Brilliant showcase by Sligo/ Leitrim U12s

THE Sligo/ Leitrim U12 Emerging Talent Girls had a great outing to the annual Inishowen Tournament last Saturday at Aileach FC in Burnfoot. The S/ L side were split into two teams ( Red and Blue) for 7- a- side affair and the Blue Team took home the Silverware in the Plate Competition. The S/ L side were drawn from Real Tubber FC, Arrow Harps FC, Yeats Utd FC, Benbulben FC, Manor Rangers, Calry Bohs and Coolaney Utd.

The Red teams first game was v the Metropolitan ( Dublin) A side, S/ L coming out 3- 0 winners with goals from Ciara Brennan, Eimear Hunt and Luna Simeoni. The second game for them was against a very good hosts Inishowen team ( who went on to win the Cup) , which S/ L lost 1- 0 on a breakaway goal. The final group game was Mid- West A ( Roscommon) which S/ L won on a 10- 0 scoreline ( goals: Eimear Hunt ( 2), Katie McGuire ( 2), Ellen Kelleher ( 2), Alice Lillie, Luna Simeoni ( 2), and Becky Doddy). The Blues won their opener 2- 1 v Donegal B ( Aine McLaughlin with both goals). Their 2nd was 2- 1 defeat to Metropolitan C ( goal from Lara Swann). 3rd up was a 0- 0 draw with Metro D, and 4th a similar outcome v Mayo B. That put both Sligo/ Leitrim teams in the Plate Semi- Finals, the Reds meeting Metro A team again, and beating them again, this time 2- 0 from Eimear Hunt and Ciara Brennan. The Blues met Metro C again - this time S/ L turning it around to win 2- 0 ( both from Sorcha Feehily). That led to a meeting between Sligo/ Leitrim Reds v Sligo/ Leitrim Blues in the Plate Final. The Reds struck first through Eimear Hunt, with the Blues levelling when Ruth Flanagan forced one through. Both teams were pushing hard to get the decisive goal before the final whistle but it finished 1- 1 and went to penalties, with the Blues coming through that to win it 2- 1 and Blues Captain Tara Casserly lifted the cup. This was an excellent outing for the S/ L Gaynor Cup Qualifying Squad ( All- Ireland Semi- Final to come at Limerick on 24th June), with added players who are training with the team ( Luna, Alice and Jillian) and joined in the absence through injury to keeper Roisin Grennan by Arrow Harps’ keeper Sarah Kiernan who had a great tournament. Blues’ manager Amy Hyndman’s selection for Player of the Tournament on the winning side went to Cara King for an excellent performance throughout the day. BLUES: Sarah Kiernan, Cara King, Tara Casserly ( Capt), Lara Swann, Sorcha Feehily, Ruth Flanagan, Katie McLaughlin, Aine McLaughlin, Anna Meade, Jillian Monaghan, Roisin Grennan ( inj). Manager: Amy Hyndman. REDS: Macayla Burke, Pixie O’Hara, Ellen Kelleher, Becky Doddy, Katie McGuire ( Capt) Ciara Brennan, Eimear Hunt, Alice Lillie, Luna Simeoni. Manager: Brian Chambers.