Margaret’s GAA Club, as a plane from Copenhagen landed at Dublin Airport, the BSJ Ladies team lifted the Intermediate Championship Cup to the delight of a massive BSJ crowd of parents, family and fans - and the same management team that had been there in 2023.
Unlike 2023, we got two halves of superlative play from every single player and every single substitute. Interestingly, nine of the 2023 team were still in the 2026 squad. This mix of youth and experience produced the goods by following a process that had started back in 2023.
What a day for a final. The sun was shining brightly, there wasn't a breeze in the air, there was a big crowd, and the pitch was in mint condition. Buíochas le Dia. Being on the flight path for planes leaving Dublin Airport that afternoon gave the occasion a real summer holiday vibe.
After the officials cleared the pitch, the ball was lifted into the air and our talented midfield pairing of Lauren Burke and Emily Adderley rose high to win the first battle. A sign of things to come.
The BSJ ladies took control from the off and, in truth, never lost it. They produced some scintillating passages of play that had the BSJ crowd in awe and the Lucan supporters frustrated but impressed.
This is a very good Lucan team, with talent from 1 to 15, but they met a team at the peak of their powers who were not going to be moved.
Within 14 minutes, we were 1-03 to 0-01 up, with a super goal from Niamh Leahy, two sweetly struck points from Ciara Kellegher and one from Alana Doran.
In attack, Lucan were dangerous, with several tall, strong, powerful runners in midfield and a few smaller flyers up front. The defence had to be at its best, and the full-back line of Rebecca Bowden, Isabelle Ryan and Caitríona O’Brien were tested repeatedly, but they managed to read many of the Lucan plays and disrupt the play. Invariably possession returned to BSJ.
This was a very impressive start to the game.
A further point from the ever-zippy Laura O’Connor preceded a goal by Lucan. They turned over a kick out and finished clinically. Yikes only three points in it.
The exceptionally talented half-back line of Ruth Nolan, Aisling Larkin and Sophie Carroll moved into an even higher gear and won critical ball that fed Grace O’Shea, who scored a super goal in the 29th minute.
Grace was just inside the halfway line with five defenders in front of her. Not a lot on. Then she took off like an express train, leaving players chasing shadows in her wake. One more player stood between her and the goal, Abbey Shiels the current Dublin ladies’ goalkeeper. Grace unleashed a shot with more force than the Bionic Woman’s left leg. The ball flew past the keeper and buried itself in the back of the net. The photo I took captures the kick and a big smile on Orlagh Nolan’s face.
Points by Emily, Niamh and another from Orlagh left the score at 2-07 to 1-02 at half-time.
The second half was a continuation of the first, with a commitment from BSJ to keep playing attacking football. There was no question of resting on the ropes for the second half. The message was simple: push on and keep doing what you’re doing.
BSJ ladies were on fire and playing a style of football reserved for the GAA goddesses. Lucan fought hard and played some beautiful football, but the second half yielded 3 goals and 8 points to Lucan’s 7 points.
Player of the Match Orlagh turned on the burners in the last 30 minutes and scored a lovely goal and 4 points, while her former Dublin teammate and super-sub Grace Dent contributed a magnificent 2 goals and 3 points from about 25 minutes of action. Effortless Emily scored the other point of the second half. Katie Moran Tighe, with baseball cap on head, had another super game and pulled off a particularly fabulous save in the last ten minutes when Lucan were trying desperately to generate momentum. Class act.
This was a complete performance, and the other second-half substitutions of Lisa Webster, Ellie Doran, Alice Smyth and Grace Lynch all made important contributions. Lisa and Alice in attack where Alice popped up with a beautiful point while Ellie and Grace slotted into the defence and kept the Lucan forwards at bay over the closing 10 minutes.
I positioned myself on the Lucan side of the pitch as the clock ticked up to 67 minutes to capture the pitch invasion from the subs and staff, along with the hugs and celebrations. Songs filled my head as I snapped the camera “Killeagh”, “Celebrate Good Times”, “Nobody told me there’d be days like this.” Four seasons of early morning gym sessions, of wet and cold Monday nights training, of one-point defeats and of course that 2023 loss to Lucan, were all banished.
To produce that performance on the biggest day was a testament to the group.
A stunning performance on a stunning day all round.
Congratulations and Thanks...
Congratulations firstly to the girls, for their commitment and effort and this most deserved success. You are a credit to your club. What inspiring leaders we have in captain fantastic Ruth Nolan and her amazing vice-captain Laura O’Connor.
Special thanks to all 31 girls in the group. Not everyone gets on the field every day, but everyone pushes everyone else along and everyone plays an important role and makes a contribution. It’s the collective effort that makes the difference.
Well done too to the coaching team of Michael, Chris and Liam. I heard you were up to 138 collective training sessions in 2026. Good things come to those who work hard and believe.
Huge thanks to Paul Leahy for the endless hours he puts in supporting this team (and all 3 ladies football teams in BSJ). Filling out sub slips, setting up pitches and filling in forms is coal face work that keeps the team fires burning.
Thanks as well to the great support from Clare Egan (the ladies FLO & jersey minder) and to Bernard Egan for his constant support (and keeping the time and the score!).
Thanks to Eoin for supporting with the girl’s S&C programme and to Adam for his tips on Nutrition and how to get the girls fuelled up to perform.
Thanks to Rose & Adam in the clubhouse for having it open and ready for Paul’s famous coffees after early morning training on Saturdays.
Thanks to Roisin for her support with all the social media posts and Facebook, Instagram content and all the stuff none of us understand. (Roisin posts all these reports for us to promote the ladies football section).
Thanks to all the BSJ super loyal family and friends who follow the girls all over Dublin for their games all year in all weathers. You make a huge difference and thank you for turning out in such numbers in St. Margaret’s.
The great news is that this team isn’t finished yet. We look forward to a League & Cup Final Double up versus Fingallians. Coming to the AWP on October 14th at 7.30. Get down and support your Champions going for the football treble. There’s also a Leinster Championship to play on the 24th October, but one step at a time!!
We wish our dual players the best of luck this Friday as they look to complete a fabulous double by capturing the Senior 2 Camogie title. (Parnell Park, Friday 9th October).
Jimmy Fearon
(6 Oct 2026)
I’m adding to the list above for thanks to include Jimmy himself. Jimmy has brought his camera and his unique style of match reporting with the senior group since 2023. Jimmy has daughters Katie & Sophie (both good footballers) who have played with the group at stages over the past 4 years and are now travelling but Jimmy stuck with us even when they weren’t there for him to watch. Thanks Jimmy – Really appreciate the support. – Michael Ryan
Our Magnificent Players
Katie Moran Tighe
Rebecca Bowden
Isabelle Ryan
Caitríona O'Brien
Ruth Nolan (C)
Aisling Larkin
Sophie Carroll
Lauren Burke
Emily Adderley
Grace O'Shea
Orlagh Nolan
Laura O'Connor (VC)
Ciara Kellegher
Alana Doran
Niamh Leahy
Grace Lynch
Lisa Webster
Grace Dent
Alice Smyth
Ellie Doran
Laura Dunne
Orla Glancy
Luisagh Guerrine
Jenny Andrews
Eve O'Callaghan
Sinéad Ní Bhaoighill
Róisín Tuomey
Hazel Grady
Ciara Andrews
Elaine Egan
Eibhlin Barry
BSJ 5-15 Lucan Sarsfields 1-09
BSJ Ladies Crowned Intermediate Champions
The first article I wrote for the senior BSJ Ladies team was about a championship game against Lucan in September 2023. We lost 2-13 to 4-10. We were 15 points behind at half-time and produced a masterclass in the second half, only to lose to a last-minute Lucan goal.
The second-half display was stunning. After the game, the recently appointed mentors were strangely positive. I wondered why and soon learnt that they had a deep, inherent belief, in the pit of their Gaelic hearts and souls, that this team could be champions one day.
I was a little sceptical at the time, but be God, they were dead feckin' right.
Fast-forward to last Saturday 3 October 2026, after 67 minutes of play in St. Margaret’s GAA Club, as a plane from Copenhagen landed at Dublin Airport, the BSJ Ladies team lifted the Intermediate Championship Cup to the delight of a massive BSJ crowd of parents, family and fans - and the same management team that had been there in 2023.
Unlike 2023, we got two halves of superlative play from every single player and every single substitute. Interestingly, nine of the 2023 team were still in the 2026 squad. This mix of youth and experience produced the goods by following a process that had started back in 2023.
What a day for a final. The sun was shining brightly, there wasn't a breeze in the air, there was a big crowd, and the pitch was in mint condition. Buíochas le Dia. Being on the flight path for planes leaving Dublin Airport that afternoon gave the occasion a real summer holiday vibe.
After the officials cleared the pitch, the ball was lifted into the air and our talented midfield pairing of Lauren Burke and Emily Adderley rose high to win the first battle. A sign of things to come.
The BSJ ladies took control from the off and, in truth, never lost it. They produced some scintillating passages of play that had the BSJ crowd in awe and the Lucan supporters frustrated but impressed.
This is a very good Lucan team, with talent from 1 to 15, but they met a team at the peak of their powers who were not going to be moved.
Within 14 minutes, we were 1-03 to 0-01 up, with a super goal from Niamh Leahy, two sweetly struck points from Ciara Kellegher and one from Alana Doran.
In attack, Lucan were dangerous, with several tall, strong, powerful runners in midfield and a few smaller flyers up front. The defence had to be at its best, and the full-back line of Rebecca Bowden, Isabelle Ryan and Caitríona O’Brien were tested repeatedly, but they managed to read many of the Lucan plays and disrupt the play. Invariably possession returned to BSJ.
This was a very impressive start to the game.
A further point from the ever-zippy Laura O’Connor preceded a goal by Lucan. They turned over a kick out and finished clinically. Yikes only three points in it.
The exceptionally talented half-back line of Ruth Nolan, Aisling Larkin and Sophie Carroll moved into an even higher gear and won critical ball that fed Grace O’Shea, who scored a super goal in the 29th minute.
Grace was just inside the halfway line with five defenders in front of her. Not a lot on. Then she took off like an express train, leaving players chasing shadows in her wake. One more player stood between her and the goal, Abbey Shiels the current Dublin ladies’ goalkeeper. Grace unleashed a shot with more force than the Bionic Woman’s left leg. The ball flew past the keeper and buried itself in the back of the net. The photo I took captures the kick and a big smile on Orlagh Nolan’s face.
Points by Emily, Niamh and another from Orlagh left the score at 2-07 to 1-02 at half-time.
The second half was a continuation of the first, with a commitment from BSJ to keep playing attacking football. There was no question of resting on the ropes for the second half. The message was simple: push on and keep doing what you’re doing.
BSJ ladies were on fire and playing a style of football reserved for the GAA goddesses. Lucan fought hard and played some beautiful football, but the second half yielded 3 goals and 8 points to Lucan’s 7 points.
Player of the Match Orlagh turned on the burners in the last 30 minutes and scored a lovely goal and 4 points, while her former Dublin teammate and super-sub Grace Dent contributed a magnificent 2 goals and 3 points from about 25 minutes of action. Effortless Emily scored the other point of the second half. Katie Moran Tighe, with baseball cap on head, had another super game and pulled off a particularly fabulous save in the last ten minutes when Lucan were trying desperately to generate momentum. Class act.
This was a complete performance, and the other second-half substitutions of Lisa Webster, Ellie Doran, Alice Smyth and Grace Lynch all made important contributions. Lisa and Alice in attack where Alice popped up with a beautiful point while Ellie and Grace slotted into the defence and kept the Lucan forwards at bay over the closing 10 minutes.
I positioned myself on the Lucan side of the pitch as the clock ticked up to 67 minutes to capture the pitch invasion from the subs and staff, along with the hugs and celebrations. Songs filled my head as I snapped the camera “Killeagh”, “Celebrate Good Times”, “Nobody told me there’d be days like this.” Four seasons of early morning gym sessions, of wet and cold Monday nights training, of one-point defeats and of course that 2023 loss to Lucan, were all banished.
To produce that performance on the biggest day was a testament to the group.
A stunning performance on a stunning day all round.
Congratulations and Thanks...
Congratulations firstly to the girls, for their commitment and effort and this most deserved success. You are a credit to your club. What inspiring leaders we have in captain fantastic Ruth Nolan and her amazing vice-captain Laura O’Connor.
Special thanks to all 31 girls in the group. Not everyone gets on the field every day, but everyone pushes everyone else along and everyone plays an important role and makes a contribution. It’s the collective effort that makes the difference.
Well done too to the coaching team of Michael, Chris and Liam. I heard you were up to 138 collective training sessions in 2026. Good things come to those who work hard and believe.
Huge thanks to Paul Leahy for the endless hours he puts in supporting this team (and all 3 ladies football teams in BSJ). Filling out sub slips, setting up pitches and filling in forms is coal face work that keeps the team fires burning.
Thanks as well to the great support from Clare Egan (the ladies FLO & jersey minder) and to Bernard Egan for his constant support (and keeping the time and the score!).
Thanks to Eoin for supporting with the girl’s S&C programme and to Adam for his tips on Nutrition and how to get the girls fuelled up to perform.
Thanks to Rose & Adam in the clubhouse for having it open and ready for Paul’s famous coffees after early morning training on Saturdays.
Thanks to Roisin for her support with all the social media posts and Facebook, Instagram content and all the stuff none of us understand. (Roisin posts all these reports for us to promote the ladies football section).
Thanks to all the BSJ super loyal family and friends who follow the girls all over Dublin for their games all year in all weathers. You make a huge difference and thank you for turning out in such numbers in St. Margaret’s.
The great news is that this team isn’t finished yet. We look forward to a League & Cup Final Double up versus Fingallians. Coming to the AWP on October 14th at 7.30. Get down and support your Champions going for the football treble. There’s also a Leinster Championship to play on the 24th October, but one step at a time!!
We wish our dual players the best of luck this Friday as they look to complete a fabulous double by capturing the Senior 2 Camogie title. (Parnell Park, Friday 9th October).
Jimmy Fearon
(6 Oct 2026)
I’m adding to the list above for thanks to include Jimmy himself. Jimmy has brought his camera and his unique style of match reporting with the senior group since 2023. Jimmy has daughters Katie & Sophie (both good footballers) who have played with the group at stages over the past 4 years and are now travelling but Jimmy stuck with us even when they weren’t there for him to watch. Thanks Jimmy – Really appreciate the support. – Michael Ryan
Our Magnificent Players
Katie Moran Tighe
Rebecca Bowden
Isabelle Ryan
Caitríona O'Brien
Ruth Nolan (C)
Aisling Larkin
Sophie Carroll
Lauren Burke
Emily Adderley
Grace O'Shea
Orlagh Nolan
Laura O'Connor (VC)
Ciara Kellegher
Alana Doran
Niamh Leahy
Grace Lynch
Lisa Webster
Grace Dent
Alice Smyth
Ellie Doran
Laura Dunne
Orla Glancy
Luisagh Guerrine
Jenny Andrews
Eve O'Callaghan
Sinéad Ní Bhaoighill
Róisín Tuomey
Hazel Grady
Ciara Andrews
Elaine Egan
Eibhlin Barry
Cumann Naomh Eoin Baile an tSaoir
Address
T: BSJ Clubhouse 01 406 1373
© Ballinteer St. Johns GAA 2026