Spaniard on the double as Scoil Mhuire take Ulster First Year’s title

SPANIARD BEGOÑA PINERO struck a brace to fire Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana to the Ulster First Year Girl’s title this afternoon.

Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana 3 Moville Community College 1

Pinero hails from Madrid, but is attending Scoil Mhuire this year, as part of a regular programme whereby Spanish students stay in Buncrana to aid with their leaning of the English language.

At Lakeside, the home of Aileach FC, Pinero’s double sent Scoil Mhuire (pictured above) on their way to glory, though they were made fight every inch of the way by a determined Moville Community College.

A third goal, by Mariah McColgan, made the win safe and time ran out for Moville, who pulled a goal back through Kerrie Brown in the second half.

Pinero’s first came after just 54 seconds. After racing through to fend off the challenge of Aisling McLaughlin. Pinero managed to tuck into the bottom corner, past Fiona McLaughlin, the Moville goalkeeper, from the edge of the box.

Brown carried a good deal of the threat from Moville and wasn’t far away with a half-volley from a cross by Claire McCauley that just missed the target.

Scoil Mhuire goalkeeper Niamh Doherty bravely saved at Brown’s free after doing well to recover just in time when the Moville striker next threatened.

Scoil Mhuire could have doubled their lead when Eveline Smölen fed Grace McColgan, but her shot was too high to trouble McLaughlin.

Four minutes into the second half, Pinero magnificently made it two-nil.

Mariah McColgan and Beth Dohetry combined well down the right channel, but the goal was all about Pinero’s finish, expertly arched to the top corner with the outside of the right boot.

Scoil Mhuire turned up the pressure and Pinero prodded wide with a chance for a hat-trick, but the third did arrive when Mariah McColgan was slipped in by Beth Doherty in the 38^th minute.

McColgan’s first touch wasn’t clean, but it was enough to take it away from McLaughlin and into the net.

Two minutes later, Brown got clear and managed to just beat Doherty, with the players colliding fiercely in the process.

Doherty might have been stunned, but her quick reactions spared the concession of a second goal as Brown’s enterprising shot bounced over the ‘keeper, whose inctinctiveness prevented it from tickling over the line.

Grace McColgan and Pinero were inches from adding to the Scoil Mhuire tally and, late in the day, Brianna Doherty came close, too.

Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana: Niamh Doherty; Ava Rejkera, Saoirse McElhinney, Georgia Rudden, Emma McCallion; Evelina Smölen, Brianna Doherty, Beth Doherty, Begona Pinero; Grace McColgan, Mariah McColgan.

Moville Community College: Fiona McLaughlin; Shauna Ruddy, Cora Farren, Aisling McLaughlin, Emer Curran (Orlagh McDaid); Claire McCauley (Kelene McDermott), Clara Doherty, Niamh McDonald, Catriona Lynch (Nicole Farren); Ellen Hegarty, Kerrie Brown.

Referee: Marty Quinn.