Defending All Ireland Champions Mulroy College lost out to a determined St: Killian’s side in a nail/biting finish to the UMBRO FAI Schools Senior B Girls All Ireland Semi Final which was played in Kingspan Century Park today (Wednesday, 27 January):
The pulsating tie saw Alistair Harvey’s team come from a goal behind to clinch victory in the dying minutes of normal time, both goals coming courtesy of third year student Chloe Mustaki:
Mustaki played a pivotal role in securing the victory with two long range efforts in the second half to ensure St Killian’s advancement to the All Ireland Final:
The youngster is no stranger to Schools football, having helped Leinster claim the Interprovincial title last November and is currently part of the U15 Schools International setup this season:
This is only the third year of the Girls B competition which was introduced to cater for small sized schools (with less than 200 girls enrolled):
Mulroy had ten players making a return from last season which was a huge benefit to them in securing the Ulster title: Finn Valley College took the Milford school to extra time and a strike in the final minutes was to prove decisive for Tara Friel’s team:
St: Killians on the other hand were convincing winners in their Leinster Final with a comprehensive victory over Balbriggan Community College:
The Dubliner’s settled well into proceedings and didn’t take long for a shot on target: Mustaki’s set piece on seven minutes was played short to Lisa Marie Urban whose powerful effort was saved well by goalkeeper Breedge Boyce:
Mulroy responded with a period of possession football: The girls applied the pressure well and were rewarded twenty minutes in with a corner kick: St: Killian’s defenders were slow to clear their lines and Shannon Sweeney was on hand to slot the loose ball home from close range:
Justine Eifert missed an open goal on the half hour mark after good work from Dublin’s Alexandra Gonzalez:
The first half ended 1/0 to the Ulster ladies
Rianne Rowan and Mary O’Toole were introduced in the second half for St: Killian’s to provide some strength in midfield:
Sadhbh Hoban Logan had a snap shot on goal on 66 minutes but the versatile Boyce was on hand to palm the ball over the bar:
St: Killian’s were slowly gaining the upper hand in proceedings and a free kick four minutes later was to prove decisive: Mustaki’s long range effort from 35 yards was foiled by Boyce in goal and the velocity of the shot ensured the ball ricocheted into the back of the net for the equalizer: Ten minutes remaining and the game looked to be heading to extra time:
Mulroy made some tactical changes which saw the introduction of Tanita Dorrian for goal scorer Shannon Sweeney on 74 minutes:
The last of the action saw St Killian’s awarded a free kick in the dying minutes of normal time: Could Mustaki’s specialty of long range efforts be the deciding factor in this closely contested semi final? The thunderous effort from thirty yards flew past the throng of defenders and deceived the keeper by sliding into the bottom corner for a truly remarkable match winner:
St: Killian must wait until the end of the week to see who they face in their first All Ireland Senior B Girls Final: St: Mary’s Secondary School, Newport, Tipperary will play St: Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross, Ballina in the other semi final which will take place in Terryland Park, Galway on Friday afternoon (KO 1pm):
Mulroy College, Milford: Breedge Boyce, Shauna McDevitt, Roisin Devenney, Margaret Friel, Niamh Sweeney, Ciara Gibbons, Natasha Ward, Marie McElwaine, Nastasha McElwaine, Sarah McConigley, Shannon Sweeney
Subs:Sharon Callaghan, Fiona Coyle, Michelle Sweeney, Tanita Dorrian for Shannon Sweeney (74), Michelle Devenney, Roisin Boyce, Lorraine Mc Veigh
Manager: Tara Friel
St Killian’s DSD, Clonskeagh: Ellen Nolan, Charlotte Beer, Molly Brady, Chloe Mustaki, Alexandra Gonzalez, Lisa Marie Urban, Justine Eifert, Sadhbh Hoban/Logan, Julia Martinez, Anna Heisterkamp, Vesna Pepping:
Subs: Katie Mullen, Rianne Rowan for Justine Eifert (57), Mary O’Toole for Vesna Pepping (64), Ashlee Tremblay, Rhiannon O’Connor
Manager: Alistair Harvey
END