AN EARLY GOAL in both halves fired Cardonagh Community School to glory in today’s Ulster Under-17 final at Aileach FC.
Carndonagh Community School 2 Deele College, Raphoe 0
Mary Doherty netted after only six minutes and the lead was doubled just 50 seconds into the second half when Erin McLaughlin shot home from close range.
It was a dominant display by Sammy Bogan’s team, whose goalkeeper, Aoife McColgan, had a trouble free afternoon.
Picture caption: Carndonagh Community School celebrate their Ulster Under-17 final win over Deele College.
With the likes of Shanniah McGonagle, Niamh McDaid and Rachel McLaughlin, in particular, showing up well, Carndonagh held sway throughout and never looked in danger of losing.
Although Deele have shown good bouncebackability in their previous outings, there was something of an ominous air of inevitability about the narrative once Doherty broke the deadlock.
But for the interventions of goalkeeper Neve Scanlon and some strong defending by Chantel Kelly, the game could have been an ordeal for Deele, for whom the absence of captain Tyler Toland was a real body blow.
The stylish midfielder was missing through an injury sustained earlier this month and the Irish international and Maiden City player certainly could have tipped the scales.
But it was Carndonagh who siezed the initiative and took the lead when McGonagle rolled out to Doherty, whose low shot beat Scanlon at full stretch down to her right after McDaid’s corner wasn’t cleared.
Scanlon saved well from a powerful drive by McGonagle and Carndonagh poured forward in waves with the Deele netminder racing from her goal to save at the feet of Doherty just before half-time.
Deele had struggled for momentum, but did get in behind after 25 minutes, only for Vanessa McHugh’s effort to deflect wide after the attacker did well to carve out the shot.
Less than a minute into the new half, Carndonagh got their second when McDaid’s cross was parried by Scanlon and McLaughlin turned home from close range.
The Deele College squad.
Carndonagh were rampant now, but Scanlon kept them at bay, saving a one-on-one with McLaughlin before McDaid stabbed just wide of the near post after connecting with Saoirse Farren’s cross.
Late in the day, McLaughlin twice got shots away, but her first was just wide of the target and her second was collected by the busy Scanlon.
For Fiona Deeney’s Deele, it was a day of ifs, buts and maybes, while Carndonagh – whose teams were beaten three times in All-Ireland semi-finals last year – now advance to the All-Ireland stage.
Carndonagh Community School: Aoife McColgan; Caitlin Devlin, Claire McCarron, Rachel McLaughlin, Kathy Doherty (Fiona Gibbons ‘69); Tara O’Connor (Caoimhe Devlin ’56), Mary Doherty, Niamh McDaid (Laura Devlin ’65), Saoirse Farren (Mary McLaughlin ’60); Shanniah McGonagle, Erin McLaughlin.
Deele College: Neve Scanlon; Kirsty Bogle, Georgia Keys, Chantel Kelly, Rachel McLaughlin; Ellie Barron, Eva McFadden, Niamh Ferry (Shakira McMenamin ’57), Aoife Harper; Vanessa McHugh, Aoife Page.
Referee: Marty Quinn.
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