Coláiste Bhaile Chláir claim historic win over Presentation Kilkenny to lift Junior Cup
FAI Schools Junior Girls National Cup Final
Monday, March 9, 2020
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir 2-0 Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny
Elisha Bohan (55, 70)
COLÁISTE BHAILE CHLÁIR finally broke the Kilkenny resolve this afternoon in Athlone Town AFC to claim an historic victory in their Junior Cup campaign.
The Galway side had met the same opposition in the Senior showdown last month losing out 3-1 in a highly entertaining contest. They had also lost both the Senior and Junior Cup Finals to the Kilkenny stalwarts twelve months previous so today’s victory was bittersweet.
In fact, Cooney’s side were contesting their third consecutive Junior crown having fallen foul of powerhouse Moville Community College 2-1 back in 2018.
The Westerners finally got their hands on the elusive prize with a splendid brace from Elisha Bohan who was exquisite to watch. She was assisted by some sharp manoeuvring of Shauna Brennan and Kate Slevin in a wet and windy Midlands.
There were moments of brilliance from Under 17 International Ellen Molloy but her shots from distance couldn’t find the target while De Mange and Barcoe also impressed but it was all square at the break.
Elisha Bohan broke the deadlock fifteen minutes from time when she was first to react to a Kilkenny clearance at the edge of the box as she rifled the ball into the top corner in fine style.
Just before the hour mark, Cooney introduced Michaela McGough and the First Year scholar made an immediate impact as her pace down the right flank saw her skip past the Kilkenny defence with her dazzling effort skimming off the crossbar.
The Kilkenny counter-attack always looked threatening but some brave goalkeeping from Alanah Griffin saw her keep a clean sheet and deny a frustrated duo of Phelan and Shortall.
The title was secured when Bohan struck home late on, from six yards out following some fabulous play by super sub Michaela McGough to cut the ball into her path.
Joe Carroll, FAI Schools Executive was on hand to present the Cup to a jubilant Kate Slevin, Captain of Claregalway.
COLÁISTE BHAILE CHLÁIR (CLAREGALWAY COLLEGE) | Alanah Griffin, Isabel Claffey, Ciara Hegarty,
Chellene Trill, Niamh Donovan, Eabha O’Riordan, Kate Slevin (Captain), Laura Scanlon, Elisha Bohan, Shauna Brennan, Sarah Cogley
SUBS USED | Michaela McGough (for Hegarty, 58), Chloe Flaherty (for Claffey, 70)
SUBS NOT USED | Leah O’Halloran, Jade Heery, Ruby Duggan, Megan Wing, Clodagh Crowley, Hannah Walsh
TEACHER | Fabienne Cooney
PRESENTATION SECONDARY SCHOOL, KILKENNY | Emily Carroll, Anna Purcell, Alannah Coady, Cliodhna Murphy, Katie Ryan (Captain), Freya Hardy Petit De Mange, Keara Ryan, Niamh Phelan, Ellen Molloy, Sarah Barcoe, Emma Shortall
SUBS | Kate Furlong, Eabha Carroll, Rachel Whelan, Aoife Doyle, Izzy Clancy, Louise McInerny, Caroline Barron, Sarah O’Gorman
TEACHER | Clodagh McDonald ASSISTANT | Aisling Costelloe
REFEREE | Paul Tone (Athlone)
