UMBRO FAI Schools First Year Girls Tournament
Loreto Community School, Milford representing Ulster schools emerged as winners of the All Ireland First Year Cup competition after a fiercely contested round robin tournament. The event was hosted in Willow Park, Athlone.
In their first game, Loreto CS played St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina who were Connacht Champions. Led by Aishling McDevitt, the Milford defence managed to ward off any attacks from the opposition. This was an evenly matched encounter with neither team breaking the deadlock.
In the second game, being played simultaneously, Munster’s St. Flannan’s College, Ennis managed o win their game against Leinster’s Scoil Mhuire of Longford with a narrow 1-0 win.
After this game it looked like Munster were the strongest team in the competition with a fine match winning performance and valuable points on the board.
Loreto Milford was a much stronger side in their second game against Munster. Orla McAteer worked very hard for Milford in the centre of the field. Despite their improved performance, Milford went a goal down 15 minutes into the game.
Amber Barrett, team captain, managed to bring the score back to level terms after half time with a superb volley from 20 yards out. In the final quarter of the game, Amber navigated her way through three St. Flannan’s players to have a strike of the ball which slammed against the cross bar and in. The game ended Loreto Milford 2, St Flannan’s College 1.
The other fixture which saw St. Mary’s of Ballina draw 1-1 with Scoil Mhuire Longford meant that Loreto Milford were top of the table after the second day of fixtures.
However, with only two points being awarded for a win and one for a draw, this left all teams in contention for the title in the final matches on Sunday morning.
Scoil Mhuire kicked off against Loreto while St. Mary’s faced St. Flannan’s in the last of the competition’s action.
Milford were the brighter early on and threatened on a number of occasions. Noelle McMenamin and Niamh Carr worked hard up the front in attack. This culminated in Amber Barrett scoring a goal from an acute angle with her left foot early in the first half.
Scoil Mhuire fought back with Loreto’s goalkeeper Heather Dougherty working hard with her defence to avoid losing the lead.
In a nerve wracking last 10 minutes, a number of free kicks were awarded to Scoil Mhuire just outside the penalty area. However Loreto managed to fend off these attacks to win the game and also the competition. It was a hard fought but well deserved victory by the girls from Loreto Community School and their delighted coach and teacher Ms. Alison Stoddart.
ST MARY’S, BALLINA: Rachel Cuffe, Aoife Neary, Jessica Butler, Claudia McNiece, Niamh Connolly, Ciara Armstrong, Sarah Rowe, Clodagh Egan, Fiona Treacy, Michelle Mulligan, Rachel McDonnell, Jenna Brennan, Emma Reilly, Fiona Durkan, Marie Kennedy, Tyra Marsh, Shauna Smith, Sarah Devaney, Louise Gilmartin
LORETO, MILFORD: Lisa Moore, Sarah Bonnar, Edel Shields, Heather Dougherty, Aishling McDermott, Shauna Howe, Kelly McFadden, Sarah Sweeney, Emer McGuigan, Amber Barrett, Orla McAteer, Aishling McDevitt, Noelle McMenamin, Niamh Carr, Emer Deeney.