Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill, Galway 1/1 Moville Community College, Donegal (AET) Taylor’s Hill win 5/4 on pens
Alanna Moran (37) Nicole McDermott (23)
MOVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE relinquished their Senior crown as a penalty shoot out dominated a pulsating tie in Ray Mac Sharry Park, Sligo on Wednesday last (March 19)
A new name was etched into the UMBRO FAI Schools Senior Girls Cup for 2014 as DOMINICAN COLLEGE, TAYLOR’S HILL overcome the mighty Moville crew in dramatic style: A single spot kick proving decisive on the day as Moville missed their second penalty while Taylor’s Hill held their nerve to slot home all five in confident fashion:
Taylor’s Hill became the first school from the city (and only the second from Galway, after Presentation College, Headford in 2003) to claim the prestigious title: The Headford Captain that day was Emma Mullin and she was on hand to see Shauna Fox lift the Cup as Eamon Naughton, Chairman of the SSE Airtiricty League of Ireland was in attendance to make the presentation:
Roma McLaughlin, underage International was missing from this decider for Moville as she is recovering from injury: A massive boost for the Taylor’s Hill girls at the underdogs took to the field:
The Donegal School made a brilliant start to proceedings as Gemma McGuinness and Sarah Jane McDonald were proving dangerous upfront while Aine and Kathy McLaughlin were solid in defence:
The lively Gemma McGuinness had two excellent chances early on but was just wide of the target on both occasions
Moville took the lead on 23 minutes when Nicole McDermott netted from close range following an excellent cross into the box from Captain Eimear Lafferty: Moville pressed high in search of a second only for Captain Shauna Fox of Taylor’s Hill to keep her defence well organised
The experience of Moville showed on the pitch as six of the starting eleven were featuring for the last time at this level as they consider their third level options during the Summer:
The young Taylor's Hill squad, who will all make a return next season for the school were building a foothold on proceedings as the interval approached:
A good spell of play saw the equaliser come on 37 minutes as Aoife Walsh played a tantalising cross into the danger area for Alanna Moran to volley home a superb left footed goal:
The pace of the talented Moran proved troublesome for Donegal as she played right off the shoulder of the last defender and was put through on goal a couple of times only for the assistant referee to rule for offside
Taylor’s Hill came out to the second half full of confidence and had the better chances to take the lead:
Midway into the second half midfielder Elle Rose O’Flaherty had a wonderful strike on goal only for the brilliant Amy Canning to palm the ball onto the bar
Alanna Moran whipped the ball across the face of the Moville goal mouth on 62 minutes but no one was there to connect with it: Agony for the Galway team as a well worked move proved fruitless
Both teams were battling hard to take the lead but such a high tempo game proved to be energy draining as both teams just couldn’t find that finishing touch in front of goal to take the lead:
The game needed extra time which also finished 1/1 as both teams defending brilliantly meaning penalties was going to decide the FAI Schools All Ireland Champions for 2014
Out of 10 penalties 9 were scored with Taylor’s Hill converting all 5 and Moville missing just the one, their second which was excellently saved by Anesi Igunme to take the Cup West after an eleven year absence:
A remarkable achievement for Dominican College and well deserved on the day:
Their goalkeeper Anesi Igunme was easily the best player on the park and deserved to get the praise when she stepped up to collect her medal
DOMINICAN COLLEGE, TAYLOR’S HILL: Anesi Igunme, Leah Doyle, Claire Conroy, Ailbhe Farrell, Shauna Fox (Capt), Ciara Lynagh, Aoife Walsh, Elle Rose O’Flaherty, Eva Gilmore Alanna Moran, Aideen Naughton
SUBS NOT USED: Emer Alone, Rebecca Gilligan, Myah Greaney, Ellen O’Keefe, Emily Roger
TEACHER: Geoff Drea, COACH: John Power
MOVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Amy Canning, Jenna Doherty, Rebekah Henry, Aine McLaughlin, Kathy McLaughlin, Sarah Jane McDonald, Eimear Lafferty (Capt), Emma Doherty, (Ciara Harkin, 57) Eimear Reddin, (Niamh McLaughlin, 57), Gemma McGuinness, Nicole McDermott,
SUBS NOT USED: Niamh Cavanagh, Noreen Duffy, Chloe McLaughlin, Cody Anderson, Roma McLaughlin
TEACHERS: Margaret Mulhall, Seamus Gallagher
REFEREE: Owen McLaughlin (Sligo)