Tullow CS complete sensational double
Tullow girls with the Leinster trophy
It was a bright and cloudy day in Dublin at the home of Peamount Utd, where Tullow’s U17 Girls were to play their Leinster Final, after an absolutely incredible run of games winning the regional final only two weeks earlier, and now had the monstrous task of a Leinster Final on their hands. As the minutes came closer to kick off it was ever more obvious how big of an occasion it was, with the game being played on a League of Ireland ground, the pitch being one of the finest you can get. The girls did their final warmup and then the time had come to face their opposition, Scoil Ui Mhuiri from Louth.
Tensions were high as the two teams walked out onto the pitch, both teams knowing the enormity of the occasion, but there was still some excitement in the air especially from the travelling tullow crowd who had come to cheer on the girls. The two teams went to their sides of the pitch and the referee blew the whistle to start the game at 12:05. It was obvious why both teams had gotten to the final as right from the off it was a very close game with both teams getting few chances each. Tullow did seem the more aggressive team not being afraid to run at Scoil Ui Mhuiri and put them under pressure. The first shot on goal was to Tullow when Leah Mannion had a bit of space in the box and swung at the ball, potentially meaning to be a cross but it ended up in the keepers hands, being a comfortable save in the end but it gave a bit of momentum to Tullow.
There was a lot of balls being played through by Tullow’s midfield especially to Mia Nolan who was always available out on the wing, and could dart at defenders down the right-hand side. Tullow kept a high press which ended up being a good idea as Scoil Ui Mhuiri could not get the ball out of their own half, which opened up the game to Tullow. Tullow’s Leah Mannion was looking very dangerous and a through ball to her gave her a big chance to break the deadlock but the opposing keeper ran out just in time to clean up and scoop the ball away.
Another ball just shortly after was played by the dangerous Mannion to Mia Nolan and she dribbled down the wing past defender after defender, and just like that she was in enough space inside the box to have a shot and it was smashed into the bottom corner opening the scoring for Tullow making it 1-0 after 10 minutes. Leah Mannion took a big tackle just minutes later and unfortunately was unable to continue, a massive blow for Tullow who were now down one of their best players and their captain. Scoil Ui Mhuiri then capitalised on Leah being gone and went on the attack as the Tullow girls looked unsettled without their captain. Putting the Tullow defence under pressure for one of the first times and won a free kick outside the box and scored from it, with an unstoppable shot under the crossbar given Abby Keppel no chance in the Tullow goal. Tullow got back on the offensive and they earned a free kick too outside the box but unfortunately Keelie Doyle could not convert from it and the first half finished one all.
After a big team talk from Tullow’s coach Mr. O’Reilly, Tullow were ready for the second half, and whatever he said did the trick as Tullow scored 4 goals in 6 minutes to blow their opponents away. Tullow were immediately off the mark in the second half taking the game to Scoil Ui Mhuiri with a big run down the wing from Mia Nolan and sent the ball into the box where Anna Cullen was left free to smash it into the back of the net after just 2 minutes letting Tullow go 2-1 up.
The goals however kept on coming with Mia Nolan scoring her brace literally 1 minute later and having Tullow grow more confident in winning the game. Tullow’s Grace Walker then went on a run through the centre with the ball and converted when 1-on-1 with the keeper. Tullow then ruined the opposing teams hopes of making a comeback when they immediately went on the attack and won a penalty which Maria Healy slotted home with ease to make it 5-1. Lucy Kinsella then got Tullow’s 6th of the game which gave them an extremely comfortable lead. Scoil Ui Mhuiri then tried leave themselves with a bit of dignity and managed to get a goal back with a rocket shot into the back of the net. Mia Nolan then immediately replied with a goal back making it 7-2 and Lucy Kinsella then bagged her brace to put the game to bed at 8-2. In fairness to Scoil Ui Mhuiri they weren’t going to give up easily and they managed to get 2 goals back but it wasn’t enough as Tullow had the game in their hands and they went on to win the game 8-4 which was an extremely well-deserved victory and a massive achievement for Tullow’s girls team to win a Leinster Final as Leah Mannion got to lifts the school’s first Leinster league trophy in over 15 years and complete a season double.
Abby Keppel, Kate Byrne, Angie May Doran, Keelie Doyle, Katelyn Dempsey, Grace Walker, Anna Cullen, Leah Mannion (Capt), Mia Nolan, Caoimhe Dempsey, Maria Healy, Lucy Kinsella, Ella Doyle, Lauren Byrne, Roisin Corcoran, Aoibhe Collier, Kerolin Lopes, Allie McDonagh.
