Historic first football title for Abbeydorney girls

ABBEYDORNEY girls captured their first U-12 ‘A’ North Kerry title following a titanic battle with Austin Stacks in Tom Healy Park Abbeydorney last Thursday.

Facing the strong breeze in the opening half Abbeydorney started brightly with Allanah Stritch slotting over the first point of the match. We failed to convert some half chances in this tremendously competitive period as Stacks then got the upper hand at midfield and launched attack after attack to open up a 2-3 to 0-1 lead as we approached half time.

Indeed this lead could have been far greater but goalkeeper Clodagh Brady was in sparkling form and she was well protected by Amy McCarthy, Emma Woods, Niamh Gentleman, Saoirse O’Carroll and the hard working Allanah Stritch and Aisling Ní Ainiféin. The Stacks girls we also desperately unlucky as they watched several shots rebound off the woodwork. In the dying minutes of the open- ing half however Abbeydorney were also unlucky as two goal bound shots were slightly off target.

Trailing by eight points and wind assisted the Abbeydorney girls went on the attack from the throw in and Melanie Higgins landed an excellent point. Aisling Ní Ainiféin and Allanah Stritch cut the deficit with fine efforts within the first five minutes. Now dominating in all sectors the local girls were full of confidence as they launched a barrage of attacks.

Further points from Aisling ní Ainiféin and Melanie Higgins cut the deficit to a goal with ten minutes remaining. Amy McCarthy found Melanie Higgins with a well placed clearance and the joint captain split the Austin Stacks defence and sent an unstoppable shot to the net to level this tremendously exciting encounter.

Stacks countered but our defence stood resolute and with five minutes remaining our other joint captain Kathlyn Leen burst through the defence passed to full forward Anna Kerdzia who rattled the net for the lead goal.

Melanie Higgins followed with the insurance point from a 20-metre free and when Stacks landed their solitary second half point deep in injury time the final whistle sounded to the eruption of celebratory cheers from the Abbeydorney contingent who had snatched victory with an outstanding second half display of attacking football. ABBEYDORNEY PANEL: Clodagh Brady, Amy McCarthy, Emma Woods, Niamh Gentleman, Hannah McKenna, Saoirse O’Carroll, Niamh Quinn, Katelyn Leen, Aoibhe O’Halloran, Shauna Cronin, Aisling Ní Ainiféin, Melanie Higgins, Katie Hussey, Anna Kerdzia, Alannah Stritch, Aoife O’Connor, Charlotte Harte, Caoimhe O’Donnell, Amy O’Loughlin, Casey Ryle, Eilish Gaynor, Maria Savage, Amy Keane, Sadbh Morrison, Niamh Dineen, Katie Corkery, Ciara Byrne, Rachel Byrne, Maggie Stack, Aedin Lucid, Katelyn Moore, Amy O’Connell, Gemma Lawlor, Lauren Nolan, Sarah Bodenham.