St: Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney 1 – 1 St: Caimin’s Community School, Shannon AET
St: Caimin’s won 3/1 on penalties
Played at a resplendent Celtic Park, Killarney this afternoon (Tuesday, 31 March) this was a cracking game of football, full of great individual displays on both sides reports Tom O’Shea, FAI Regional Manager for Munster:
Just two minutes into the game Olivia Dawson (St: Brigids) went on a mazy run that resulted in a corner to the Killarney side but Emily Childs (St: Caimin’s) was on hand to clear the danger – a feat she was to repeat numerous times throughout the game: A minute later Dawson combined with Carmy Kelliher but her shot was well held by Niamh Murray:
Early on in this game it was apparent that Sinead Tuohy of St: Caimin’s was going to be a major threat and on eight minutes she made a powerful run down the right wing before cutting inside to shoot but Laura McClarney saved comfortably: Within minutes she was through again but her shot went wide when she might well have opened the scoring:
St: Brigids responded well as play swung from end to end and Olivia Dawson almost giving them the lead when her twenty five yard shot cannoned off the crossbar and was cleared to safety:
Sixteen minutes in and another excellent chance for St: Brigids when Dawson sent Kelliher through one on one with the keeper but her shot was saved excellently by Murray:
The goal the game deserved came in the twenty/fifth minute when Christine Collins (St: Caimin’s) played a superb through ball to Tuohy who used her speed to outpace the defence and she volleyed home the rebound after keeper Mc Clarney made a brilliant save to deny her: St: Brigids made a tactical change after this with Mairead O’Donoghue taking on the task of dealing with Tuohy, who was creating havoc each time she was in possession: This change was to have a telling effect on the game in the second half:
Half/time St: Brigids 0 St: Caimin’s 1
Whatever Coach Eddie Sheehy said to his charges at half time certainly worked as they came out on fire and Kelliher sent Dawson through in the opening minute but she shot narrowly over when she looked certain to score: Juliette Kelly and Michallea O’Dwyer were in fine form for Killarney and with O’Donoghue doing a great marking job on Tuohy it was all St: Brigids:
Eight minutes into the second half Tuohy did break loose but was denied by a last ditch tackle by Lucy Lyne: With Lyne and Geraldine O’Mahony standing firm at the back St: Brigids were now on top and got the equaliser they deserved after thirteen minutes when O’Dwyer found Carmy Kelliher and she turned superbly before finding the bottom corner with an excellent strike:
Back came St: Caimin’s and Brid Enright came close on sixteen minutes: Chances were at a premium after this as both sides battled hard to stay in the game however the Shannon side looked certain to score with just two minutes left as Vanessa Man surged clear only to be denied by a great challenge from O’Mahony:
Full time 1/1
Extra time saw both sides give it everything but there was only one clear/cut chance when Tuohy burst free and under pressure shot narrowly wide:
The penalty shootout saw Sinead Tuohy, Slaine Carey and Beth Dunne score for St: Caimin’s while Mairead O’Donoghue was the only St: Brigids player to find the net with the St: Caimin’s keeper saving two penalties:
St: Caimin’s will now face Leinster stars Moyne Community School in the All Ireland Semi Final: The fixture is scheduled for Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Thursday, 2 April KO 1pm:
