U16 Girls Cup MN

 

U16 Girls Cup

Mayo 2

 K Doherty (5), I Phillips (25)

Kerry 1 M Courtney (20)

Evergreen Park Kilkenny

Eoin Horkan

On Saturday afternoon in Kilkenny, it was Mayo's day as they defeated Kerry by a single goal to win the All Ireland U16 trophy.

Even though several Mayo girls had participated in the county Gaelic football team the previous evening, this didn't stop them from attacking with energy from the starting whistle. After a superb build-up play in the middle from  Muireann Nolan and Maura Hughes, Mayo scored the game's first goal through Kayla Doherty, five minutes after the game began. Ashleagh Salmon and Kate Brennan, two of the Westerners' forwards, continued to apply pressure to Kerry's goal, but Lucy O'Connor was keeping her in check.

The first significant Kerry attack didn't come until the 20th minute of the match. Kerry broke down the flank, and after some solid Kerry defence, the ball fell to Maeve Courtney, whose shot soared into the goal to draw the game. The Mayo girls were unaffected by this brief respite. They regained the lead after five minutes. This time, Doherty assisted from a corner before Isobel Phillips skilfully finished into the goal. Brennan Hughes and Christine McEvilly both had opportunities to expand Mayo's one-goal advantage before halftime, but they were unable to do so. Mayo dominated the remainder of the half.

As Kerry appeared to have mastered Mayo's strategies, the second half was considerably closer. Phoebe O'Shea made the first noteworthy attempt of the half ten minutes in, but her strike just missed the goal. Kerry was having more success attacking , but Heaney in goal and the Mayo defence were holding firm. The centre of the park came to a standstill when both sides began emptying their respective benches.  The game ended when Doherty brought the ball into the corner and it took three players to get the ball off her at the end of the match. Mayo was the one to seal the victory.

 

Mayo; Sarah Heaney, Isobel Phillips, Emma Walsh, Emily Jennings, Rebecca Moran, Muireann Nolan, Maura Hughes, Kayla Doherty, Ashleagh Salmon, Kate Brennan, Christina McEvilly.

Subs Used; Helen Murray, Róisín Horkan, Blaithín Brennan.

Kerry; Lucy O’ Connor, Sarah Warren, Amber Macindoe, Hannah Nic Gerailt, Liadh Forde, Clodagh Moriarty, Hannah Casey, Kate Foster, Kate Forde, Phoebe O’ Shea, Maeve Courtney.

Subs Used, Jacinta Griffin, Anna Roberts, Abbie Finnan

Referee Kevin O’ Neill