St Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross 6 - 1 St: Kilian’s Deutsche Schule Dublin
Aileen Gilroy 27, 34, 69 Anna Heisterkamp 5
Aoileann Collins 33, 46, 63
THEIR size meant they were in the “B” Cup competition, but St: Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross certainly brought their “A” game to Flancare Park, Longford last Friday (12 March) reports Daniel Carey of the Mayo News:
This is only the third year of the competition which was introduced to accommodate the smaller school’s participation in girl’s soccer: The “B” Cup caters for schools with less than 200 girls enrolled in their school:
St: Kilian’s progressed to the Final at the expense of reigning All Ireland Champions Mulroy College, Donegal while St: Patrick’s College overcame Tipperary outfit St: Mary’s of Newport with a comprehensive victory in their semi final spot:
Not surprising then, two of the St: Patrick’s players finished with hat/tricks, and remarkably, their 6/1 victory was the least one/sided score/line they have had in the competition this season:
Almost as incredible, they had to come from behind to win it: St Kilian’s Deutsche Schule, a Dublin school with strong links to both Germany and France, opened the scoring after just five minutes:
The goal came from an ambitious Anna Heisterkamp effort from out on the left, and flew into the net despite the distance involved:
It gave their boisterous fans plenty to cheer about, and followed a glorious opportunity at the other end, which came within 30 seconds of the kick/off:
Aileen Gilroy, the game’s outstanding player, burst through the middle of the St Kilian’s defence, but placed her shot wide of the post:
St: Kilian’s responded with good link play from Chloe Mustaki and Sadhbh Hoban Logan feeding Anna Heisterkamp with a good through ball into the centre: The youngster’s snap shot went to the left and agonisingly wide:
Lacken Cross didn’t panic, and enjoyed the bulk of the chances in the opening period:
Elaine Lowther went close to scoring on a number of occasions, while Rachel Healy also had a shot saved by inform keeper Ellen Nolan of Dublin:
Sarah Farrell and Ailish Healy both had their moments in the Mayo side’s defence: Sorcha McGee and Niamh Collins played sweet passes, while Emma Loughney advanced quickly to deal with a chance for the speedy Justine Elferte:
A St Patrick’s goal seemed only a matter of time, and the equaliser was perhaps the most stunning of the game’s seven goals: Having beaten the last defender on the right, Aileen Gilroy unleashed a fearsome shot in the top corner of the net, and Lacken Cross never looked back:
Five minutes later, Niamh Collins floated in a free kick, and at the second attempt, Aoileann Collins fired home: Within 60 seconds, it was 3/1, as a great move culminated in Aoileann Collins turning provider, firing over a great first/time cross: Aileen Gilroy met it on the meat and headed home:
St: Kilian’s worked industriously hard to find their second of the afternoon but Chloe Mustaki’s inspiration effort went narrowly wide of the upright just before half time:
Six minutes after the restart, the roles were reversed: Gilroy slung over a sensational pinpoint cross from the right, and Collins headed in number four: The Kilian’s fans were still making plenty of noise – one optimistic group even sang ‘We Are the Champions’ – but the Mayo flag that read ‘Go Lacken, go’ seemed more on the money:
The westerners lost Siobhan Kearney to injury, and Aileen Gilroy fired over from a very promising position after a mazy dribble: We had passed the three/quarter stage when Aileen Gilroy’s fine through ball picked out the on/rushing Aoileann Collins, who slipped the ball past Ellen Nolan for her hat/trick:
Lacken Cross were dominant throughout the second half, and were virtually camped in the opposing half: Good defence from St’ Kilian’s trio of Molly Brady, Chloe Mustaki and Alexandra Gonzalez kept the Mayo ladies at bay for a long period of sustained pressure:
Elaine Lowther headed wide from close range, Rachel Healy saw her cross cut out, Ailish Healy’s effort was deflected out for a corner:
Eleven minutes from time, Elaine Lowther played the ball through to Aileen Gilroy, who showed neat footwork before blasting in her hat/trick: It was a fitting final act on the scoring front:
Adrian Forkan, Umbro was in attendance to present the UMBRO FAI Schools Senior B Girls Cup to winning captain Elaine Lowther, who thanked coach Peter McDonnell, teacher Stephen Lacken and the members of the squad for their ‘dedication and hard work’ in securing the All Ireland title:
St: Kilian’s should be very proud of the performance in the competition and indeed the final but they faced a determined St: Patrick’s College who were more experienced on the day: Lacken Cross won the Junior Cup last season and progressed up the ranks this year with a worthy Senior B title under their belt this year: Congratulations to the School on a wonderful achievement:
ST: PATRICK’S COLLEGE, LACKEN CROSS: Emma Loughney, Sarah Farrell, Martina Walker, Ailish Healy, Siobhan Kearney, Rachel Healy, Niamh Collins, Sorcha McGee, Elaine Lowther (Capt), Aileen Gilroy, Aoileann Collins:
Subs used: Grainne McHale for Siobhan Kearney (52 mins, injured); Emma Tomas for Aoileann Collins (73 mins); Sharon Killeen for Ailish Healy (73 mins):Other subs: Tanya Walsh, Shauna Bourke, Meghan Harte:
ST KILIAN’S DEUTSCHE SCHULE DUBLIN: Ellen Nolan, Charlotte Beer, Molly Brady, Chloe Mustaki (Capt), Alexandra Gonzalez, Lisa Marie Urban, Justine Elferte, Sadhbh Hoban/Logan, Julia Martinez, Anna Heisterkamp, Vesna Pepping:
Subs used: Rianne Rowan for Justine Elferte (47 mins); Mary O’Toole for Vesna Pepping (56 mins); Ashley Tremblay for Lisa Marie Urban (70 mins):
Other subs: Katie Mullan, Rhiannon O’Connor, Juliette Alexis:
Referee: Dermot Tone (Athlone)
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