Skilful and resolute Coola claim provincial honours

Striker Orlaith Scanlon scores a hat-trick as Coola PPS overcome Abbey Community College

FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Girls Connacht Cup Final

Coola PPS

Abbey CC (Boyle) 3 1

C

OOLA Post Primary School claimed their first-ever FAI Schools Girls trophy when they won Monday’s FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Girls Connacht Cup at MacSharry Park.

Striker Orlaith Scanlon bagged a hat-trick to inspire Coola’s victory on the venue’s all-weather pitch as they overcame Abbey Community College, Boyle, in an entertaining decider.

The beaten finalists had their moments, especially through skilful forward Shauna McGrath, whose 58th minute goal made it 2-1, but the Roscommon side had no answer to goal machine Orlaith Scanlon, who netted twice in the first-half and then scored her third of the day with seven minutes of normal time left.

Prolific Scanlon, whose dad is ex-professional cyclist Mark Scanlon, winner of a world title as a junior cyclist in 1998, had already impacted Coola’s campaign – her hat-trick gave Coola a 3-1 win over St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford, in the provincial semi-final on Thursday last (a game also played at MacSharry Park).

Coola’s provincial capture of this Girls U-17 competition (in the ‘small’ schools grade) relied on multiple factors – mainly because they had better players that performed on the big stage. Defender Aoibhinn Conlon, although having to marshall the aforementioned Shauna McGrath, was excellent, so too midfielders Ciara Gilligan and Leanne Galvin.

Winger Bridget O’Reilly got through a lot of work, so too striker Hayley Mullaney. Goalkeeper Hannah Hargadon excelled.

Netminder Hargadon was called upon as early as the second minute of the opening half (each half was of 40 minutes’ duration) when having to catch a potentially dangerous looping

FINAL SMILES: Coola joint-captains Bridget O’Reilly and Leanne Galvin pictured with team-mate Orlaith Scanlon, who scored a hat-trick in Monday’s FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Girls Connacht Cup final against Abbey Community College, Boyle, at MacSharry Park.

Leanne Galvin came close to adding Coola’s third goal within minutes of the restart – she latched onto Orlaith Scanlon’s pass but her stinging drive was kept out by Abbey goalkeeper Aoife O’Dowd. Another member of Coola’s defence, Ava Duggan, was getting involved as it remained 2-0. But a phase of Abbey pressure finally paid dividends when Shauna McGrath scored after 58 minutes.

The concession of this goal prompted Coola to reassert themselves and a series of chances followed – Leanne Galvin sent a shot over, Ciara Gilligan and Orlaith Scanlon were again influencing matters and

TITLE JOY: Scenes of celebration at MacSharry Park on Monday following Coola Post Primary School’s victory over Abbey Community College. then Bridget O’Reilly set up Scanlon for a low, skimming drive that flashed inches wide of the far post.

Then it was Hayley Mullaney’s turn to test Abbey’s Aoife O’Dowd with a shot that was on target but no trouble for the goalkeeper.

Coola confirmed that this would be their day when Orlaith Scanlon lashed a shot into the net – from a Leanne Galvin pass – and that was that. There could have been a fourth goal for Scanlon when she was found by a Hayley Mullaney pass but Abbey’s Ada Conheady, who defended impressively in parts, despite having to curb Scanlon, made a last-gasp interception.

When Sligo referee Keenan Deering signalled full-time Coola’s fans, having watched their team seize Connacht glory, gleefully invaded the pitch.

Best for Coola PPS: Orlaith Scanlon

Coola Post Primary School: Hannah Hargadon; Ava Lyons, Aoibhinn Conlon, Grainne Smith, Ava Duggan; Bridget O’Reilly, Ciara Gilligan, Leanne Galvin, Leah Mullaney (Sophia Rose Henry 54); Hayley Mullaney, Orlaith Scanlon

Subs not used: Aisling Dwyer, Katie Gilligan, Aine Mostyn, Kayleigh Mullane Cronin

Other squad members: Leona Bruen, Amy Brehony, Clodagh Hannon, Michelle McDonagh, Sophie Edwards, Aleasha Sweeney, Jaga Rykowska, Ellie Harte Abbey Community College, Boyle: Aoife O’Dowd; Aoife O’Donoghue (Aoife Kiernan 47), Ada Conheady, Clara Byrne, Annie O’Connor; Rachel Flynn, Leah McCauley, Emma Duggan, Clara Doherty; Anna McGrath, Shauna McGrath

Referee: Keenan Deering (Sligo)