U19 Girls Final (WP)

 Castlebar Town 0

Ballyglass 4

Westport United 

Eoin Horkan 

A hat trick of set piece goals in the second half  from Isabelle Delaney meant it was Ballyglass that would bring home the shield on Friday night in Westport.

Ballyglass led by half time substitute Kate Brennan who had appeared on the sideline just before half time found a way eventually to break down a staunch rearguard action from Castlebar.

In what was a cagy opening fifteen  minutes both sides did manage to carve out chances the first was for Ballyglass but only for an offside flag Aoife McHugh would have been through on goal. Minutes later the town threatened when a Roisin Horkan strike flew over the bar from the edge of the box.

With the wind picking up and the rain coming down in Westport both sides found it difficult to control the ball on the ground with the conditions. It was eventually Ballyglass that did get on top but a number of fine saves by Jelinska in the town goal kept the final deadlocked.

Just before the half hour mark a dangerous corner wasn’t cleared by the Castlebar defence but Emily Vahey couldn't keep her effort down.

This flurry of chances kicked the opposition into gear and only the width of the post came between captain Sarah Bright and her side taking the lead.

The final quarter of the half produced a number of offsides from the side in red and white as they couldn't manage to break down the staunch rearguard.

Within minutes of the restart Brennan, who was a late arrival after college in Dublin broke through but her effort flew wide of the post. It was then the turn of Horkan down the far end but her long range strike flew wide.

Just before fifty fifth minute the stern Town defence was broken down as Brennan collected a through ball before using the conditions of the astro to finish into the back of the net.

The final had the chance of being level as Castlebar who broke away on the counter attack,they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. The chance fell to the dangerous Horkan but being so close to the goal she couldn't get her free kick up and down quick enough as it went over the bar.

Another couple of great saves from Jelinska kept her side in the game. One of these saves resulted in a corner which Isabelle Delaney struck towards the goal before finding the net directly.

The game was finally put out of reach of Town as a second corner from Delaney found its way into the goal as she judged the wind perfectly.

As the final whistle was about to be blown Delaney stood over a free kick from thirty-five yards which she unleashed another strike  aided by the conditions as she completed her hat trick and ensured her side would bring home the shield.

Castlebar Town:K Jelinska,M Palka,H McDonagh,C O’Mally,R Moran,A Keavney,S Bright (c),L Kosmokova,R Horkan,N Tuite Dillon(M Gaughan 77),C Loftus (C Moynihan 49).

Subs used:

Ballyglass FC:A Conroy,K Gibbons (M Keane 67),E Vahey (c),E Joyce,I Delaney,K Corcoran,H Donovan ( K Brennan 45),H Pecak,A Duggan ( L Finnerty 76),A McHugh,E Walsh.

Referee Patrick Foley