UNDER 16 GIRLS FINAL: STRAND CELTIC 12 GLENVIEW STARS 3
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Strand Celtic produced a superb display of football to dethrone reigning girls under champions glenview stars at the showgrounds. Bronagh Kerins and Emma Hansberry were the stars for strand, as between them they scored ten of their sides goals. The final scoreline was very harsh on glenview but strand were deserving winners.
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Glenview opened brightly but two stinging strikes from emma hansberry gave strand the lead, somewhat against the run of play. On thirty minutes it was three as a good interchange of passes between hansberry and kerins saw bronagh kerins fire to the net. Glenview twice came close to reducing the deficit amber kelly saw one shot saved by emma smith and the other come back off the crossbar. Strand were undoubtedly the happier going in at half time three goals up.
Two early second half goals seemed to seal the outcome. First came a penalty from bronagh kerins after niamh kelly was brought down in the penalty area. Then a superb header from sorcha burns after an emma hansberry corner kick. At this stage there appeared to be no way back fro last years champions.
Glenview had other ideas. Claudia Gethins pulled a goal back with a great indiviudal effort. Gethins then added another with a good finish from a tight angle. five minutes ater it was five - three and game on as a shot from Kayla McLoughlin brought Glenviews third goal in around five minutes. The anxious faces on the strand celtic management team said it all as a great comeback seemed on.
Strand though had other ideas and Bronagh Kerins latched on to a defensive mistake to grab Strand's sixth. This settled the strandhill girls down again and they streched their lead further through two great finishes by Bronagh Kerins. This took the heart out of the Glenview comeback and late goals from Hansberry(2), Burns and Kerins gave the scoreline a lopsided look.
Despite the scoreline this game was up for grabs with fifteen mnutes to go. For glenview amber lynch, claudia gethins and Naomi Fox turned in fine performances. For strand celtic this was a great victory with some superb goals and performances. While Bronagh Kerins and Emma Hansberry grabbed the headlings with their goalscoring record this was a real team performances with all players stepping up to the mark for the final. A cavalcade of cars left the showgrounds with lights flashing and horns blazing heading for strandhill celebrating a fine victory.
Strand Celtic: Emma Smith, Shauna Stewart, Orla O Hanrahan, Aoife Burns, Lauren Taheny, Fiona Kelly, Bronagh Kerins, Emma Hansberry, Aisling Cogan, Carley Leydon, Niamh Kelly, Sorcha Burns, Jospehine Cadden, Grace Cadden
Glenview Stars: Leanne Cox, Ainsley Scanlon, Naomi Fox, Jenny Dineen, Clare Mannion, Enya Clarke, Katie Rooney, Amy Norman, Kayla McLoughlin, Claudia Gethins, Amber Lynch, Maeve Heraghty, Jemma Verdon