Moville Community College 6/0 Davitt College, Castlebar
By Johnny Craig, Sports Editor, Inish Times
Reigning All Ireland Minor Champions Moville Community College produced a stunning display of attacking football to sweep aside Connacht Champions Davitt College in Ballyshannon yesterday (April 6):
Sally Anne McFadden’s girls took the game to Davitt from the start to deservedly lead by two goals at the break and they turned on the style in the second half to book their place in the national final at a canter:
The scoreline was probably a little harsh on Davitt who enjoyed a strong period at the start of the second half but the ruthless finishing of Moville’s forwards was too much for them to handle with the impressive front pair of Roma McLaughlin and Sara Jane McDonald helping themselves to a hat/trick apiece:
The strong wind blowing across the exposed pitch at the stunningly located Lake Side watersports centre didn’t lend itself to Moville’s passing style but they pressed Davitt high up the pitch from the kickoff and took the lead after just 4 minutes:
Roma McLaughlin capitalised on hesitation in the Davitt defence to slot in behind them before rounding the ‘keeper and passing the ball into the empty net:
Moville continued to press and Stacey Doherty dispossessed a Davitt defender but her shot was straight at goalkeeper Kirsten Sheerin:
Aine McLaughlin came a whisker away from adding a spectacular second goal midway through the half when an Eimear Lafferty corner broke to her at the edge of the box and her low drive shaved the right post with Sheerin beaten:
The inevitable second goal came moments later with a neat move when Rebekah Henry released Aine McLaughin down the right and her perfectly weighted cross found McLaughlin who coolly slotted home:
Davitt attempted to respond immediately with Danielle Clarke in the Moville goal getting down smartly to stop a Rebeccah Lawless long range shot but Moville dominated the rest of the half with Sara Jane McDonald shooting over the top from the edge of the box and Sheerin coming off her line well to deny the pacy Aine McLaughlin:
The Castlebar College refused to lie down however and they started the second half by going in search of the goal that would get them back in the game:
On 33 minutes Laura Bailie’s corner from the left was headed goal/ward by Lawless but Moville got enough bodies behind the ball to clear: Two minutes later they broke again when Melissa and Belinda Patterson combined well to release the latter but some no nonsense defending from Kathy McLaughlin cleared the danger:
With Moville under pressure they produced the move of the match for their and Roma McLaughlin’s third goal when Kathy McLaughlin took possession in defence and released Sara Jane McDonald down the left side with an incisive ball forward and McLaughlin latched onto her square ball to round the ‘keeper and score:
Davitt remained a threat in attack and Evine Flannery brought the best out of Clarke in the Moville goal when her sweetly struck curling right foot shot from 25 yards out was turned around the post by the Inishowen side’s ‘keeper:
Midway through the half however Sara Jane McDonald put the game beyond doubt when she displayed quick feet to nip in behind the Davitt defence before tucking the ball beyond the advancing ‘keeper:
The Ulster Champions displayed a ruthless streak in the closing stages as Sara/Jane McDonald seized a Davitt kick/out before charging forward an again finishing neatly for her second and Moville’s third:
And late on McDonald completed her hat/trick when she displayed swift acceleration by winning another kick/out before she sped forward past the Davitt defence and drilled to the net to round off an impressive performance:
Moville will now await the winners of the Alexandra College v St: Angela’s Ursuline Convent, Waterford clash which will take place tomorrow, (Thursday, April 7) at Arklow Town FC (KO 2pm) with the final pencilled in for Wednesday, May 4:
MOVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Danielle Clarke, Rebekah Henry, Kathy McLaughlin, Leon Boyce, Aine Breslin, Stacey Doherty (Katie McColgan 52 mins), Eimear Lafferty (Eimear Crumlish 55 mins), Melissa McDermott, Sara Jane McDonald, Aine McLaughlin, Roma McLaughlin (Dayna Molloy 53 mins):
Other subs: Eimear Crumlish, Olivia Kelly, Nicole McDermott
Teacher: Sally Anne McFadden
DAVITT COLLEGE: Kirsten Sheerin, Aoife Brady, Melissa Patterson, Hannah McHale, Bethany Duffy, Anna Tully, Laura Bailie, Belinda Patterson (Kelly Roache 49 mins), Roisin McClaren, Rebecca Lawless, Erine Flannery (Cleyenne McHale 16 mins)
Other subs: Rachel Corcoran, Roisin McGovern
Teacher: Emer Whyte
Referee: Ed Moore