Ballymackey Ladies exit FAI Cup

Ballymackey exited the FAI Women's Amateur Cup at the first round stage, losing 3-2 away to Newtown Rovers in Limerick on Sunday.

The Tipperary side were the authors of their own misfortune, gifting Newtown some very soft goals. Ballymackey found themselves two behind twice but were very unlucky not to recover the deficit, striking the post on two occasions and spurning some very good scoring chances.

With minutes left, Ballymackey thought they had equalised. The home goalkeeper scrambled the ball clear from Kate Kavanaghs corner delivery, the ball looked to have crossed the line, but the referee was not in a position to see clearly, and the goal was not given.

Amber DeLewis scored both of Ballymackey’s goals and Lisa Toohey was the pick of the players.

Ballymackey can take positives from how they chased the game from behind and how they adapted to the conditions, they were very much hindered by a rough pitch surface which made it almost impossible to play their normal game.

The game was also an opportunity to get some valuable minutes into some players who have not had too many playing opportunities lately and some fine performances will add some selection headaches going

forward.

It's not the end of the FAI journey either for the girls, they have the fall back of the FAI Shield and this competitive encounter against a good Newtown side will stand the girls in good stead as they now face a raft of must win games in League and

Cup.