Success for Sligo/ Leitrim U12 girls
THE Sligo/ Leitrim under- 12 girls came out in top in a six- team regional tournament on Sunday at Shiven Rovers in Roscommon/ East Galway.
Topping the group earns the Sligo/ Leitrim side a berth at the Gaynor Cup semi- finals in Limerick in June which is a massive achievement.
Sligo/ Leitrim were slated to play five games in five hours in very hot conditions which took a lot from the team.
First up in the afternoon were Longford. Sligo had a tentative start with tournament nerves playing their part, but Eimear Hunt stepped up with the game’s only goal to win it by a goal to nil.
Sligo then faced Mayo with a lot more intent from the starting whistle - with Eimear hitting her first in a clocked 58 second opener ( a record that would be beaten by Sligo on the day!).
Eimear went on to get a hat- trick in the game for a 3- 0 Sligo win over the well- fancied Mayo side. Donegal were the 3rd opponents of the day at 3pm in now scorching heat. Sligo/ Leitrim were stifled in the first half, not getting a flowing game going, and Donegal struck on a fast break in the 2nd to grab a 1- 0 lead. Defeat in this one could have seen Sligo/ Leirim go out, but they put in a magnificent final 10 minutes, Eimear again with the equaliser and Sligo pushed hard for a winner but it finished honours even at 1- 1.
Sligo then faced Inishowen knowing that Mid- Western had pulled out of the final game so a win would guarantee the top position. Captain Katie McGuire struck within 46 seconds to open proceedings, Eimear adding another for six in total on the day. Ciara Brennan ( player of the tournament for Sligo/ Leitrim) hammered in a third to seal the game and the tournament.
Sligo/ Leitrim now qualify to go to the Gaynor Cup in Limerick in June to join their under 14 and under 16 colleagues. They will play in the All- Ireland semi- finals on Saturday June 24th.
Meanwhile the Strand Celtic under 12 Whites made the journey to Bee Park to take on Manor Rangers for a knockout game. In what was a very tight game played with great spirit by both teams, each of the girls played some great football, as did Manor but Strand could not find the net in normal time and neither could Manor.
In extra time Manor managed to grab two goals taking a 2- 0 lead. The girls did not let their heads drop and got a goal back to set up a knife edge finish but could not get the equaliser to take it to penalties. In the afternoon, the under 12 Strand Celtic Greens took on Calry Bohs in Strandhill again in a knockout game. Both teams had chances in normal time neither team could break the deadlock and this game went to extra time as well. It was somewhat nervy in extra time with no goals scored in the first half of extra time and it looked like we were heading for the dreaded penalties.
Shortly into second half of extra time the Strand girls got a deserved goal, this gave the girls a boost and shortly after they scored a second goal to seal the game against a gallant Calry side. The Strand Green team now progress to Shield final which is provisionally scheduled for Saturday 20th 6.30pm. Meanwhile, the Calry Bohs under 12s beat Carrick Town to claim the U12 Shield.