Presentation College, Athenry 7 - 0 St: Angela’s Secondary School, Ursuline Convent, Waterford
Rachael Bannon (1, 22, 35), Anna Lane (18), Keara Cormican (38, 56)
Rachael Bannon was on superb form for Athenry as she notched up a hat trick of goals along with Keara Cormican (2) and Anna Lane (1) to give Athenry a convincing win in Killavilla Park, Roscrea last week:
Dom Coll’s charges were well prepared for this fixture having defeated St: Mary’s Ballina 2/1 in the Connacht Final: The opposition were All Ireland Junior Champions this season and put up a tough test against Presentation: A hard fought 2/1 win saw Galway progress to the All Ireland series:
The Connacht Champions only had to wait 46 seconds for their first of the day: A quick break down the right wing by Michelle Dunleavy saw her drive the ball across the goal line for Rachael Bannon to toe poke into the net
Presentation had a half chance four minutes later when Ruth Horkin saw her volley sail over the crossbar from twelve yards out:
Ursulines got into the driving set ten minutes in with Aisling Frawley, Becky Conroy and Tara O’Brien impressing but the purple patch didn’t yield any goals for the Munster stars:
With 18 minutes on the clock, Rachael Bannon played a dangerous ball from midfield into the penalty area: Anna Lane was first to react and bet Maggie Dolan for pace to skim the ball past Camelia Doyle:
Galway’s third came four minutes later when Michelle Dunleavy released Rachael Bannon to blast the ball past the keeper:
Dunleavy turned scorer for Athenry’s fourth on twenty minutes when quick thinking saw her lob the keeper who was marginally off her line:
Presentation didn’t stop there and Dunleavy missed a gilt edged shot as her effort was dragged along the end line just on the stroke of half time: 4/0 with an up high battle for the inexperienced St: Angela’s
Athenry started the second half as they finished the first with a brace of quick goals: Five minutes in, Bannon scored her hat trick from a set piece that was mishandled by Doyle that ended in the back of the net:
Three minutes on, Keara Cormican fired a swirling ball into the goal mouth which ended up in the bottom corner:
The U15 Schools International was again on the score sheet as she showed some style with a finely executed free kick from twenty five yards out: Cormican’s perfectly measured set piece drifted into the top corner:
The impressive performance will see Presentation progress to the All Ireland Final which will see them face Moville Community College this Friday (30 April) at Carrick Rovers FC in Monaghan (KO 1pm)
Moville lost out to St: Mary’s SS, Convent of Mercy Ballina in the Junior All Ireland Final in March and will be looking to secure some silverware in their second Schools final this year: Will Athenry produce the same goal scoring ability that they displayed in the semi final? It should be a very entertaining and competitive conclusion to the Minor Cup competition on Friday:
Presentation College: Helena McGough, Maria McNamara, Louise Brennan, Sinead Gaffney, Linda Corcoran, Anna Lane, Ruth Horkin, Keara Cormican, Michelle Dunleavy, Rachael Bannon, Siobhan Gardiner
Subs: Eimear Cannon for McNamara (36), Orla McDaid for Ruth Horkin (39), Christina Murrin for Anna Lane (43), Tara Morgan, Roisin Holland
Teacher: Dom Coll
St Angela’s SS, Ursuline Convent: Camelia Doyle, Maggie Doelan, Carla Pericho, Rebecca Coleman, Doireann Flynn, Aisling Frawley, Becky Conroy, Naomi Doughlas, Hannah Walsh, Tara O’Brien, Grainne Flood
Subs: Elizabeth Kinsella Kent for Flynn (43), Natasha Hale for Pericko (h/t), Azra Bajrami, Pranvera Berisha, Hayley Furnell
Teacher: Sean Foley
Referee: Billy Conlon (Tipperary)