U-14 Ladies Footballers claim Dublin Division 1 Feile Title

The weekend of Saturday and Sunday, the 2nd and 3rd of April 2016 will live long in the memory of all those associated with this year’s U-14A Ladies Footballers. With all of the tables quizzes, discos and clothing collection now a distant memory, it was now time to get out onto the pitch and play some football. And what a weekend of football it turned out to be. True to form, the weather did not disappoint and we all arrived out to a wet Silverpark in Kilmacud Crokes bright and early on Saturday morning. 

First up was Ballyboden, and while the girls started slowly they gradually got into the game and in the end they ran out worthy winners on a 1 – 8 to 1-4 scorline. Next up was St Finians from Swords and this one turned out to be a much tighter affair. They say that goals win matches and never was that more truer with us running out winners by the narrowest of margins, on a 1-3 to 0-5 scoreline. With full points in the bag after the first two matches and with Na Fianna and Ballyboden drawing their second game, a semi final spot was already secured. Our last group game against Na Fianna was to decide who would top the group. With a 2 hour break first, it was now a matter of drying off, warming up and getting plenty of Joanne Coffey’s homemade vegetable soup into the girls. From the start of the 3rd game, it was clear that the bodies were now tired from the first two games, and credit to Na Fianna they hung on for  the win on a scoreline of 3 – 0 to 3 -2. One of the busiest people on the pitch for the first 3 games was our medic Mary Kavanagh, with Ellie Larkin, Ellen Dunphy and Abby Shiels all picking up serious injuries during those 3 games. No team wants to be going into a semi final without their goalie, centre back and full forward. Therefore, as we waited for the semi to start, and while Glen Maguire tried to get his head straight by pushing cars out of the mud, Mary got to work on the walking wounded!!

Thankfully as the clock struck 4pm for the start of the semi we were able to name a full squad. The rain also started to clear at this stage. This was much to the relief of all, including our official score and substitution record keeper Paula Fay. She defied science all afternoon by writing in the rain yet still managing to hand a dry substitution slip to the ref after each match!!! With the semi started, we knew a good start was crucial. But disaster struck when Crokes were awarded a penalty. This was the last thing we needed, and none more so than our goalie Ellie who was carrying a dodgy knee from earlier. Full credit to her though, with a full length stretch to her left the ball was cleared and we were still in it. At half time we led by 1-0 to 0-2.The girls knew that they were now only 15 minutes away from the final. With the score line so tight, it was always going to be a case of who wanted it more in the second half. And what an answer we got to that question. Full time score Lucan Sarsfields 5-6 KilmacudCrokes 1-2.

Sunday at 1pm now couldn’t come quick enough for the girls. With the original venue of Peregrines not available because of the wet weather, it was on to the All Weather Pitch in Tom Russell Park for the final. The final started as the tense affair that you would expect. However after a few minutes, Roisin Egan - with a run from midfield that seemed to go on for ever - settled the nerves with a well taken point. Both teams then exchanged points and with the first half drawing to a close Abby Shiels popped up for two goals to add to her earlier point. Half time Lucan Sarsfields 2 – 2 Na Fianna 0-2. The girls came in at the break knowing that their fate was in their own hands, but that there was plenty of work still to be done. And that’s exactly what the second half turned out to be. A dog fight against a good tough Na Fianna team, and with both teams only scoring one point each in the second half it was the team’s defences that dominated with Alannah Cassells getting on the scoreboard for us with a well taken point. However the crucial stat from the second half was the final score of Lucan Sarsfields  2 â€“ 3 to Na Fianna 0 – 3. At this stage all hell broke loose as our captain Aiso Aikhionbare went up to collect the Cup.

A weekend like this is very much a squad effort with all of the girls 1 to 20 playing their part. Ellie Larkin in goal proved her worth not only with that penalty save but also with two other clean sheets over the weekend. And we can’t forget her replacement while she was out injured of Bella Fay who also performed superbly in goals and equally well in the forwards where she won a huge amount of dirty ball. Our defenders of Rebecca Flanagan, Aiso Aikhionbare, Ali Dunne, Faye Murphy, Ellen Dunphy and Aisling Kavanagh worked tirelessly throughout. The mantra of â€˜thou shalt not pass’ was the order of the day. As for our midield trio of Aoife Coffey, Aoife Whelan and Caitlin Maguire, what can we say. Where they found that energy in the last 15 minutes of the semi finalwas unreal. Maybe Mrs Coffey’s soup is the slow release formula!! In the forwards, Roisin Egan, Alannah Cassells, Cora O’Toole, Leah Keating, Charmaine Gahan, Abby Shiels, Aisling Kenna, Lily O’Reilly and Carla Wynne  all worked non stop. Their overall team work resulted in some crucial scores, and even when they did not have the ball, their effort in trying to win it back was relentless. Truly this team’s first line of defence is in the full forward line.

Lastly we would like to thank all of the support and help throughout the weekend. The parents of the team were of great help as always, and it makes things a lot easier. There was also a number of people not directly connected with the team but were more than willing to offer their time and help on the day which was great to see. Also, all of the wonderful support from everyone on both days. Considering the weather conditions, it really was great to see so many people from the club coming out. Also hard luck to our U-14 B colleagues who were unlucky to loose out in their semi final. 

Finally thank you to Kilmacud Corkes who hosted the group games so successfully on the Saturday and to St Brigids for hosting the final.

J.J. Hegarty, Aidan Coffey, Billy Egan and Glen Maguire