Passage West left rattled by Foxford

St. Peter's Community School came from two goals down to score a hat-trick in the second period to record a magnificent victory against a determined St. Joseph’s SS, Foxford yesterday afternoon (January 21) in Tulla United FC.

Bank Of Ireland FAI Schools Senior 'B' Girls National Cup Semi Final.

St. Peter’s CS, Passage West 3 - 2 St. Joseph’s SS, Foxford.

Goals: Danielle Hayes (45), Kate Dorgan (60), Danielle Burke (63).      Mary McHale (8), Leah McHugh (11).

The Foxford ladies were the underdogs heading into this penultimate clash with the reigning All Ireland stars St. Peter’s the big draw, but nothing fazed the new comers.

St. Peter’s had overcame St. Fanahan's College, Mitchelstown 3-0 in their provincial decider but St. Joseph’s had a sterner test with rivals St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross, as the game ended 3-2 to the Foxford crew.

The Connacht Champs had Finbar Loftus’ side rattled with a brace of goals inside the first 11 minutes. Captain Mary McHale and the gifted Leah McHugh deceived the off side trap twice to slot past Aoife O’Flynn in the Passage goal mouth.

Some solid defending from Natasha Ganghen ensured St. Joseph’s went into the interval with a comfortable lead, much to the delight of mentor Breege McHale. It looked like there was an upset on the cards as St. Peter’s were struggling to get a shot on target.

A tactical substitution saw Kate Dorgan introduced at half time. Loftus also restructured defensively and this seemed to harmonize his troops as Danielle Hayes struck a lifeline five minutes in with a peach of goal.

A purple patch on the hour mark saw super sub Dorgan with a spectacular lob over the Foxford keeper to equalize in sensational style. Three minutes later, Danielle Burke saw her looping effort bust the back of the net with another goal of the match contender as St. Peter’s found a foothold in the game.

Gaughan, Reid, McHale and McHugh were working tirelessly to find an equalizer for St. Joseph’s but St. Peter’s kept the pressure on. Danielle Burke and Emma O’Sullivan were excellent defensively and kept any potential danger at bay while Histon and Fahy were ever present to agitate the Foxford side.

St. Peter’s clung on to the lead and now face Mulroy College, Milford in the National Cup Final, a rematch from last season which saw the Corkian side lift the title. The Ulster ladies will be looking to reclaim a piece of silverware that they have captured three times in eight years. The Milford school last won the title in 2014 and previously notched up title wins in 2012 and 2009.

Can the St. Peter’s party continue as they attempt to retain the Cup? Loftus and his troops will definitely make a game of it. Following a historic year for the school last season, which saw the boys and girls left All Ireland crowns, the celebrations were muted slightly as the lads lost out on their ambitions to retain their John Murphy Cup title. They lost out in the Munster semi final against SMI, Newcastlewest so the road to the All Ireland’s is curtailed for them for another season. It’s up to the girls to fly the flag for the Cork school. It will definitely make for a cracking final as the two sides meet on Wednesday, February 3.

ST. PETER’S CS, PASSAGE WEST: Aoife O’ Flynn, Danielle Burke (Captain), Emma O’ Sullivan, Ellen O’Mahony, Natalie Schauss, Courtney Histon, Ria O’ Mahony, Orla Higgins, Clionadh Fahy, Danielle Hayes, Erin McEveney.

Subs: Chloe McCarthy, Lucy Hayden, Kate Dorgan for Schauss (HT), Minnie Parata, Katie Atkinson.

Teacher: Finbar Loftus.

ST. JOSEPH’S SS, FOXFORD: Gemma Leape, Caitlin Bourke, Laoise Coleman, Natasha Ganghen, Olivia Bracewell, Abbi Trayor, Roisin Langon, Lisa Reid, Rebecca Ganghen, Leah McHugh, Mary McHale (Captain).

Subs: Michelle O’Hara for Bourke (45), Shauna Doherty for O’Hara (64), Rebecca Lamb, Orla McHale, Ciara Holmes, Aoife McHale.

Teacher: Breege Blehein McHale.

REFEREE: James Ferns (Clare)

ROLL OF HONOUR: Senior ‘B’ Girls Cup