Moville Community College, Donegal 4/3 Christ King Girls’ SS, Cork (AET)
Moville Community College claimed their first ever Senior Schools title at the Oscar Traynor Centre in Coolock on Friday as a hat trick from Ireland U19 international Gemma McGuinness earned them an extra time win in a repeat of last year’s final:
The final produced a thrilling encounter among two great of girls schools football: Christ King had the bragging rights last season in Tallaght but the tables turned this year with Moville just edging it in extra time:
The Ulster Champions couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game as, after they survived an early scare from Megan Connolly, they hit the front when Roma McLaughlin continued her scoring streak with the Ireland U15 Schoolgirls with a goal fit to grace any cup final on 5 minutes:
The initial chance came when Shannon McDonald broke down the right side and played a deep cross in for her sister Sarah Jane and, although she miscued her shot, Moville recycled the clearance and worked the ball to McLaughlin who let fly with an unstoppable curling shot to the top right corner of the net from 25 yards:
The lead was to last only 10 minutes however as a piece of magic from U17 International Megan Connolly saw her get in behind the Moville centre/half and latch onto a high ball in by Sarah Geaney and drill low past McLaughlin:
Connolly’s superb ball striking ability meant Christ King’s were always a threat from set pieces and they edged ahead on 23 minutes when her corner with the outside of her right boot from the right side flew directly into the roof of the net:
Christ Kings put themselves firmly in the driving seat however as Connolly doubled their lead by completing her hat/trick when her sweetly struck free/kick from fully 45 yards sailed into the top right corner:
A fourth goal for the Cork girls would have virtually put the game beyond doubt and they finished the first half strongly as Laura O’Brien shot wide before Leanne McLaughlin in the Moville goal produced a save that kept her side in the game at the break when she parried a Connolly shot and recovered well to clear the rebound at the feet of O’Brien:
HALF TIME –Moville 1 Christ King’s 3
Moville started the second half with a renewed impetus and pushed wide players Sarah Jane McDonald and substitute Nicole McDermott high up the pitch as the McDonald sisters both forced saves from Chelsea Noonan in the Cork goal who was having an outstanding game in goal for the Cork side
They came closer again on 43 minutes when Gemma McGuinness put her foot through a 25 yard effort that cannoned off the crossbar and moments later a well flighted cross from Eimear Lafferty was headed just wide by McLaughlin:
Moville finally beat Noonan on 51 minutes when McLaughlin tee’d up Sarah Jane McDonald and her low shot was headed goalward until Christ King’s Michelle Murphy somehow hooked the ball off the line to clear:
The Inishowen girls got the goal their pressure deserved a minute later however as Sarah Jane McDonald’s deep cross from the right was hooked home at the back post by McGuinness:
Noonan continued to thwart Moville as she pulled off an outstanding save to claim a goal bound long range Shannon McDonald effort while at the other end stand in ‘keeper Aine McLaughin, who started the game at right back, produced a crucial save to parry another Connolly pile driver and Sarah Geaney shot into the side netting from the rebound:
With just 8 minutes of normal time remaining, Moville’s second half dominance was rewarded with a crucial equaliser when another intelligent ball in from Sarah Jane McDonald found Roma McLaughlin who helped it into the path of Gemma McGuinness who finished expertly into the bottom right corner:
Deep in added time Moville had one last chance to claim the cup as McGuinness turned provider to release Sarah Jane McDonald but her shot from a one on one situation was too close to Noonan who cleared the danger bravely:
FULL TIME – Moville 3 Christ King Girls 3
The first half of extra time was an open affair as Moville’s attacking players continued to link up well with McGuinness denied by another crucial clearance from Michelle Murphy while at the other end Aine McLaughlin produced a neat save to deny Megan Connolly and substitute Orlaith Magner shot narrowly wide when well placed from the rebound:
The defining moment of the game came 2 minutes into the second half of extra time when Shannon McDonald won a short kick/out and fed McGuinness who made no mistake in poking home beyond the advancing Noonan:
Christ King, to their credit, responded well to the setback and had a chance to take the game to penalties late on when Niamh McGreevy played in Megan Connolly whose shot from a one on one with McLaughlin beat the Moville ‘keeper but also the left post as Moville held on for a heart stopping win:
MOVILLE CC, DONEGAL: Leanne McLaughlin, Rebekah Henry, Kathy McLaughlin, Charmaine McDermott, Aine Breslin, Shannon McDonald, Eimear Lafferty, Roma McLaughlin, Sarah Jane McDonald, Aine McLaughlin, Gemma McGuinness
SUBS: Nicole McDermott for L McLaughlin (HT), Olivia Kelly for R Henry (ET), Eimear Reddin on for S McDonald (ET)
CHRIST KING GIRLS’ SS, CORK: Chelsea Noonan, Orla Murphy, Michelle Murphy, Aoife Russell, Nicole Connolly, Sarah Geaney, Laura Cooney, Megan Dennehy, Megan Connolly, Laura O’Brien, Niamh McGreevy
SUBS: Belin De Luis for O Murphy (45 mins), Orlaith Magner for M Dennehy
REFEREE: Marie Ward (Dublin)
END