Curracloe Under-12 crew very close to national final
SIXTEEN TEAMS from all corners of the country converged on the A.U.L. on Saturday to participate in the national finals of the Under-12 Schoolgirls’ Cup.
Curracloe United, representing Wexford, qualified as one of the two teams from the south-east region.
The Wexford club opened their campaign against Arrow Harps from Sligo but, despite being on top for long periods, no goals from either side saw the game end in a draw.
Next up were Athlone side Hodson Bay and although Curracloe did not start well, they got on top in the second-half.
A goal from Molly O’Brien gave them three points and moved them top of the group.
The final group game was against Ballinrobe Town, and the Wexford girls produced an excellent performance, with second-half goals from Polly Redmond and Niamh White ensuring they finished as group winners and earned a place in the national semi-finals.
Lagan Harps from Donegal were the opposition in the last four and both sides produced a top-class encounter with loads of excitement but no goals, with both sets of defences well in control.
The game then went to the dreaded penalty shoot-out, and the Ulster side got the luck and progressed to the final 3-2 on penalties.
Curracloe were devastated on going so close to a national final and just missing out, but great credit goes to the managers, coaches and players on an excellent tournament.
They can also take some consolation in the fact they were beaten by the eventual winners, as Lagan Harps overcame Lakewood F.C. 1-0 in the final.
Top four in the country is a great achievement, and this team is well capable of winning a national cup at an older age group in the not too distant future.
UNDER-14
Aughrim Rangers made it two wins from two when they made the long journey to Wexford town in the Under-14 Premier division and overcame North End United 6-0.
Olivia Shannon scored four, with Chloe Sheehy and Aine Darcy adding one each to move Aughrim to the top of the table.
In Division 1, Adamstown and Ballindaggin both recorded victories over Courtown Hibs and Bridge Rovers respectively.
Megan Martin and Caoimhe Breen scored two each as Adamstown beat Hibs 5-0, with Caragh
McDonald also finding the net.
Libby Nolan, Hannah Lawless and Emily Roban all scored for Ballindaggin in their 3-2 win over Bridge Rovers, with Aoife Doran and Kaitlin Conroy replying for Rovers.
Goals from Leah Byrne, Keelin Barron, Milly Sutton, Abby Jordan, Caoimhe Bolger and Neala Barron saw Shelburne United overcome a young Forth Celtic side in Division 2A, while Abbie Doyle scored both goals for Bree United as they beat St. Joseph’s 2-0.
Fastnet Rovers and New Ross Celtic played out a five-goal thriller in Division 2B, with Rovers eventually coming out on top 3-2. Teresa Touchard scored both Celtic goals, while Brooke Robinson, Aoife Brennan and Ruth McCabe were on target for Fastnet.
Tombrack proved too strong for new side Enniscorthy United, with Anna Dragusan scoring six to add to goals from Eabha Guinan, Abbie Kavanagh and Anna Tomkins, while Jade Brown scored United’s historic first goal.
In Division 3, St. Leonards overcame a youthful Kilmore United, while Shamrock Rovers recorded an historic victory when overcoming Ferns United 2-1.
Ella Warren scored for Ferns, with Cassie O’Rourke and Saoirse Dwyer on target for Rovers.