Mulroy make cut for Cup Final
Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Senior ‘B’ Girls All Ireland Cup Semi Final
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Mulroy College, Milford 4-2 Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet
Orla McGonigle (11), Aoife McDevitt (16), Leanne Boyce (48), Michelle Doherty (67) Tamara O’Connor (40+2), Diana Doherty (40+3)
On a bitterly cold afternoon in the Showgrounds, Sligo, Mulroy College, Milford and Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet battled it out for a place in the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Senior ‘B’ Girls All Ireland Cup Final (January 20) reports Ross Leonard
The schools were no strangers to this level of competition as they faced each other back in 2012 in the All Ireland Final. Mulroy won narrowly in a very competitive 2-1 encounter to lift the All Ireland crown for a second time in the school’s history.
Another Belmullet side won the prestigious title in 2013, St. Brendan’s College but Mulroy continued winning ways last season with another pitch perfect performance to etch their name on the Cup yet again!
Who would venture forth this time around…THE GAME began with a steady pace, with both sides sharing the possession and having a couple of splendid attempts on goal.Belmullet’s Tamara O’Connor had a free kick from distance on 8 minutes which was saved well by the Mulroy goalkeeper McBride. However it didn’t take long for Mulroy to break the deadlock on 11 minutes when Orla McGonigle’s half volley on the edge of the box sailed past the Our Lady’s goalkeeper to make it 1-0. A great start for the Ulster girls. Mulroy doubled their lead on 16 minutes through Aoife McDevitt. McDevitt with a shot from distance, the goalkeeper got down well to save but the ball slipped past her into an open goal. Our Lady’s did not stop fighting however, scoring two superb goals in the three minutes of injury time! The first coming courtesy of Tamara O’Connor with Roisin Healy assisting in the run up to the goal. Diana Doherty bagged a sweet equaliser to end the half all square (2-2)
Belmullet started the second half strong with plenty of the possession however it was Mulroy College who went ahead through Leanne Boyce on 48 minutes to make it 3-2 to Aisling McAteer’s charges.Mulroy then took command of the game once again on 67 minutes when some close control inside the box by Michelle Doherty led to her slotting home to make it 4-2. Belmullet kept going until the final whistle trying to claw their way back, with Tamara O’Connor coming close on 69 minutes but her shot was well saved by the goalkeeper and the rebound going just over the bar. Some great work from Carla McBride kept the Ulster girls with a two goal cushion.
The final whistle sounded and after a very entertaining game of football it was Mulroy College, Milford who qualified for yet another Senior ‘B’ Cup Final appearance.
The Milford School will await the winners of tomorrow’s other semi-final as newcomers Coláiste Abbain, Adamstown face an experienced St. Peter’s Community School of Passage West in the RSC, Waterford. The game will kick off at 2pm
The All Ireland Final is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4
MULROY COLLEGE, MILFORD: Carla McBride, Orla McGonigle, Leanne Boyce, Roisin McElwaine (Grainne Friel, 45), Zoe Green, Mariosa Friel, Aoife McDevitt (Louise Lynch, 80+1), Lucy Marie O’Flynn, Amanda Callaghan (Rosheen McGinley, 80), Michelle Doherty, Caoimhe Walshe.
Subs: Orla Sweeney, Rebecca Ryan, Claragh Giles, Teachers: Aisling McAteer, Paul McGovern.
OUR LADY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL, BELMULLET: Natalie McHale, Cristin Healy, Aisling Barrett, Amy Carey,
Katie Duffy (Eabha Carrabine, 48), Ciara Ginty, Tamara O’Connor, Grainne Reilly, Diana Doherty, Maria Reilly, Roisin Healy
Subs: Noreen O’Connor, Lir O’Donoghue, Moya O’Sullivan, Aoife Kilker
Teachers: Harry Reilly, Robin Turner
REFEREE: John Barry (Sligo)