2024 SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup | Match Day Two concludes

SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup | Under 15 Girls’ International Tournament

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Scotland & England prevail in Match Day Two

Scotland 2-1 Northern Ireland             Republic of Ireland 1-2 England 

Iona Watt (38), Erin O’Brien (48)        Ruby Adair (19)                       Ciara Milton (10)                                       Sophia Burton (9, 60+2)

SCOTLAND & ENGLAND were the winners following Match Day Two of the 2024 SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup in Athlone Town AFC yesterday evening (March 26).

Scotland came from behind to take the spoils in dramatic fashion against Northern Ireland with Iona Watt and Erin O’Brien netting a second half brace to cancel out Ruby Adair’s first half effort.

While the drama continued in the second outing as an injury time winner from Sophia Burton provided England with a 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland as Ciara Milton had equalised soon after the England opener by Burton in the opening half.

It leaves for a crunch encounter Thursday morning as the tournament concludes.

England will face Scotland on Thursday morning at 10am while the Republic of Ireland will face Northern Ireland at 12 noon.

If England win, they grab the title with two wins and a draw. 

If Scotland win, as do the Republic of Ireland, they will be level on points, but the Republic would take the silverware from their head to head.

MATCH DAY TWO, GAME THREE

Northern Ireland’s Ava Hurl thought she had the ball in the back of the net on 12 minutes but for the heroics of Caitlin Moore as the Scottish playercleared her line brilliantly.

The tenacious Northern Ireland crew did eventually go ahead with Ruby ADAIR tapping in from close range after Emilee Leacock’s initial shot was saved wonderfully by Reid.

The Irish crew went into the break with a one goal cushion.

Scotland managed to equalise eight minutes into the restart as Iona WATT converted.

Scotland’s second came ten minutes later when Erin O’BRIEN finished off brilliantly.

Northern Ireland couldn’t get the elusive equaliser late on and Scotland held out for a hard earned victory.

SCOTLAND | Alex Reid, Iona Watt, Caitlin Martin, Lily Boyce ©, Amelie Chomczuk, May Cruft, Orla Burn, Erin Gilvear, Lucy Stevenson, Ava Allison, Erin O’Brien

SUBS USED | Oluwadara Ositelu for Chomczuk (HT), Phoebe O’Donnell for Allison (HT), Melissa Regmi for O’Brien (52)

SUBS NOT USED | Morgan McCroary, Abby Hayes, Sky Murtagh, Ava Crawford

NORTHERN IRELAND | Zara McAvoy, Holly Hilton, Chloe Beckinsale, Lily Brooke Wallace, Ruby Adair, Charlotte Havern, Emilee Leacock, Mirijana Karrabecaj, Ava Hurl, Grace McAllister, Abbie Smyth

SUBS USED | Grace Campbell for Adair (43), Daisy Moore for Hurl (43), Heidi Curran for Smyth (44), Jemma Hernan for McAllister (52), Maja Stachura for Leacock (52)

SUBS NOT USED | Madison Bell, Sophie Graham

MATCH OFFICIAL | Martin Hatchett (Midlands)

MATCH DAY TWO, GAME FOUR

In the second of yesterday evenings fixtures, it was Republic of Ireland taking on England in the John Read Trophy showdown.

Sarah Doyle (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir) pulled off an exceptional stop to deny England Captain Chloe Giddings in the second minute.

The English took the lead through the talented Sophia BURTON in the nineth minute with an awesome strike to slot past Doyle.

However, their lead was short lived as a minute later, Ciara MILTON of St. Leo’s College, Carlow equalised after good build up play from Irish Captain Madison McGuane (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally) to play her in.

Pobalscoil Neasáin, Baldoyle student Kassie McLoughlin had a thunderous shot to the top corner saved brilliantly by Freya Weeks to keep the sides level just before the break.

McLoughlin had another wonderful opportunity for her team to take the lead eight minutes into the second period but the youngster’s effort was dragged wide of the target.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Claregalway pupil Anna McGough came agonisingly close to snatching the winner but she just couldn’t connect properly when the ball bounced in front of her.

It looked like the game was heading to penalties to decide the contest but the match winner came two minutes into added time as Sophia BURTON popped up for her second of the day to take the John Read Trophy and more importantly the valuable points on offer for the Bob Docherty Cup campaign.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Lara DALLAGHAN, Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey was named Player of the Match against England. The young star had a fantastic performance for the Republic of Ireland in midfield.

ENGLAND | Freya Weeks, Isla Law, Millie Budron, Rachel McPeak, Zoe Ciccardini, Macie Mae Halsall, Chloe Giddings ©, Sophia Burton, Tilly Abrahams, Lottie Thorpe, Maisie Brickell

SUBS USED | Macy Walby for McPeak (44), Annabelle Tang for Thorpe (44), Lily James for Burdon (46), Dolly Reynolds for Halsall (56), Honey Benton Bryan for Ciccardini (56)

SUBS NOT USED | Evie Mitchell, Emily Giddings

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND | Sarah Doyle, Karla Moore, Keelin Comiskey, Maisie Quinn, Kaitlyn Delahunty, Lara Dallaghan, Kassie McLoughlin, Madison McGuane ©, Eve Loftus, Ciara Milton, Molly Kirwan

SUBS USED | Sophie Byrne for Moore (HT), Anna McGough for Kirwan (HT), Mia Murtagh for Loftus (HT, Abbie Duffy for McLoughlin (46)

SUBS NOT USED | Lucy Doyle Farrington, Sarah Reynolds, Isabella Talotti

MATCH OFFICIAL | Ultan Beaumont (Midlands)

POTM

ROI vs Scotland | Sophie BYRNE, Coláiste Chiaráin, Athlone

ROI vs England | Lara DALLAGHAN, Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey

RESULTS

Monday, March 25 | Match Day 1

Republic of Ireland 2-1 Scotland KO 10am

Northern Ireland 1-1 England (England won 3-1 pens for bonus point) KO 12.15pm

Tuesday, March 26 | Match Day 2

Scotland 2-1 Northern Ireland KO 3pm

Republic of Ireland 1-2 England KO 5pm

Wednesday, March 27 | Rest Day

FIXTURES

Thursday, March 28 | Match Day 3

England vs Scotland KO 10am

Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland KO 12 noon

SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup | Roll of Honour

END