Ballymackey Women had a early start Sunday as they traveled to the Limerick/Cork border to take on Limerick Desmond's League side Broadford United at 11.30am in the FAI Women's Amateur Shield. The home side started well and the Ballymackey defence had to scramble on a few occasions to keep the game scoreless. Ballymackey gained their composure 15 minutes and started to create chances of their own and Christine O Keefe was quickest to a breaking ball in the Limerick sides 6 yard box following a corner and she steered the ball home for the opener. Ballymackey were now getting into their stride and Aoibhin Delaney rode a tackle 25 yards out to get into a yard of space and struck a great effort into the top corner giving the home keeper no chance. Ballymackey made a slight tweak to their setup and this allowed them to really get on top of the game. Joanne O Brien went close, meeting Amber DeLewis's right wing cross but saw her effort come back off the crossbar, the Broadford made a great save from DeLewis in a 1v1 situation and with 5 minutes left in the half Ballymackey pulled 3 clear. Chloe McAuliffe showed great composure to step out of defence with the ball and she released Allison McDonnell in behind, McDonnell showed great strength to hold off a defender and finished well past the outcoming goalkeeper to leave the score 0-3 at the half time break. The second half did not reach the intensity of the first half, the best of Ballymackeys chances fell to Chloe Whyte but the Keeper did well to get a hand on her shot and turn the ball onto the post. Ballymackey probably eased up too soon in the match and Broadford were given some hope with free kick goal with 10 minutes remaining, Ballymackey saw the game out relatively well from there, though Broadford did grab a second right on full time to leave the game 2-3 at the final whistle. Not a complete 90 minute performance from Ballymackey but a good win in a game where the opportunity was given to some fresh faces to stake a claim for inclusion in next weeks Combined Counties Women's Cup Semi Final. U17 player April Slevin played her first senior game of the season and U17 goalkeeper Ava O Rourke showed her versatility with a cameo out the pitch. Captain Lisa Toohey made a welcome return to the team, Christine O Keefe's workrate was impressive, Nicole Ryan was excellent, particularly at wing back and the player of the match was Amber DeLewis who oozed quality throughout. Ballymackey move on to the next round of the FAI Shield where they are at home in the next round to Peake Villa. Next weekend it's another big occasion as Ballymackey welcome Bealnamulla Ladies to Ballinree for the Semi Final of the Counties Cup