Ursuline U15s through to semi finals after 5- 0 Ballinrobe win
URSULINE COLLEGE 5 BALLINROBE COMMUNITY SCHOOL 0 AT SEAN FALLON CENTRE URSULINE College’s U15 girls are into the FAI Schools Minor National Cup semi- finals today against Moville after demolishing Ballinrobe CS 5- 0 in the Connacht Cup final on Thursday afternoon at the Showgrounds. Today’s semi- final is taking place in Monaghan at 1pm.
Many of the Ursuline College team were part of the side who were crowned FAI All- Ireland First Year champions last year and their classy style of play was certainly evident during Thursday’s semi- final.
Credit to Ballinrobe, they never let their head drops despite a mammoth mountain to climb as they were outpaced by their Sligo opponents and they fought right to the end.
It was a pacy game from both sides and it was fairly even in the opening 35 minutes although the Ursuline were exuding more speed in getting around their Ballinrobe opponents.
Five minutes in and Ursuline captain Shauna Dalton had to leave the pitch after a nasty looking clash of heads, Oda Carny coming on in defence, Dalton would later come back into proceedings late in the second half.
Helen Monaghan was magnificent for the Ursuline throughout and she was unlucky in the 8th minute, her shot hitting the side netting as the Sligo side set the tempo in the fast- moving encounter. A Sophie McGoldrick lob was heading goal- ward and Monaghan got a late touch as the ball rolled into the net, however the flag was raised for offside on 11 minutes.
Three minutes later and the ball was in the back of the Ballinrobe net once again, this time the on- fire Monaghan took the shot but another teammate was offside and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief as the Ursuline pressure was mounting.
Ballinrobe had a chance from a corner kick but the shot struck the side netting. Down the opposite end Ursuline midfielder Sorcha Reddy, another of the side’s excellent performers on the day, sent an inch- perfect cross into the box. her teammates attempt slicing inches over as the Ursuline attempts intensified. Aoife McLoughin sent a decent ball into the path of Monaghan who had a good effort with 21 minutes played yet the Ursuline were still hunting for their first score. Ballinrobe went on the attack, their best chance of the half and it was Sarah Kiernan who saved the day for Ursuline, bravely clearing off the line and she found Reddy free, the midfielder sending a fantastic ball into the path of Monaghan who smashed the back of the net on 23 minutes as Ursuline went one in front.
The Ballinrobe keeper, who was busy all afternoon, had to be alert moments later. Monaghan again was causing the Ballinrobe defence grief after neat work by Sophie McGoldrick found her free, Monaghan was one on one with the keeper who saved brilliantly on 31 minutes.
Ursuline were ahead one nil at the break after dominating the opening half.
If Ballinrobe were hoping to increase the up in the second half, the dream start fell to Monaghan right from the kick- off.
She broke free and was one on one with the keeper, coolly slotting to the left, the ball bouncing off the post into the net with less than 60 seconds played.
A free on substitute Laura Oates was taken by Reddy and the Ballinrobe keeper got her fingertips on it, the Ursuline looking for their third. After deliberating with her linesman, the referee pointed to the penalty spot, Walsh penalised for kicking out at an Ursuline player when she had the ball in her hands. Monaghan clinically slotting the ball into back of the net for her third.
Ballinrobe made three substitutions deep into the second half and any hopes of denting the Ursuline’s lead disintegrated on 61 minutes when once again an effortless Monaghan strike ended up in the back of the net. The fifth goal came with six minutes to go, coming from the Ursuline’s impressive defender Sarah Kiernan. This was a brilliant team performance from the Ursuline and credit to Ballirnobe who fought to the end.
URSULINE COLLEGE: M Byrne, E Corcoran, S Dalton ( C), S Kiernan, S Gillen, C Harnson, S Reddy, S McDonagh, A McLoughlin, H Monaghan, S McGoldrick. Subs L Oates, E Rooney, A Gallagher, E Shanley, O Carny.
BALLINROBE COMMUNITY SCHOOL: D Walsh, R McHale, S Culhane, C O’Neill, S Tierney, K Munroe, M Granahan, A Heraty, A Keane, A Mangan, N Merry, M Farrell. Subs: M Wickham, A Gibbons, E Brauner, L Geraghty, C Walsh, C Stafford.
REFEREE: Karen Clark- Elliot.