CARNDONAGH Community School claimed the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Senior Girls title today at Illies following a hard-earned win over Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana.
Carndonagh Community School 1 Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana 0
A first-half goal was enough to decide a cracking contest that was in the melting pot right until the finish.
Carn took the lead on the half-hour – and it proved the only goal of the game. Niamh McDaid took receipt of a throw-in and a long-range shot decieved goalkeeper Niamh Doherty. The ball bounced off her gloves and went in off the far post.
McDaid forced Doherty into a save from a driving 25-yard effort on five minutes.
Scoil Mhuire fashioned a great opening soon after. Full-back Andrea Kelly made the break, putting Briana Doherty through, but she was thwarted by a fine stop from Carn goalkeeper Aoife McColgan.
Buncrana ‘keeper Doherty kept out a cross-cum-shot by Shania McGonigle and the follow-up by Saoirse Farren was off target.
Niamh McDaid stepped in to prevent Scoil Mhuire’s Briana Doherty from getting a shot away while McColgan was out well to deny Michelle McDaid, who raced onto a through ball.
[adrotate group=”46″]After the fortuitous opener, Carn’s Tara O’Connor riffled just over, while Buncrana saw an attempted equaliser kept out by McColgan, who beat away another dangerous cross.
Buncrana went close straight from the off in the second half, O’Connor’s cross was blocked and Lauren Cregan had her rebound blocked.
Doherty saved from Mary Doherty’s pile-driver before Scoil Mhuire’s Michelle McDaid hooked off the crossbar.
A brilliant Carn breakaway might’ve led to them doubling the lead when Doherty fed Cregan, whose pass laid on a chance for Erin McLaughlin, but Niamh Doherty brilliantly saved.
Doherty was out again to save in a one-on-one with sub McLaughlin while Buncrana were denied by the woodwork.
A pulsating contest had ebbed all the way and it took the on-song McColgan to keep her sheet clean. A long free-kick fell in the box and McDaid’s effort was beaten away by McColgan before Alana Doherty hammered off the post.
[adrotate group=”81″]Carndonagh Community School: Aoife McColgan, Caitlin Devlin, Cathy Doherty, Claire McCarron, Rachel McLoughlin, Saoirse Farren, Tara O’Connor, Mary Doherty, Niamh McDaid, Lauren Cregan, Shania McGonigle. Subs: Erin McLaughlin for C.Doherty (40), Caoimhe Devlin for McGonigle (40), Beibhin McClure for Farren (62), Mary McLaughlin for O’Connor (62), Laura Devlin for C.McColgan (69).
Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana: Niamh Doherty, Saoirse McElaney, Andrea Kelly, Alana Doherty, Beth Doherty, Mary Kate McKinney, Mariah McColgan, Michelle McDaid, Briana Doherty, Grace McColgan. Sub: Shanna Hegarty for Kelly (53).
Referee: Danny McLaughlin.
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