JUNE 2003 U14 GIRLS LEAGUE FINAL : BALLYMOTE CELTIC 2 STRAND CELTIC 1
It seemed that a penalty shoot-out was the only solution to last Thursday’s evenly-balanced Sligo-Leitrim Youth & Schoolgirls U-14 League final in which Ballymote’s resilience matched Strand Celtic’s ingenuity. In such fixtures it is either something bizarre – a goalkeeper’s error – or dramatic – perhaps a last-minute winning goal – which decides the outcome.
McSharry Park
In this game it was the latter. Mellisa Underwood’s robust shot – hit from the edge of Strand Celtic’s penalty area – prompted delirium among the Ballymote players and supporters. The result – a 2-1 win for Ballymote – left team manager Michael McMorrow beaming.
The previous weekend McMorrow, a tireless mentor, had guided a young Ballymote [U-11 Boys] rugby team to the runners-up spot in the National finals of the ESB Community Games in Mosney. Underwood’s goal – scored in the sixth minute of stoppage-time – was a cruel end for a Strand Celtic side which had replied to [Ballymote player] Ella Trautmann’s second-half goal with an equaliser from Colleen Kavanagh.
Both sides brimmed with effort but the first-half remained scoreless.
Ballymote started strongly, with dangerous goal attempts from Lorraine Quinn and Lisa Scanlon, but later relied on their goalkeeper, Emma Lavin, to maintain parity.
Strand Celtic winger Anna Higgins was beginning to cause havoc and was central to several first-half moves which could have given her side the lead.
Higgins’ 10th minute raid along the right flank ended with a cross into Ballymote’s penalty area which Siobhan Melvin, Strand’s striker, just failed to direct on target.
Two minutes later Melvin belted a cleaner shot – but a one-handed superb save by Emma Lavin thwarted a certain goal.
Midway through the first period a last-ditch Claire Kennedy tackle halted Anna Higgins’ daring run into Ballymote’s penalty area. Higgins then looped a shot goalwards which Lavin caught adroitly.
Strand ended the half on the brink of an opening goal but Siobhan Melvin, who collected a wayward defensive clearance, shot wide. Within 20 seconds of the re-start Ballymote went ahead.
The losers’ goalkeeper Greta Reintjes, under pressure from Lisa Scanlon, allowed the ball to wriggle free. Ella Trautmann seized the unexpected invitation and scored the game’s opening goal.
Strand Celtic began their search for an equaliser with midfielder Sarah McMoreland prompting effectively. In the 16th minute of the second-half the ball came to Colleen Kavanagh from McMoreland’s deflected shot; Strand’s No 10 slipped the ball low past Emma Lavin. At 1-1, neither team was anxious to concede a second goal; Strand nearly went ahead with seven minutes of normal time left but goalscorer Colleen Kavanagh’s header, from a McMoreland free-kick, was just over Lavin’s crossbar.
Player of the Match:
Anna Higgins
Ballymote: Emma Lavin, Laura McCann, Claire Kennedy, Jessica Glavin, Sinead Healy, Valeda Scanlon, Sarah McMorrow, Melissa Underwood, Lisa Scanlon, Ella Trautmann, Lorraine Quinn
Subs used: Alex Block
Strand Celtic: Greta Reintjes, Danielle Monaghan, Jordan Hynes, Claire Pugh, Joanne Comerford, Ciara Molloy, Anna Higgins, Sarah McMoreland, Siobhan Melvin, Colleen Kavanagh, Jennifer Norman
Referee: Tina Beirne