Mighty Mhuire pip Inishowen neighbours to title
Bank of Ireland FAI Schools First Year Girls Ulster Cup FINAL
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana 3-1 Moville Community College
Johnny Craig, Sports Editor, Inish Times at The Lakeside
Ace finisher Begona Pinero was the hero as Scoil Mhure claimed an Ulster title in this afternoon’s all Inishowen final at Aileach.
A goal at the start of each half from the striker put the Buncrana School ahead before Mariah McColgan added another to put them firmly in the driving seat.
Moville pulled one back through Kerry Brown but, forced to commit players forward in search of the goals to get back in the game, Mhuire hit them on the break and could have added further goals before the end.
The Buncrana School got off to a dream start when they opened the scoring with just 54 seconds on the clock as Pinero caught the Moville defence cold to nip in behind them and finished expertly into the bottom right corner.
Moville responded well however as Brown’s shot from the edge of the box was well held by Doherty before the same player saw a shot flash past the left post after good work by Clare McCauley down the left side.
At the other end Scoil Mhuire were building possession well but the Moville defence, well marshalled by skipper Aisling McLaughlin stood form and prevented any shots on Fiona McLaughlin’s goal.
Before the break, Moville almost got the goal their attacking play deserved when Ellen Hegarty’s deep ball in sought Catriona Lynch but Doherty brilliantly plucked the ball from the sky to avert the danger.
HALF TIME – Scoil Mhuire 1 Moville 0
The second half was just four minutes old when Mhuire doubled their lead with a finish of real quality from Pinero as good link up play from Mariah McColgan and Beth Doherty down the right side released the striker who coolly lifted the ball into the top left corner of the net.
Crucially, Mhuire pushed forward from the restart and added another just a minute later when Beth Doherty’s through ball exposed Moville’s high defensive line and McColgan drilled low beyond McLaughlin for the goal her attacking play deserved.
Margaret Mulhall’s girls reacted well to that concession however to finally open their account two minutes later when Seana Ruddy’s ball over the top released Kerry Brown who slotted past the advancing Doherty.
Buoyed by that goal Moville bossed possession and were unlucky to net again and blow the game wide open with Brown twice coming close from distance.
The pace and incisive passing of Grace McColgan meant Mhuire were still a big threat on the counter and, midway through the half as the midfielder released Pinero whose shot for her hat trick was inches to the left and wide.
McColgan came close herself with a shot that was just wide of the target and, as the game entered the final 10 minutes, Mhuire defended their lead on the front foot to see out a deserved win.
The Buncrana ladies will now meet Athlone Community College who overcame Coláiste Bríde SS, Enniscorthy 2-1 this afternoon in Peamount United FC.
The Bank of Ireland FAI Schools First Year Girls National Cup Semi Final is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26 at 1pm with the venue to be confirmed.
SCOIL MHUIRE: Niamh Doherty, Ava Reijkers, Emma McCallion, Saoirse McElhinney, Georgia Rudden, Beth Doherty, Evelwa Smolen, Brianna Doherty, Grace McColgan, Mariah McColgan, Begona Pinero
TEACHER: David Hone
MOVILLE: Fiona McLaughlin, Seana Ruddy, Emer Curran, Carragh Farren, Aisling McLaughlin, Carragh Doherty, Clare McCauley, Niamh McDonald, Ellen Hegarty, Kerry Brown, Catriona Lynch
SUBS: Nicole Farren for C Lynch (55 mins), Orlaigh McDaid for E Curran (56 mins), Kayleen McDermott for C McCauley (58 mins)
TEACHER: Margaret Mulhall
