St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar 1-2 Coláiste Éinde, Salthill (AET)
Molly Gallagher (45), Mairead Mulherrins (60+4 pen), Sorcha Keane (62)
COLÁISTE ÉINDE, SALTHILL came from behind to win out an extraordinary contest against Ulster outfit St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar in Sligo Rovers FC on Tuesday last (April 21).
Two evenly matched teams, saw the game goalless at the break while midway through the second half, things started to come to life.
Stranorlar’s deadly duo of Alison Mbuli and Molly Gallagher tested Caoimhe O’Connor 12 minutes into the restart but the young Salthill netminder got down well to smother the strike from Gallagher.
However, Molly GALLAGHER finally got the breakthrough in the 45th minute with a peach of a strike following lovely build up play to see Megan Doherty and Alison Mbuli combine well to release Gallagher for the neat finish.
Five minutes later, Salthill’s Eadaoin Cleary fed Ciara Faherty who was denied bravely by Saoirse Hannigan between the Stranorlar posts.
Coláiste Éinde star Saoirse McHugh saw her effort blocked by Hannigan two minutes later as the St. Columba’s number one got down well at her left post to palm the ball away.
However, Salthill were to snatch a late equaliser when the lively Ciara Faherty was fouled inside the box. Up stepped Captain Mairead MULHERRINS to slot home, 1-1 with four minutes of added time played.
The match ended one apiece.
The period of extra-time was just kicked off when the Connacht girls netted for a second time. Sorcha KEANE smashed home, two minutes in, what would ultimately be the match winner following a lovely through ball from Faherty to make it 2-1.
Aoife Smith saw her right footed effort blocked enroute to goal by some fabulous defending from Martyna Szwichtenberg on 67 minutes.
Despite St. Columba’s trojan efforts in the second half of extra-time, they just couldn’t see past the Salthill defence as Darren Conroy’s team progress to the FAI Schools Minor Girls National Cup decider.
The Salthill side will meet St. Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School, Killarney in the season finale following their 2-0 victory over Longford’s Meán Scoil Mhuire in Nenagh this afternoon (April 23)
The final showcase will take place on Wednesday, May 6 (1.0), venue to be confirmed.
ST. COLUMBA’S COLLEGE, STRANORLAR | Saoirse Hannigan, Islagh Patton, Samara McGlinchey, Dearbhla McNulty, Martyna Szwichtenberg, Lily Floyd, Kate McMenamin ©, Katie Gallagher, Alison Mbuli, Megan Doherty ©, Molly Gallagher
SUBS ROLL ON / OFF | Saoirse Deasley, Aoife McLaughlin, Riona McIntyre, Ella Donnelly, Caoimhe Sleigh, Sarah Crawford, Rebecca Gallen
TEACHERS | John Rodriquez, Nicola Harris
COLÁISTE ÉINDE, SALTHILL | Caoimhe O’Connor, Leah MacGlodhlin, Peace Satusan, Kate Johnston, Suin Cullinan, Saoirse McHugh, Eadaoin Cleary, Mairead Mulherrins ©, Aoife Smith, Sorcha Keane, Ciara Faherty
SUBS ROLL ON / OFF | Rose Johnston, Anna Clavaller, Una Adaniwskn, Lily Meurlain, Aoife Clancy, Mya Rose Coll, Eve Simpson
TEACHERS | Darren Conroy, Robyn O’Brien
MATCH OFFICIAL | John Barry (Sligo)
