Back Row.Banbha McCurdy,Eireann Boyd,Natasha Clarke,Claire Morgan,Cliodhna Mc Caffrey,Aine Mc Parland,Katie Boyd,Aifa Gough,Rebecca Crummey,Aimee Mc Kee,Nora Sullivan,Aibh Robinson.
Front Row. Siantelle Boyd,Carole Browne,Ceara Carleton,Eimear Carson,Clodagh Mc Curdy,Anna Rothbothom, Niamh Hamill, Katie Connolly, Maedbh Fennell, Aibh McGeogh.
Commiserations to the girls on their defeat today in the U16b Championship final against St Enda’s.
Both teams put on a brilliant display of football and it was a great advertisement for ladies football.
The Naomh Eoin girls narrowly missed out by a 3 point margin.
The girls entered into the final as massive underdogs due to suffering heavy defeats in their two previous games against St Enda’s but came out with a new belief in themselves on the back of 3 straight wins in Championship & League.
The game started with great passion from both teams and St Enda’s soon got a couple of scores to settle themselves but the Naomh Eoin Backline of Niamh Hamill, Aine Mc Parland, Ceara Carleton ,Siantelle Boyde & Aibh Mc Geogh fought ferociously in the back line with great tackling to keep them at bay. the half back line of Katie Connolly & Katie Boyd were brilliantly holding the wave of attack from St Enda’s.
Naomh Eoin Keeper Maedbh Fennell was getting good accuracy & distance with her kick outs and was soon finding midfeilders Carole Browne & Clare Morgan who were then on the attack and pressing the St Enda’s back line, Rebecca Crummey kicked a long ball into the forward line and Natasha seized on it and found the St Enda’s net. This score seemed to input new belief into the Naomh Eoin girls and they upped their game and took the game to St Enda’s.
At half time St Enda’s were in front with a score line of 2-7 to 1-0.
When the game restarted Naomh Eoin girls came out flying and displayed the best football we have witnessed them playing all year.
They totally dominated the second half with great fire and belief.
From the throw in Naomh Eoin pressed forward and got a great point from Natasha Clarke and then kept pressing St Enda’s half back line with Naomh Eoin Half forwards Anna Rothbothom , Cliodhna Mc Caffrey & Aifa Gough displaying great awareness in passing and movement soon started to run St Enda’s ragged. Naomh Eoin scored another unanswered point and this new impetuous had the Naomh Eoin Girls ,Mentors & Supporters thinking we can win this.St Enda’s got back into the game and got 2 long range points but the Naomh Eoin girls didn’t drop their heads and mounted another attack with Nora Sullivan crossing ball in for Natasha to score a great goal…Then Naomh Eoin Made an “impact” substitution and brought on young Eireann Boyd who caused havoc in the forward line racking up a personal tally of 1-3. The Naomh Eoin girls limited St Enda’s to just 2 more points in the remainder of the second half but time was against them and they could not manage to complete the comeback..
(Naomh Eoin scored a massive 2-5 in the second half to St Enda’s 0-4)
Game finished with St Enda’s winning 2-11 to 3-5
This is the first year that the Club has entered an u16 ladies football team and the girls finished up runners up in the league & narrowly beaten in Championship final . Not too bad considering 6 of the team are u15 , 2 u12 and the rest of the panel u14.
The Management and Mentors – Kevin,Benny Andy & Martin wish to thank the girls team for great commitment & dedication throughout the year and to say that it was an honour working with you and that you are all great ambassadors for the club and ladies Football.
A massive thank you to the parents for their continuous support throughout the year and TDS for sponsorship of team kit.
NEA
