Clooney/Quin U12 Ladies Football Team were victorious last night after a hard fought battle against neighbours Newmarket in the B Plate Final. Every member of the team played their part in this very close match, final score Clooney/Quin 1-4; Newmarket 1-1. It was great for the girls to have so much support in Newmarket. It made it a great occasion for these young players.
It took several minutes of the first half for the Clooney girls to settle in and get to grips with the physical strength of Newmarket backs. Clooney had a lot of the play in front of the Newmarket goal but failed to convert these chances sending a number of balls wide of the mark. Newmarket were dangerous on the break and were the first to score. However Sarah Rochford quickly evened the playing field after a great point of her own. Lauren Wall found the back of net after great work in mid field from Abi Sullivan who was dynamite throughout the match. Abi gave a great hand pass to Holly Deegan, at corner forward who in turn made for goals and off loaded to ever ready Lauren. The Newmarket backs were excellent at closing down play so this was a really hard fought for goal and most deserved. Lara Begg was tenacious at corner forward and had some good possession but was well marked by Newmarket backs. Ella Taylor forged forward each time she got her hands on a ball and proved very difficult for the Newmarket backs to deal with. She was excellent throughout and was near to scoring a goal a few times in the second half.
As luck would have it, Newmarket broke away and took a great shot at goals which was unstoppable by Clooney’s goalie Ava Corbett. Ava was excellent in goals all evening with some very intelligent kickouts and indeed some great saves in the last few minutes of the game. Before half time Rachel Ruske of Clooney scored a point which had Clooney up one at half time. Clooney/Quin 1-2; Newmarket 1-1.
Newmarket came out in second half as was expected with renewed energy and fighting for every ball. The Clooney girls responded well to this pressure. Emma Considine (captain) led by example led at centre back. Indeed all the backs fought hard in the second half and denied Newmarket their equaliser in the dying minutes. Clooney secured their win with two well taken points in the second half. The first at close range from full forward Lauren Wall and the second from a distance out by midfielder Abi Sullivan.
Mid fielder Karen O’Sullivan was excellent throughout and worked well with Abi Sullivan, Sarah Rochford and Lauren Wall.
The full back line of Niamh Morris, Niamh McGee and Lucy Cassidy were impermeable which was entirely necessary towards the end of the match. Anna Doyle and Eloise DeSousa on the wings had the speed and ability to keep Newmarket forwards at bay. Emma Considine at centre back linked well with the midfielders and with Sarah Rochford at centre forward, who was very strong despite been heavily marked.
Indeed It was the teamwork of the Clooney girls that win out in the end as they all worked hard for each other and never gave up.
Team: Ava Corbett, Niamh Morris, Niamh McGee, Roisin O’Mullane, Eloise De Sousa, Emma Considine (C), Anna Doyle, Karen O’Sullivan, Abi O’Sullivan (0-1), Rachel Ruske (0-1), Sarah Rochford (0-1), Ella Taylor, Holly Deegan, Lauren Wall (1-1), Lara Begg. Lucy Cassidy for Roisin O’Mullane, Sarah Manley for Lara Begg, Freda Parker for Holly Deegan, Roisin O’Mullane for Rachel Ruske, Aoife Perill for Sarah Manley.