Sports
Doyle’s double secures first Irish U-15 FAI Soccer title for Salerno girls
Timing is everything and Sadhbh Doyle obviously has the art perfected as her match-winner a minute from time gave Salerno Secondary School the U-15 FAI Schools’ Girls All-Ireland title in Athlone on Thursday afternoon.
It was a first-ever national crown for the Salthill school and coming from behind at the break, they provided the perfected second half response, with a pair of stunning Doyle goals.
The Barna native has been blazing a trail up the road to Drom from a very young age, and like many of her colleagues plays with Salthill Devon. It was the third game in succession in which the striker got a crucial goal, as she notched an additional time winner as Salerno defeated Sacred Heart from Westport 2-1 in the Connacht Final.
They also left it late in the recent All-Ireland semi-final as they came from behind to record a 3-2 victory over Abbey Community School, Waterford. After Alison Blaney got their opener, two goals in the closing eight minutes by Doyle and Ciara Wall rescued what seemed a lost cause.
In this contest, matters looked ominous for them as they played second fiddle to the Portlaoise side for long spells, who took a deserved lead into the break courtesy of a goal from Emma Lawlor.
The pattern was similar on the resumption, as the Leinster side continued to look the more threatening outfit, but were struggling to get any latitude from an outstanding Salerno defence. Behind them goalkeeper Maria Burke was inspired, as her handling and shot stopping was of the highest order.
While Salerno were backboned by players from Salthill Devon, more than half the Portlaoise side play their club fare with the very successful Emo Celtic. As well as providing the majority of the side, many were part of the School’s First Year’s team that won the All Ireland the previous week with a 7-2 success over Roscommon.
Star of that side was Lawlor, who notched five in the decider and from the off she posed a huge threat and it took two very smart Burke saves to deny her in the early minutes.
However, she opened the Portlaoise account with a terrific goal on 12 minutes. Cutting in from the left flank, she saw off two challengers, before making it 1-0 with a smart low finish beyond Burke.
For the duration the game, both sides had their moments as the game ebbed and flowed. After Portlaoise’s impressive start, it was then the turn of Salerno to take over as Meadhbh Corcoran and Catherine Timon got them moving in midfield.
A weakly-hit Doyle shot was comfortably gathered by Aimee Keane, before Ciara Wall struck the side netting after the ball broke to her in the box. Just before the break, a smart move down the left involving Megan Mulleady and Corcoran released Doyle, but her delivery across the face of goal, just got the better of the inrushing Wall.
The Salerno defence excelled in the opening half, and they surpassed it on the resumption as right full Dearbhail Comerford completely blocked out the threat of Lawlor, while wide on the left nothing got past Rebecca Downes, as she won every ball down her side.
At the heart of the defence, captain Rachel Hohan and Sarah Dunleavy were magnificent as they kept a rampant Laois side at bay. Wide players Ciara Wall and Megan Mulleady dropped deep to offer support when the occasion arose, while at the same time got forward to support Blaney and Doyle who were working overtime as they lived on scraps at the other end.
As the defence and Burke kept Salerno in the contest, they got their reward when the game took a sudden turn on 47 minutes, as Doyle gained possession just outside the box and after bursting through a number of players she made it 1-1 with a low shot just inside the far post.
Scoil Chriost Ri responded and a cracking shot by Gillian Keenan came crashing back off the crossbar. It was a backs-to-the-wall situation for Salerno and just when it looked like extra time was beckoning, they struck for a dramatic winner on 59 minutes.
Again Doyle was the instigator and finisher as she played a smashing 1-2 with Wall on the edge of the box and in a replica of her earlier goal, she made it 2-1 with another confident finish.
The day was won –coach Gerry Heaney was drowned by players and students and after all had settled down, Honan made it up the steps of Lissywollen Stadium to collect the Cup from FAI Schools official Alex Harkin.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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