Ashbourne Community School 2 – 1 St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue
The UMBRO FAI Schools Leinster Girls Senior Cup Final took place in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Tuesday last (3 March).
Unfortunately the weather didn’t impress in the rain soaked surroundings of Tullamore but this did not dampen the spirits of either side nor did it spoil a very entertaining display of end to end football.
Sensational start to proceedings
St Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue didn’t waste any time in making their mark in the early exchanges. They got off to a great start with a goal after just 2 minutes. This was the result of a great run from Ciara Smith and the pin pointed cross led to Jessica Lynch slotting the ball into the Ashbourne net.
The team from Templeogue continued putting on the pressure but found Aoife O’Rourke on top of her game marshalling the Ashbourne defence. Slowly the school from the royal county got more into the game and midfielder Alisha Jordon was unlucky with a couple of efforts on goal.
The game opened up after fifteen minutes and Ashbourne didn’t have to wait long to register a score. The equaliser came on 20 minutes, a foul on the edge of the St Mac Daras penalty box was calmly slotted by Jordon into the right hand corner of Eilish McManus’s net despite her best efforts.
Both teams cancelled each other out until the 35th minute when another opportunity was spoiled. A wicked cross from Smith was spilled by Ashbourne keeper Ciara Dixon but neither Jennifer Ferrari or Jessica Lynch could capitalise on the error and the ball was eventually cleared.
The second half continued in the competitive manner as expected with both teams pushing forward looking for a winning goal. 55 minutes gone and a through ball from Ashbourne’s Haley Lawton put Ally Leahy through on goal only for an exceptional clearance from McManus who rushed out of her 18 yard box.
Ashbourne held the upper hand and again it was McManus who came to the rescue with a timely interception inside the box on 72 minutes and a point blank save on 79, a save which was worthy of any top premiership goalkeeper.
The sides could not be separated as the final whistle blew with a 1-1 draw the result of normal time.
Extra time
With additional time given, neither side could break the deadlock and it was going to take something special from one of the school’s to claim the title of Leinster Senior Champions.
With the nature of the game, the moment of magic came 2 minutes from time, when Alisha Jordon, who was impressive all day, got hold of the ball 5 yards inside St Mac Daras half and scored what can only be described as the goal of the game, most notably the goal worthy of winning the final for the Meath side.
Mac Dara’s should be very proud of their gritty performance and it was a showcase final with some fine individual performances from their keeper and centre half.
Ashbourne Community School will now face the mighty Munster Champions, Scoil Mhuire of Carrick On Suir in the UMBRO FAI Schools Senior Girls All Ireland Semi Final. The other pairing sees Ulster’s Carndonagh Community School play Connacht’s Convent of Mercy, Roscommon.
St. Mac Dara’s Community College: Eilish McManus, Stephanie O’Sullivan, Louise Dixon, Roisin Ellis, Helena Danaher, Ciara Maguire, Sarah Reid, Jennifer Ferrari, Jessica Lynch, Ciara Smith, Sarah Brennan, Aoife Burke, Deborah Boyd, Carly Moran, Aisling Cudden, Karen Lavery.
Ashbourne Community School: Ciara Dixon, Heather Keogh, Danielle Farrell, Aoife O’Rourke, Megan O Brien, Hayley Lawton, Ailisha Jordon, Shelby Leahey, Linda Bruton, Noelle Francis, Katie Hurley, Gemma Rock, Ally Leahey, Shauna Hutton
END
