Mulroy College, Milford 2/1 Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet
Shannen Sweeney (40), Michelle Doherty (50), Diana Doherty (43)
MULROY COLLEGE took home a second All/Ireland title in three years when their senior girls came out on top in a very exciting All Ireland Final against Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet, in Sligo yesterday (February 22)
McSharry Park was in good condition, if a little soft, but the Milford girls made light of playing against the wind in the second half, to hold in a cliff/hanging finish and a 2/1 win:
All three goals came within a matter of minutes of each other, either side of half/time:
Belmullet were the better team in the opening half, but Mulroy went to the dressing room one goal up, thanks to a good finish from Shannen Sweeney virtually on the stroke of half/time:
Sweeney was in the right place after Michelle Doherty swung over a cross following a short corner to stun the Mayo girls:
Up to that, the Mulroy goalkeeper Orla McGonigle was much the busier with Belmullet threatening on a number of occasions: McGonigle, who proved to be one of the Mulroy heroes, was very quick to adjust her position on 26 minutes, to save from Tamara O’Connor:
Eimear Gibbons, who was on crutches after the semi/final, but made a miraculous recovery to play her part, had the only other Mulroy shot on target in the opening half:
The Donegal girls lost their captain Tanata Dorrian before half/time: She had been suffering from the ‘flu for a few days and just couldn’t give any more:
A few minutes into the second half Orla McGonigle made a great stop with her foot from O’Connor, but from the resultant corner, the ball dropped for Diana Doherty to level matters:
Our Lady’s had beaten hot favourites and reigning Champions Coláiste Iósaef, Kilmallock in their semi final encounter and had the ability to do more in this contest: The Belmullet girls were on a level playing field now and things were hotting up:
But the lead was short lived as five minutes later Mulroy hit the decisive goal and it was a solo effort by Michelle Doherty, who carried the ball for 30 metres before pulling her shot across the Belmullet ‘keeper and into the corner of the net:
The game was much more open in the second half but thanks to a very stubborn midfield, led by Aoife McDevitt, Mulroy never looked like conceding again:
McAteer was conscious of the resilience of Belmullet to come back from a goal behind which saw her make a few tactical changes in defence:
Anytime they threatened Orla McGonigle was strong with Shauna McDevitt also a rock at the back for Mulroy:
Because of the soft pitch, players from Belmullet in particular and a few from Mulroy suffered from cramp in the closing stages, which meant that some five minutes of added time was added:
In that period, there was further tension for the Donegal girls as Belmullet forced a corner (their most potent attacking threat) and a free kick, but the Mulroy girls just wouldn’t be beaten:
It was all/round top class display from a side that have just two leaving cert students:
Apart from the excellent 14/year/old goalkeeper, midfielder Roisin McElwaine, at 14, is a chip of the old block also, daughter of former Finn Harps star John:
Mulroy College manager Ashling McAteer, who was assisted by Paul McGovern, was really excited at the finish:
“This is our first All/Ireland for three years and we needed to get back at this level: We have lost at the semi/final stage in the last two years,” said Ashling:
“We have a very young team with just two leaving cert students and quite a few just in second year and under 14: We will have a strong panel for the next few years:
“It was a great, great win and we were very strong at the back with an outstanding goalkeeper:
“It is a fantastic boost for the college: We have been training hard for the last few months and to win is just great,” she said:
MULROY COLLEGE, MILFORD:Orla McGonigle, Shauna McDevitt, Tamara McGovern, Natasha McElwaine, Eimear Gibbons, Aoife McDevitt, Tanata Dorrian (Capt), Roisin McElwaine, Roisin Boyce, Shannen Sweeney, Michelle Doherty:
Subs: Lucy Maria O'Flynn (for Dorrian 35 mins) Michelle Sweeney (for Boyce 38 mins); Mariosa Friel (for Sweeney 73 mins):
Teachers:Aisling McAteer & Paul McGovern
OUR LADY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL, BELMULLET: Clara Cavley, Cristin Healy, Ashling Barrett, Katie Duffy, Moyo O’Sullivan, Michaela Doran, Diana Doherty, Tamara O’Connor (Capt), Aoife Ruddy, Rebecca O’Sullivan, Ciara Ginty
Subs:Aoife Kilker, Lir O’Donoghue, Suzanne Healy, Charlene McDonnell, Katie Hefferan
Teachers:Robin Turner, Harry Reilly
REFEREE: Terry Butler (Sligo)