Moville CC 5
Loreto College 0
Johnny Craig
Sports Editor
At The Lakeside
Reigning All Ireland Senior Champions Moville Community College sent out a clear message to the top schools in the country at Inch on Thursday morning: they want their title back and they are up for the fight:
Loreto College came to Aileach FC's home ground with high hopes of claiming the Ulster title they haven't won for three years and proved they had the ability to carve the Foyleside girls open with one of their first attacks Kaneshia McKinney's well struck shot struck the left post on 6 minutes:
But Moville soon got their trademark passing game going to take a two goal lead into the break before they comfortably pulled away in the second half:
The majority of last year's national title winning panel have returned this year and, significantly, the players who completed their Leaving Certificate last summer have been replaced by equally impressive talent from the schools' seemingly endless production line of quality:
In front of Moville Celtic 'keeper Amy Canning, left back Niamh McLaughlin has slotted into the back four where Aine McLaughlin has dropped back from midfield to take the place of last year's captain Charmaine McDermott while Emma Doherty has come into the centre of midfield:
It was the performance of striker Nicole McDermott that stood out most however, as the young forward who was largely used as a substitute in recent years, seized her change up front with a brace of well finished goals:
After Loreto's early chance, Moville fired a warning shot for what was to come on 9 minutes as Ireland Under 19 striker Gemma McGuinness forced a neat parry from Patterson in the Loreto goal and when the loose ball fell to McDermott her shot was cleared off the line by Saorla McGarrigle:
The holders did hit the front however on 11 minutes when McDermott beat the offside to race onto a Kathy McLaughlin ball over the top and finished expertly to the bottom right corner from the one on one situation:
Moville almost doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion on 21 minutes as a Rebekah Henry shot from 25 yards beat the 'keeper but cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and although McDermott got onto the rebound she was in an offside position:
Sarah Jane McDonald's ball carrying ability was proving crucial in turning defence into attack as she broke at pace down the right side on 25 minutes and crossed for Gemma McGuinness whose shot on the turn was too close to Patterson:
The addition of Ireland U15 Schools trialist Canning could be key for the Inishowen girls as they enter the All Ireland series and she demonstrated her quality on 32 minutes when Rose Boyle played a ball over the top for Lauren Harkin but her well struck shot was parried and claimed at the second attempt by the Moville 'keeper:
Moville's persistence paid off one minute later with their second goal when McDermott turned provider to square for McGuinness who shot low into the bottom right corner:
That was to prove the last input from McGuinness who was replaced at the break by Ciara Harkin and Moville boss Margaret Mulhall will be hoping the groin strain she sustained is only minor:
HALF TIME
Moville 2 Loreto 0
Sarah Jane McDonald continued to torment the Loreto defence with her runs down the right side in the second half and on 5 minutes into the 40 minutes half she created the third goal when her defence splitting pass found McDermott in space inside the box and she again finished neatly to the bottom right corner:
Loreto, to their credit, continued to work hard in their attempts to pull a goal back and although they succeeded in pinning Moville back, time and time again centre half Kathy McLaughlin was able to cut off the supply to striker Lauren Harkin:
On 62 minutes, Moville effectively ended the game as a contest when Rebekah Henry's deep ball into the box deceived the Loreto defence and bounced over Patterson's head for the fourth goal and no more than the Greencastle girl deserved after her first half shot struck the crossbar:
Skipper Eimear Lafferty was given license to push forward from her central midfield position as Moville defended their lead on the front foot in the game's final quarter and after she was bundled over inside the box she dusted herself down and tucked the spot kick home to complete the scoring:
MOVILLE: Amy Canning, Rebekah Henry, Niamh McLaughlin, Kathy McLaughin, Aine McLaughlin, Sarah Jane McDonald, Eimear Lafferty, Emma Doherty, Eimear Reddan, Gemma McGuinness, Nicole McDermott SUBS: Ciara Harkin for G McGuinness (HT), Noreen Duffy for E Doherty (67 mins)
LORETO: Seana Patterson, Molly Carr, Emma Horgan, Saorla McGarrigle, Graine Gallagher, Sadhbha Medlar, Rose Boyle, Kaneshia McKinney, Nadine Crawford, Lauren Harkin, Ciana Brogan
Johnny Craig
Sports Editor
Tel: 07493 41055
sport@inishtimes:com
Three FAI Communications Awards 'Best Regional Article' winner 2011