Moville Community College are back at the summit of Ulster girls football as a wonderful first half display with the wind at their backs proved the platform for a 7-1 victory in the FAI Schools Senior Final against their Inishowen neighbours from Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana at Carrowmena.
Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Senior Girls Ulster Cup FINAL
Moville Community College 7-1 Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana
Reports Johnny Craig (Inish Times) @ The Warren
Carndonagh Community College have assumed Moville’s provincial crown in recent seasons but their defeat to Mhuire in the semi-final stages meant a new name would be engraved on the Ulster Cup for 2016.
On paper the final looked too close to call as Moville came into the game following a mixed campaign in the round robin group stages where they defeated Deele College, Raphoe but lost to Carn.
They came into the game full of confidence however after a semi-final win over Loreto, Milford and they started the game like a side on form as a quick fire brace from Nicole McDermott put them ahead after only four minutes.
A real rout looked on the cards as current Ireland U19 international Roma McLaughlin rattled home a free-kick after 7 minutes to make it three but Paddy Carr’s girls began to settle and answered back with a fine individual strike from Michelle McDaid.
Scoil Mhuire began to get a foothold in midfield after that goal with Caoimhe Doherty and Aisling Browne both prominent but they were playing into the teeth of a gale force wind that was preventing them from pressing high up the pitch.
Moville’s neat passing in the final third meant their attacks began to come in waves again as Kate McClenaghan’s wind assisted corner was poked home by Carragh McGuinness before McClenaghan netted herself on 26 minutes with another in swinging delivery.
The four goal deficit at the break could have been even greater but for some brilliant goalkeeping by Nicole Donaghey while Claire Doherty and Alana Doherty marshalled the back four well in front of her.
With such a significant breeze in Mhuire's favour in the second half, the game was far from over at the break and Player of the Match Donaghey continued to produce heroics between the posts to keep her side in it.
The concession of a sixth midway through the second half, as McDermott completed her hat trick with another great strike left Moville in a strong position however before a Jenna Doherty cross was deflected to the Mhuire net by a defender to end the game as a contest.
The Buncrana girls, to their credit, battled on till the end and deserved a late goal for their efforts with Michelle McDaid twice coming close to adding a second and Aisling McDaid shooting inches over with a free kick as they finished the game on the front foot.
SCOIL MHUIRE: Nicole Donaghey, Maria McColgan, Andrea Kelly, Claire Doherty, Alana Doherty, Caoimhe Doherty, Anna Elliot, Aisling Browne, Michelle McDaid, Aisling McDaid, Grace Greenaway SUBS: Leah Doherty, Beth Doherty, Grace McColgan, Briana Doherty, Niamh Doherty, Annie Doherty, Emma McLaughlin.
MOVILLE CC: Cody Anderson, Jenna Dopherty, Niamh McLaughlin, Danielle McLaughlin, Noreen Doherty, Carragh McGuinness, Roma McLaughlin, Aisling McGuinness, Kate McClenaghan, Nicole McDermott, Amy Quigley SUBS: Emma Doherty, Michelle Logue, Eimear Gillen, Erin Coyle, Niamh Cavanagh, Sinead McGuinness, Ciara Harkin, Chantelle McCauley, Maeve Gillen, Emma Doherty.
REFEREE: Liam Davenport.