Ireland make perfect start to defence of Bob Docherty Cup
Republic of Ireland 3-1 Wales
THE Republic of Ireland’s Under 15 Girls Schools side began the defence of their Bob Docherty Cup with a 3-1 win over hosts Wales in Cardiff today (April 12, 2011):
A second half double from Amber Barrett gave Jason Carey’s side a well deserved opening day victory at the University of Glamorgan in Treforest:
The visitors began the game brighter than their hosts and opened the scoring on 15 minutes when a slick passing move on the right involving Katie Carter and Amy O’Connor saw the latter set up Ciara Rossiter to score:
It was a lead Ireland would retain right through the half/time break but despite seeing Barrett carve out, and miss, two good opportunities early in the second period, the visitors lost their lead on 41 minutes:
The response was swift and decisive, however, with Barrett latching on to a Nadine Crawford free kick played in behind the Wales defence to score:
The striker sealed the victory soon after with her second goal of the game when she broke from deep and kept her nerve to round the goalkeeper and score:
The girls will now face Scotland this afternoon in their penultimate game (KO 2pm) while tomorrow morning sees them kick off against Northern Ireland in the conclusion of the competition:
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Amy Corcoran, Cadhla Gillen (Eimear Lafferty, 46), Nadine Crawford (Aishling Frawley, 65), Ciara McNamara, Michelle O’Regan, Amy O’Connor (Capt), Katie Carter, Ciara Rossiter, Rebekah Carroll (Mary Tyrell, 46), Avril Brierley, Amber Barrett (Lisa Casserly, 63)