St: Columba's Comprehensive School, Glenties 2/6 Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise
Amy Boyle Carr (17, 38) Emma Lawlor (Pen 2, 4, 16), Erone Fitzpatrick (15, 27), Gillian Keenan (52)
Stephen Goggin's side recorded an impressive 6/2 victory over St: Columba's Comprehensive School in the UMBRO FAI Schools First Year Girl's Cup Semi Final yesterday (Tuesday, April 29):
Emma Lawlor hit a hat/trick in the first 17 minutes of the game to set her school on course for an appearance in another All Ireland Final:
Portlaoise recorded their second victory over the Glenties School in just a few weeks with the other being a win in the Minor Cup competition: Portlaoise were fortunate enough to be able to call upon seven of the starting eleven from the Minor game which proved to be a major factor in today's victory:
A beautiful sunny day in Monaghan saw a clash worthy of a final but unfortunately only one team could progress:
It didn't take long for the action to get going as Scoil Chriost Rí had the ball in the opponents net within two minutes: Emma Lawlor calmly converted a penalty which was awarded after team/mate Gillian Keenan was fouled inside the box by Glenties Captain Danielle McDevitt:
A slow start by the Ulster side was then again punished on only four minutes as Emma Lawlor yet again popped up with her second of the day after a great run along the right hand side and cut in to finish nicely much to the disappointment of the Glenties shot stopper Deirbhne Travers:
Just as St: Columba's got a hold on the game and started exchanging passes they found themselves 3/0 down on 15 minutes: Erone Fitzpatrick the goal scorer this time with a powerful shot outside the box which Deirbhne Travers couldn't keep hold of and it slipped threw her fingers:
On 16 minutes things got a lot better for the Portlaoise side especially Emma Lawlor as she got her hat/trick and rights to the match ball after a neat close range finish after a good run down the centre:
The quick tempo in which the game had started didn't let up as immediately from the kick off Glenties showed they could be feared as Amy Boyle Carr showed great composure to finish at the far post after some great link up play between the Ulster girls:
On 19 minutes it looked as if St: Columba's were going to stage a comeback when Sarah Harkin let fly from just outside the box which just grazed the crossbar much to the delight of Portlaoise keeper Aimee Keane:
Just before the half time whistle blew Portlaoise managed to grab another to make it 5/1 courtesy of Erone Fitzpatrick who grabbed her second of the day with a razor sharp finish from the edge of the box which rifled the top corner and left the Glenties keeper helpless:
Sarah Harkin tested Aimee Keane once more before the half ended after Cara McGonigle played a smart pass to set Harkin into space but Keane saved well:
Glenties started the second half a lot better than the first and found themselves with more of the possession early on:
On 38 minutes Amy Boyle Carr grabbed her second of the day after skipping past two defenders to slot past the diving keeper:
Three Ulster girls Amy Boyle Carr, Sarah Harkin and Danielle McDevitt all played exceptionally well in trying to stage a comeback and again came close when Sarah Harkin was again denied by Aimee Keane who again pulled off a wonderful double save to prevent a comeback from happening:
All hopes of a comeback were dashed on 52 minutes when Portlaoise's Gillian Keenan grabbed her team's sixth of the day after a set piece was swung over the far post by Elaine Daly for her to finish well:
A thrilling show for the neutral spectator with plenty of action and some great football played by both teams: The difference today seemed to be the lightening quick start made by the Leinster champs who will surely cause problems for any opposition in the All Ireland Final:
Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise will anxiously await the winners of the other semi final which is scheduled for Tullamore on Thursday when Convent of Mercy, Roscommon take on St: Mary's SS, Newport in this exciting encounter (KO 1pm):
The All Ireland Final will take place on Wednesday, May 7 with the venue dependent on Thursday's outcome:
St: Columba's Comprehensive School, Glenties: Deirbhne Travers, Niamh Gallagher, Leah MacInness, Niamh O'Donnell, Shona Quinn, Lasise Brennan, Orlagh McGuiness, Amy Boyle Carr, Sarah Harkin, Danielle McDevitt, Cara McGonigle
Subs Not Used: Caitlin Moran, Sophie Connagate, Meabh Griffen, Amelia Laughlin, Rotlyn Bonner
Teacher: Martin Regan
Scoil Chriost Ri, Portlaoise: Aimee Keane, Emer Healy, (Eabha Dunne 45), Aoife Daly, (Sophie Delhunt 13), Isabelle O'Toole, Maria Luttrell, Elaine Daly, (Emily Gowling 57), Emma Lawlor, Gillian Keenan, Chloe Langford, Zoe Keegan, Erone Fitzpatrick
Subs Not Used: Lorna Skeehan, Leah Dowling
Teachers: Stephen Goggin, Tom Moss
Referee: Stephen Rooney (Monaghan)