Sligo/Leitrim U16s win first silverware at the Gaynor Cup in style
THE Sligo/Leitrim U16s were the first team from the region to return with Silverware from the Gaynor Cup. This is where the team for the most part splits and goes their separate ways so a fitting end to a remarkable group of girls who have pretty much been together since they were under 12.
The success was not started and finished just at the competition – due to change in rules – there was a qualification tournament that Sligo Leitrim attended in Dublin some weeks previously to earn the right to play in the Gaynor Cup. This seemed an unfortunate situation as it was the first year of pre qualification and was based on previous finish position but in any case the squad managed by Alan Henry made the journey to Dublin and embraced the challenge. Bearing in mind that the squad had started training in September 2017 – and this was June 2018 – it showed the dedication and determination of the squad and mentors. They were in a pool with Kilkenny Wexford and Midlands region.
Sligo/Leitrim had a good qualification tournament topping the group with results of 2-0, 0-0 and 5-1 respectively. They had travelled with a good squad so the results were pleasing and the management were happy to see their ability to score and not concede.
With that out of the way – and their place secured at UL – it was down to the serious business of training harder and working on formations, starting 11 and tactics. Coach Alan Henry assisted by Dizzy Hyndman had many options and had some interesting combinations to try out.
First up was the fixture versus the Galway League. Many of this team would be familiar to many of the Sligo Leitrim girls from the previous year’s Gaynor Under 14 final in which Galway emerged victorious. Galway took the lead and lead by one to nil at half time – unfortunately the second half didn’t augur well for them either and the final score was 2 goals to nil. Not the start the squad and management had hoped for but good performances from Ciara Henry, Leah Fox and Kate Nugent were the positive points.
Day 2 saw the squad line out versus Waterford – again no push over were the girls from the South east. Sligo-Leitrim lined out with a strong squad and took the lead. Erin Taheny, Cathy Harrison and Muireann Devanney were all digging deep. Keela Scanlon and Ciara Henry were foraging away up front trying to get another goal and Henry was instrumental in providing some good balls in to Aife Haran and Aoife McLoughlin. Unfortunately Waterford stole the equaliser on the break and before long they took the lead mainly due to the Sligo Leitrim girls loosing the concentration momentarily. Eventually Waterford got a third and ran out winners by 3-1.
These results meant the Sligo Leitrim squad were in the Bowl Semi Final and their Opponents were Limerick county who would have a lot of local support.
This team were disappointed with their group game performances and were determined to give the travelling support something to cheer so they started very strong with Muireann Devanney commanding the middle of the field with Ciara Henry coming back to assist. Coach Alan Henry was urging Sorcha Reddy, Aoife McLoughlin and Leah Duffy to try from outside the range and for every player to be a threat. Cathy Harrison put in some of her classic crosses and Helen Monaghan was her usual energetic self. Ciara Henry was unlucky on two occasions not to find the net but it was the Manorhamilton Rangers starlet – Leah Fox who hit it and helped the girls to a one nil lead. Too often in the past they had conceded this lead but the lure of the final was too great so they decided to dig exceptionally deep to at least preserve the lead and see this one out. Aoife McLoughlin almost made it 2 but for the hard work of the Limerick keeper. So much to the delight of the crew – the girls held on to win 1-0 and the final beckoned.
Bowl Final Sligo –Leitrim 2 Limerick Desmond 0
AS this was the end of a sort of an era with this group disbanding to go their separate ways – this very special group of players were determined to end their collective time at this age level with a win. Limerick Desmond – again a local team had a lot of support and were also very determined to give their crew the bragging rights.
Both teams would struggle to get a level of rhythm going Sligo-Leitrim started the more purposeful. Keeper Farah McDonagh was a commanding figure in the net and despite her normal quiet and reserved demeanour – she was issuing strong and vocal instructions to her back 4 in particular. Sarah Kiernan was pretty outstanding at the back – she and Erin Taheny were in fine form cutting out any potential attacks. Aife Haran appeared to save the best until last – she and Muireann Devanney and Ciara Henry dug so deep and before long the aforementioned Haran scored the opener. This was the perfect start for the Sligo Leitrim girls as they needed to get the opener. Kate Nugent played a blinder with Keela Scanlon and when Leah Duffy made her entrance she was determined to make her presence felt. Aoife McLoughlin, Megan Byrne, Helen Monaghan and Laura Oates all played their part. Coaches Henry and Hyndman were encouraging the girls on and with Sarah Gillen and Sorcha Reddy very much still full of running – Jemma Brehony entered the fray to add a bit of new energy to things. It was another assist from the ever running and work horse of Ciara Henry who helped the Sligo Leitrim girls stay ahead and much of her off the ball running was a joy to watch. One goal was never going to be enough as they knew from before so when Muireann Devanney won the ball in midfield and surged forward and shot from outside the area low and hard to the back of the net, this appeared to knock any hope out of Limerick Desmond. Before long the ref blew for full time and a victory for the Sligo Leitrim Under 16’s. Aife Haran was named player of the match much to the delight of her and her team. All in all a truly great achievement.
Huge congratulations to the squad and the management – a fantastic achievement and the first silverware at this competition for any Sligo Leitrim team. The team as it is will for the most part disband with some of the starlets taking up playing with Sligo Rovers Under 17’s under the watchful guise of Alan Henry. Assistant Coach Dizzy Hyndman goes to pastures new taking up a scholarship position in the USA. We wish them all well in their new ventures.
SLIGO/LEITRIM U16s: Farah McDonagh - Ballymote Celtic; Keela Scanlon - Yeats United; Sarah Gillen - Yeats United; Erin Taheny - Strand Celtic; Aife Haran - Strand Celtic; Sorcha Reddy - Strand Celtic; Leah Duffy - Real Tubber; Muireann Devaney - Manorhamilton; Rangers Ciara Henry - Real Tubber; Leah Fox - Manorhamilton Rangers; Helen Monaghan - Yeats united; Laura Oates - Calry Bohs; Jemma Brehony - Real Tubber; Kate Nugent - Strand Celtic; Cathy Harrison - Benbulben FC; Aoife McLaughlin - Yeats United; Megan Byrne - Yeats United.