MULROY COLLEGE collected the FAI Schools Senior B Girls Ulster title at the Aura Centre today after finishing with a flourish to gun down Finn Valley College.
Mulroy College 4 Finn Valley College 0
Maria Ryan-Carr’s girls were dominant from start to finish, but it took three goals in the final 13 minutes to put an end to Finn Valley’s hopes of causing an upset.
It took them until five minutes into the second half before Catherine Grier broke the deadlock and finally found a way past Finn Valley’s overworked goalkeeper Aisling Grieve.
Caoimhe Walsh, Grier and substitute Rebecca Ryan added the late goals that ensured the Cup was heading for Milford.
Greene and her defence were under siege for the entire first half, but they held firm until Grier eventually got the Mulroy side in front.
Nicola Devenney made the play down the left flank and her ball across the edge of the box found Grier, who lashed a splendid shot beyond Grieve.
It was no more than the Mulroy girls had deserved, although they’d been frustrated in an opening period during which they were camped out in the Finn Valley half.
Republic of Ireland international Walsh doubled the lead 13 minutes from the end and it was a goal worthy of gracing any occasion. 25 yards from goal, Walsh looked up and sent a brilliant left-footed effort past Grieve.
When Grier steered home from close range with the third, it felt like rough justice on Finn Valley, but Mulroy still had time to add a fourth.
In the final minute, Zoe Green – another Irish international on the Mulroy side – burst down the left-hand side and her centre was finished by Ryan.
By then, the end result was already inevitable.
Mulroy entered as the favourites, but Finn Valley kept a lid on their advances with goalkeeper Grieve keeping the slate clean in the first half, aided by centre-back Truda McDaid, who was a tough figure in the heart of the rear guard.
Leah Duggan had the game’s first chance in the 8th minute, but shot tamely at Grieve from close range.
Grier fired wide after powering her way into space before Claudia Ward’s magnificent first touch teed herself up for an attempt, but Grieve collected her effort.
With Walsh and Green’s influence growing, Mulroy turned the screw, but Grieve did well to turn over from Greene’s pile driver before denying Walsh with another smart save.
It was only a matter of time, though, and when Grier opened the scoring the stage was set for a Mulroy win.
Mulroy College: Claire Friel; Siobhan Sweeney, Grainne Friel, Eimear Sweeney, Zoe Green; Thea Duffy, Catherine Grier, Caoimhe Walsh, Nicola Devenney; Claudia Ward, Leah Duggan. Subs used: Michelle McDevitt, Rebecca Ryan, Megan McGee, Ciara Shiels.
Finn Valley College: Aisling Grieve; Eva Marie Jones, Truda McDaid, Shakira McCrudden, Tiana Merritt; Shannon McColgan, Dina Patton, Megan Walsh, Chloe Irwin; Clara Bradley, Niamh McGranaghan. Subs used: Bronagh Boyle, Laura Chambers, Shannon McBride, Sasha Darby.
Referee: Marty Quinn.
Mulroy captain Grainne Friel is presented with the Cup by FAI representative Aisling McAteer.
