Tulla 1

Shannon Town 2 (A.E.T)

Emma Riordan ⚽

Enya Kelly ⚽

A fabulous Autumn Sunday morning in bright sunshine set the scene at Frank Healy Park for the U15 girls Cup Final for Shannon Town versus Tulla. Having lost four U15 finals to date Shannon Town started tentatively and Tulla pressed early on, and within 10minutes had scored on one of their first real attacks down the left wing. 1-0. This Shannon Town team are made of stern stuff though and the defense sparked into life with Laura Magee and Leah Watson starting to close off the wings and worked tirelessly throughout to deny Tulla opportunities. In the center Lucy Ryan’s no nonsense defending aided by Eva Richter and the influential Enya Kelly at midfield meant the defense were growing in confidence and in truth Tulla struggled to create any clear cut chances after their opener. Shannon Town grew into the game with Holly O’Brien heavily involved in much of the creative attacks to release Emma Riordan & Ciara Spencer up front who were relentless in their work rate. Holly even cracked a long range shot off the post. Shannon Town were beginning to dominate at this stage when Laura Magee on the right wing put a lovely ball over the top of the Tulla defense and the foot race was on between the on rushing Emma Riordan and the Tulla goalkeeper, Emma was brave and got there a fraction of a second before the keeper to head the ball past the keeper before both players collided and ended up in a heap on the ground. Thankfully both players got to their feet. 1-1 and it stayed that way for the next 10 minutes until half time.

The second half continued the pattern of play with Shannon Town dominating but unable to find a clear cut opportunity on Tulla's goal due to some tenacious defending by Tulla and so extra time beckoned. Shannon Town sustained their pressure in the first period of extra time, with Millie Keane having more of an influence in the game in midfield. In the dying minutes Holly O’Brien on her 4th successive corner found Enya Kelly to strike a low shot to the bottom left hand corner of the net. 2-1 and the sizeable Shannon Town crowd  roared their support and relief that the deadlock had been broken!! The final period of extra time was a defensive affair and only for a nervous few minutes before the final whistle, Shannon Town held on and were deserving winners!!

A great achievement for all involved but especially the management of Donal Magee & Dean Richter.

Here's to many more days like this to come for this talented squad of footballers!! ⚽⚽🏆🏆🥇🥇