Athlone Community College 2-1 Dominican College, Taylor's Hill
Aimee O'Connor (4), Aisling Walsh (32) Lilly Hengerer (41)
ATHLONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE were crowned 2015 Bank of Ireland FAI Schools First Year Girls All Ireland Cup Champions in Ballinasloe FC this afternoon with a goal in each half to capture All Ireland success.
The opposition on the day were the talented Dominican College who were looking to secure three wins from three as they already captured the Senior and Minor Girls titles this season but Athlone spoiled the party and were deserved winners in a fantastic showcase for schools football.
Athlone got the perfect start with only four minutes on the clock when the impressive Angelina De Rosa combined superbly with Captain Aimee O'Connor for the latter to finish sweetly at the far post. Athlone grew in confidence during the first half and their defence had to stand strong to clear the danger as the Hengerer twins were lethal on the ball and caused concern for Rebecca Campion and her crew on several occasions.
Stephanie O'Neill was playing some fine football but Alexandra Williams was equal to the challenge when a shot from distance on the left flank was well saved on the quarter mark.
Aoife Lynagh was playing a Captain's role for the Galway girls and her masterful set pieces were dangerous from any angle but Breena Breheny and Annya Coyle were very alert to those aerial assaults
Edel Menton's charges went into the interval defending their slender lead.
Athlone replicated their first half antics with a brilliantly taken goal courtesy of Aisling Walsh seven minutes from the restart. The youngster was lively throughout the encounter and merited the match winner as her shot from just outside the edge of the box glided past Williams.
Danielle Greasley saw her shot on 40 minutes nick the post much to the frustration of the large Athlone supporters who were eagerly anticipating a third goal for their colleagues. But the game changed dramatic seconds later, as Galway had the ball in the back of the Athlone net. Starlet Lilly Hengerer pulled one back for David Grehan's side with a wonderful strike to take the ball past Jenny Seary.
The following nine minutes was a tense affair as Galway went in search of an equaliser. It was end to end action as both sides played some excellent possession football. The final ball proving to be the decisive factor as both Seary and Williams captured any loose ball in their zone.
Athlone rose to the challenge and held out to secure an empathic win for the School. This was the second such success for the Girls as they captured the Division One League at the same level last Friday, defeating St. Peter's College, Dunboyne 5-1. There's definitely a bright future for these girls in years to come.
ATHLONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Jenny Seery, Breena Breheny, Annya Coyle, Megan Mc Manus (Laoise O'Brien, h/t), Rebecca Campion, Danielle Greasley, Aisling Walsh, Roisé Lennon, Angelina De Rosa, Stephanie O'Neill, Aimee O'Connor (Captain)
SUBS NOT USED: Cianna Meehan, Roisin Molloy, Caoimhe Galvin, Michelle O'Connor, Tammy Finan, Lia Harte, Olive O'Loughlin, Ailbhe Mc Manus, Kaylee Kildae, Abbie O'Connor, Niamh Donnelly, Laura Forde, Erica Reid
TEACHER: Edel Menton
DOMINICAN COLLEGE, TAYLOR'S HILL: Alexandra Williams, Paloma Carallo, Rebecca O'Connor, Orla O'Regan, Aoife Lynagh (Captain), Meghen Hengerer, Ciara O'Sullivan, Lilly Hengerer, Emma Heffernan, Isabelle Gibbs, Elena Santocanale
SUBS NOT USED: Shelley Murphy, Polina Antonova, Maeve Quinn
TEACHER: David Grehan, COACH: John Power
REFEREE: Donald Kiernan (Roscommon)