FAI Schools Minor ‘B’ Girls National Cup Semi Final (Under 15, Small Schools)
Friday, March 28, 2025
Gallen Community School 3-0 St. Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs
Ella Kenny (12, 55), Irene Egan (40)
GALLEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL, FERBANE enjoyed a comprehensive victory over Ulster Champions St. Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs at Gurteen Celtic FC, Sligo yesterday afternoon (Thursday, March 27).
A brace either side of the half from Ella KENNY as well as a fine effort from Irene EGAN in the second period ensured a showdown with Cork outfit St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West in this season’s FAI Schools Minor ‘B’ Girls National Cup Final.
The Passage West girls overcame Glenamaddy Community School 1-0 in the other semi-final outing on Tuesday in Limerick to set them up nicely for the finale.
The Offaly crew are no strangers to Cork opposition as they went out at this stage of the competition last year when Midleton College defeated them 1-0 in a fascinating penalty shoot-out following their 2-2 draw after extra-time in Evergreen FC, Kilkenny.
Gallen had three of that starting eleven involved yesterday with Vice Captains Emily Lynam Carroll and Lorna Colclough lining out alongside Katie Kidney that afternoon. Youngsters Freya Flynn and goal-scorer Irene Egan were also part of the extended panel last season which boded well yesterday.
The experienced Lynam Carroll exuberated confidence between the posts and this feed to the rest of the team. A brilliant defensive performance from Colclough and Kidney ensured the keeper kept a clean-sheet with some impactful substitute appearances as well as some top notch goal-scorers.
St. Catherine’s on the other hand were just lacking a little physicality and someone in the final third to connect with the balls being delivered into dangerous areas.
Ella KENNY took just 12 minutes to break through the Killybegs defence leaving McGettigan no chance with a wonderful strike.
Despite St. Catherine’s best efforts from the Gillespie twins, they couldn’t get the measure of the Leinster starlets. The Offaly girls went in 1-0 up at the break.
Gallen Community School extended their lead ten minutes after the restart when Irene EGAN fired home a superb effort while fifteen minutes later, KENNY grabbed her second and Gallen’s third, leaving the contest out of St. Catherine’s reach.
The Ulster side did well for periods of the game as they sustained a lot of pressure late on. Captain Etáin Gatins and Chloe O’Neill worked relentlessly in defence for McShane all afternoon but Gallen were just too dominant throughout the park.
The Killybegs school will now switch their focus on the First Year Girls Cup campaign while Scully and Rogerson have the painful task of match selection for the Cup Final following a good showing in Sligo yesterday afternoon by the entire squad.
The National Cup Final is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9 at 1pm with the venue to be confirmed.
GALLEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL, FERBANE | Emily Lynam Carroll ©, Niamh Waldon, Chloe Coleman, Grace Dunican, Katie Kidney, Lorna Colclough ©, Ciara Keenaghan, Freya Flynn, Irene Egan, Ella Kenny, Eibhlean Lynam.
SUBS ROLL ON / OFF | Halle Dunne, Amber Kelly, Ellie Flynn, Meghan Heavin, Katie Egan, Mikayla Egan, Allanah Egan
TEACHERS | Dervla Scully, Alan Rogerson
ST. CATHERINE’S VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, KILLYBEGS | Eimear McGettigan, Emma Shovlin, Etáin Gatins ©, Orla O’Donnell, Chloe O’Neill, Sienna Rawdon, Sienna Gillespie, Ella Gallagher, Cliondhna Murrin, Trinity Kelly, Saoirse Gillespie
SUBS ROLL ON / OFF | Leah McMonagle, Kelly Blaine, Chloe Gallagher, Rachel Blaine
TEACHERS | Eilish McShane, Emma McLaughlin COACH | Keith Jones
MATCH OFFICIAL | Stephen Fallon (Sligo)
