Penalties needed but Clane win out in the battle of the Scoil Bhrídes
Pat Behan (FAI Development Officer, Kildare) and Peamount Utd player Keelin Dermody present the cup to Scoil Bhríde, Clane captain Erin Reynolds Photo: Martin Rowe
The battle of the Scoil Bhrídes rounded off the first day of finas the girls of Clane and Kill locked horns in a bid to be crowned Division 1 champions. Just like the other finalists in Divisions 2 and 3 before them, these 2 schools also played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in their earlier encounter in the group stages. There was very little to separate them again here on the day as they played out a hugely entertaining final in front of a huge, vocal crowd of supporters. Clane were first time finalists while Scoil Bhríde, Kill are no strangers to Finals Day and very narrowly lost out 1-0 to Scoil Uí Riada of Kilcock in last year's decider. Clane had been probing the Kill defence early on in this game with pacy and powerful striker Joan Mackey a constant threat throughout. They took the lead in the 25th minute after referee Eddie Sullivan awarded a penalty for a handball infringement in the Kill penalty area. Centre half Lily Bell confidently dispatched her spot kick into the top left hand corner of the Kill net. Kill responded quickly and were unlucky not to find an equaliser after a great pass down the right wing was latched onto by captain Caoimhe Brennan who collected the ball and drove towards the edge of the Clane penalty area before unleashing a powerful shot which Clane keeper, Drew Thompson, did well to parry out for a corner. Clane went into the half-time break with a slender 1 nil lead.
Kill came out a very determined side in the second half and were beginning to crank up the pressure on the Clane rearguard. Captain Holly Brennan went on another terrific run down the left flank this time before turning the ball back to teammate Habiba Helmy who whipped in a very dangerous low cross after 45 minutes which the Clane defence did very well to clear. Kill were very unfortunate to see a headed equaliser by midfielder Lena Olademigi ruled out for a push in the build up in the 52nd minute. In a thrilling end to end encounter where Kill were pushing hard for an equaliser, they were beginning to leave some gaps in defence but Clane were unable to capitalise on this. Kill finally struck for a richly deserved equaliser in the first minute of added time when Isabelle Moylan gathered a half-cleared corner on the edge of the Clane penalty area before turning sharply away from two Clane defenders and whipping in a very dangerous low cross which was met near the penalty spot by the onrushing Helmy who made no mistake with an excellent drilled finish low and hard to the bottom left hand corner of the Clane net.
Five minutes each way of extra-time followed but the teams could not be separated and so it went to a penalty shootout where Clane came out on top on a 4 - 3 scoreline. A thrilling encounter and a fantastic advert for girls soccer in Kildare where there was very high level of skill and technique on display throughout the game by both teams who were roundly applauded by all in attendance at the final whistle. Kill had star performers in Abigail O'Keefe, Habiba Helmy, Lena Olademigi and captain Caoimhe Brennan who was everywhere for her team whilst Clane enjoyed fantastic performances by Kate Ormsby, Lily Bell, Emma O'Donoghue and Joan Mackey. Scoil Bhríde Clane captain Erin Reynolds gleefully accepted the cup on behalf of her delighted teammates.
Drew Thompson, Kate Ormsby, Lilia Rybak, Phoebe Ryan, Lily Bell, Clodagh White, Naoise Kelly, Kayleigh Redmond, Joan Mackey, Erin Reynolds, Emma O'Donoghue, Sadhbh Donlan, Emily Murphy, Michelle Fedfanova, Emer Quinn, Millie Jackson.
Olivia Murray, Abigail O'Keefe, Amelie Smyth, Isabelle Moylan, Jade Delahunt, Habiba Helmy, Caoimhe Brennan, Lena Olademigi, Rosie Molloy, Ellen Brien, Sienna Kavanagh, Eva Wynne, Emmie Rochford, Isabel Phelan, Phoebe Egan, Olivia Gaynor, Laoise Daly, Eve Maguire
