Rod Houston CupSchools Association Football International Board (SAFIB) First Year Girls National Cup Champions (U14)Ursuline College Sligo claim Silver
The Republic of Ireland representative side, Ursuline College, Sligo secured silver in Lilleshall NSC following their 6-1 victory over their Welsh colleagues Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford on Saturday 22nd October.
The URSULINE COLLEGE SLIGO team consisted of Megan Byrne, Emma Corcoran, Allanah Gallagher, Shona Dalton, Oda Carty, Sophie McDonagh (Captain), Helen Monaghan, Aoife McLaughlin, Laura Oates, Cathy Harrison, Sarah Gillen. Sophie McGoldrick, Eden Rooney, Emma Shanley, Ingrid Shiels. Ms. Deirdre Cullinan was their teacher and the assistants were Darragh Healy & Laura McGinn.
Saturday morning 22nd October saw a determined Sligo crew line out. This was their third match of the series. Both sides were experiencing difficulty in getting a foothold in proceedings as dense fog hung over Lilleshall. The Sligo girls went into the half time interval scoreless with Aoife McLaughlin smashing the woodwork and Sophie McGoldrick shooting wide in the first thirty minutes.
However the shooting boots were secured in the second period with Helen Monaghan grabbing the opener just after the restart following a brilliant through ball from Cathy Harrison. Sophie McGoldrick netted soon after as McLaughlin turned supplier this time for Sligo’s second of the day. Helen Monaghan then fed McGoldrick in for goal number three. While the magical Monaghan then converted from close range to take the tally to 4-0. Helen Monaghan was on a hat-trick to make it 5-0 with ten minutes remaining. Not to be outdone Sophie McGoldrick scored late on to bring the score line to 6-0 for her hat-trick. Double celebrations for the Sligo school as they cruised to victory. The Welsh side went down fighting as they set up a delightful set piece to blast the ball into the top corner, 6-1. This was the first goal of the tournament for the Ammanford ladies. It was great to see them get off the mark. A spirited performance from Ysgol Dyffryn Aman ended the three match series.
The other group game decided the overall winners with St. Ivo School in Huntington winning out 4-0 over their neighbours Thomas Telford School to claim top spot. Ursuline’s went down 1-0 to the St. Ivo girls in their previous outing on Friday afternoon with a goal midway through the second half to give the English Champs poll position going into this morning’s final series of games at the Rod Houston Cup.
Deirdre Cullinan’s team did extremely well and came close to a podium finish but can be very proud of their achievements with a second place finish to the tournament.
This was the first season of the Rod Houston Cup which caters for the U13/14 National Champions of the respective Home Nation countries. The standard of football that was showcased over the three days was exceptional. The Sligo girls will no doubt be delighted with their display. They’ll be definite title contenders in the FAI Schools Minor Cup this season.
RESULTS
Thursday, October 20
St. Ivo School, Huntington 8-0 Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford
Ursuline College, Sligo 4-0 Thomas Telford School, Telford
Friday, October 21, KO 10.30am
Thomas Telford School, Telford 3-2 Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford
Friday, October 21, KO 12 noon
St. Ivo School, Huntington 1-0 Ursuline College, Sligo
Saturday, October 22, KO 10.30am
Ursuline College, Sligo 6-1 Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford
St. Ivo School, Huntington 4-0 Thomas Telford School, Telford
Winners: St. Ivo School, Huntington
Runners Up: Ursuline College, Sligo
Third Place: Thomas Telford School, Telford
Fourth Place: Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford
