Western woes for Killarney Celtic girls in Blitz final

KILLARNEY Celtic U-12 girls team certainly did the League proud at the FAI National Blitz finals in the AUL in Dublin. Having qualified with three wins Celtic opened their day with a 0-0 draw against Buncranna Hearts.

Next up was a 2-0 win over St Joseph’s from Carlow with Fiana Bradley scoring the first goal direct from a corner and Leah McMahon scoring the second with a cracking header.

They went into their third game in the Group knowing the needed a win and got it thanks to Fiana Bradley who got the only goal of the game. This set up a semi-final against top Dublin side Glebe North. The Dublin side took the lead in the first half but the Killarney girls levelled thanks to an Aideen O’Brien goal and then got the winner from Ava O’Malley to the delighted of the Celtic fans who travelled in big numbers.

Mervue United saw of a very good Salthill Devon on penalties to et up the 2018 decider. The game was a very tight affair with Aoibhin Kelly having to make a number of good saves. Driven on by Leah McMahon, who was named Player of the Match, Celtic pushed for the winner. As the thoughts were turning to extra time Mervue launched one last attack and despite a valiant effort by the Celtic keeper and her defenders the Galway girl manager to prod the ball home.

The Celtic squad, led by manager Alan O’Sullivan and coach Paul Vermagilio, was Aoibhin Kelly, Grainne Kennedy, Ellie Mai Nugent, Lucy O’Sullivan, Katie Doe, Leah McMahon, Elizabeth Coffey, Aideen O’Brien, Ava O’Malley, Fiana Bradley, Bronagh Dorrian, Shauna Myers, Niamh Dorrian, Lauren Neff, Michaela O’Meara and Andrea Murphy.