By Jonathan Brown
BALLYNAHINCH Olympic Ladies travelled to Pepperton Park on Wednesday night (13 August) to face a Portadown side fighting for survival. A win would seal the NIWFA Division Three title, and Olympic delivered.
The Ballynahinch girls started brightly – in the 13th minute, Orlaith Cassidy broke into the box, saw her first shot saved, but pounced on the rebound to fire into the corner. 1–0.
Portadown hit back on 20 minutes with a neat finish under Jamie-Lee Wilson to level the scores.
Olympic pushed forward, Megan Carlisle rattling the crossbar before Katie O’Prey struck just before the break, controlling in the box and firing home, so it was 2–1 at half-time.
The second half was tense, and in the 67th minute, Portadown equalised with a stunning 25-yard strike that went in off the underside of the bar.
Olympic dug deep, with subs Orlaith Sharkey and Saerlaith Small adding fresh legs.
In the 84th minute, Sharkey was fouled 25 yards out. Beth Donnan stepped up and, instead of crossing, unleashed a thunderous free-kick into the roof of the net.
Portadown pressed late, but Olympic’s defence stood firm and held out for a dramatic 3-2 win.
At full-time, celebrations erupted, with the league title secured.
A statement posted by Ballynahinch Olympic on Facebook read:
“Ballynahinch Olympic FC is immensely proud of this squad. From the first training session to the final whistle, their commitment, teamwork, and spirit have been outstanding.
“This title is a reward for their dedication and passion and a truly historic moment for the club.”
The Olympic ladies’ team were formed in 2022, winning promotion from Division Six in their first season, and they have continued their rise up the NIWFA pyramid. Now the girls in claret and blue can look forward to Division Two football in 2026.
Anthony Russell manages the team alongside former Olympic men’s teammate Aidan Walsh.
Having gone unbeaten in the 12 league games they’ve played this year, Russell said it was a relief to finally get the title over the line on Wednesday.
“It seemed to take forever to be honest.
“We’ve had 12 league games – we’ve won ten and drawn two with two to play, and we still weren’t certain with five minutes to go on Wednesday night.
“Portadown were fantastic on the night, they were a completely different side to the side we played earlier in the season – they pushed us all the way and probably deserved something from the game in all honesty, it was just a brilliant free kick at the end from Beth which has won the game for us.
“We needed a late winner to get us over the line and to do that was brilliant.”
Read the full interview with Anthony Russell in next week’s edition of the Mourne Observer, as the Olympic Ladies co-manager explains why the girls in claret and blue have to guard against complacency ahead of a cup final against Belfast Swifts
