Champions of Europe

Real Tubber U13 girls win the Holland Cup

TUBBERCURRY and South Sligo came out to give a hero’s welcome to the Real Tubber U13 girls yesterday evening after they returned home as Holland Cup champions. They brought home the cup after winning the final against Almere of Holland 2-0.

Real Tubber were the only representatives from Ireland at the tournament and to come home as overall winners shows the pedigree of this young team.

Having played 6 games to get to the final, winning 4 and drawing 2 including winning a nerve-wracking penalty shoot out, they won the final fairly comfortably with goals from Becky Doddy and Ellen Kelleher.

Having scored 14 goals and conceding only one, the Tubber girls were the form team of the tournament.

It was an accomplished display from the girls.

Defeating well organised teams from Denmark, Sweden and Holland, the Tubber girls can be very proud of this massive achievement on the European stage.

They lit up the tournament with their skills.

Outstanding performances at the back from Kerri O’Hara, Cara King and their captain Leah Walsh, and 4 goals from Ellen Kelleher and Ciara Brennan, with Eimear Hunt(3) and Becky Doddy also getting a brace, this team was on song.

Maycayla Burke was out- standing in goals, saving 2 penalties in the shootout against the Swedish champions.

This was a great team effort, with all the panel playing a vital part in the effort.

Patrice Conboy, Kate McCarthy, Hannah Hardagon, Ciara Kerrigan and Rebecca Staunton all put in big performances at vital times in a energy sapping 2-day tournament.

These girls did Real Tubber, their county and their country proud.

They were welcomed home yesterday evening in jubilant scenes in Tubbercurry as the players and coaches were congratulated for their remarkable achievement of becoming Holland Cup champions.