Umbro FAI Schools Minor Girls Connacht Final
Sacred Heart Westport 1 St Mary’s Ballina 1
(After extra time, Sacred Heart won 4-2 on penalties)
By Anthony Hennigan in Milebush, 26 March 2009
POSSESSION might be nine tenths of the law, but using the loophole that is penalties, Sacred Heart thwarted the attempts of a more dominant St Mary’s to win this all-Mayo Connacht Final, in Castlebar, last Wednesday.
Either side restricted to just the odd long-range goal attempt during extra-time, it was their litany of missed chances during normal time that cost the Ballina girls dear, and allowed Gabrielle Keegan write her name into Sacred Heart folklore by netting the winning spot-kick at the end of a pulsating 80 minutes action.
Midfield playmaker Ciara Armstrong, one of the game’s outstanding performers, almost gave St Mary’s a 6th minute lead when dribbling fully 80 yards, dodging five tackles but having goalkeeper Shelly O’Grady stick out a left leg to deflect the ball to safety.
O’Grady’s opposite, Kathy Higgins, had to go full-stretch herself on two occasions to deny Sacred Heart’s Gabrielle Keegan and Nicola O’Malley scoring from outside the box, before St Mary’s, Ballina finally bagged the first goal on 19 minutes.
Sarah Rowe, a formidable presence alongside Armstrong, combined with Nessa Quinn who in turn teed up Fiona Treacy whose shot Shelly O’Grady did well to turn away. St Mary’s, however, worked the ball back towards the edge of the box where Rowe was waiting to unleash a ferocious shot to the roof of the Westport net.
That lead was short-lived though, with Alison Foy quick-est to react to the long delivery of team-mate Ursula Sammon, lifting the ball past the advancing ‘keeper and into the Ballina goal on 24 minutes.
From then on however, all of the goalmouth action during normal time occurred at the Sacred Heart end, where the defending of Emily Keane became paticularly noticeable. A minute before half-time, Ballina’s Ciara Armstrong forced a fine save out of O’Grady who again was called into action six minutes into the second half when Nessa Quinn went close to scoring.
On 41 minutes, Armstrong struck a left foot volley from the edge of the box that flew an inch the wrong side of the right upright and Clodagh Egan met a Sarah Rowe corner only for Sacred Heart’s Serena O’Shea to clear off the goal-line.
Scoreless after 60 minutes, extra-time was required; Ciara Armstrong twice almost ended the stalemate, first from 25 yards and then from fully 40 yards when her dipping shot required Shelly O’Grady to expertly palm away.
At the other end, Gabrielle Keegan also tried her luck from well outside the penalty area that Kathy Higgins did well to stop, however, it was Keegan who was to have the last laugh when the game ended level and penalties were called for.
St Mary’s swapped goalkeepers, with Rachel Cuffe sprung from the bench, but missing two of their spot-kicks cost the Ballina girls dear, and with only Sarah Rowe and Michelle Mulligan scoring, goalkeeper Shelly O’Grady, Serena O’Shea, Laura Keane and Gabrielle Keegan were unerring for Sacred Heart.
SACRED HEART: Shelly O’Grady, Ursula Sammon, Siobhan Golden, Serena O’Shea, Emily Keane, Gabrielle Keegan, Laura Keane, Nicola O’Malley, Lauren Burke, Niamh McNea, Alison Foy. Subs: Aoife Maguire (for Burke 45), Aisling Duffy (for Golden 73).
ST MARY’S: Kathy Higgins, Chelsea Farrell, Lorraine Gilmartin, Claudia McNiece, Jessica Butler, Sarah Rowe, Ciara Armstrong, Clodagh Egan, Fiona Treacy, Nessa Quinn, Brynagh Molloy. Subs: Ally Bernard (for Quinn 43), Michelle Mulligan (for Molloy 66), Rachel Cuffe (for Higgins 80).
Referee: Kevin Cox.