Ayrshire girls reach national football cup final

TALENTED young footballers from secondary schools across Ayrshire have done the area proud on the national sporting stage.

Auchenharvie Academy, Irvine Royal Academy, Robert Burns Academy, Largs Academy, Belmont Academy, Queen Margaret Academy, Girvan Academy, Kilmarnock Academy and Grange Academy were all represented in the Ayrshire under-18 girls’ select squad.

Lucy Turner and Katie Gallagher (Auchenharvie), Carmel McHattie, Grace Carson and Sophie Allen (RBA), Bayley Hanvey and Erin Hanlon (Irvine Royal), Amy Riddex (Largs), Megan Samson and Abbie Reed (Belmont), Amelia Caldwell (QMA), Karlii Kennedy (Girvan), Zoe Duff and Eva

Watt (Kilmarnock) and Ailsa Cook (Grange) all contributed to an excellent season for the team, who rounded off their campaign at the end of last month.

The team were outstanding as they made their way to the final of the Scottish Schools FA national cup competition.

Ayrshire began in the group stage and their electric attack helped to provide two wins, a 7-4 victory over Glasgow and an 8-2 triumph over Paisley.

The results meant the team topped the group stage and earned a home quarterfinal as the tournament entered the knockout stage.

A 3-0 win over Aberdeenshire followed before the girls played their way through their tightest match to date with a 4-3 win against West Lothian in the final four.

The final was played at Stenhousemuir’s Ochilview Park on March 28, and unfortunately it was not to be as the Ayrshire girls lost 3-0 to an impressive Dundee side.

However, it was it was a wonderful achievement for the team to reach this stage, with all of the girls keeping their heads held high.

An Ayrshire Schools FA spokesperson said: “So proud of these players and coaches.

“They may have lost out 3-0 to Dundee in the final but they have done themselves, their parents and carers and schools proud.

“It was an amazing achievement to reach a national final.

“Well done to all involved.”