U14 Girls SFAI Subway National Cup

Clonee United vs Ballyoulster FC

Clonee United U14’s welcomed Ballyoulster FC to Damastown on Sunday morning for their Girls Round 1 SFAI National Cup clash.

Both teams started strong and in the opening five-minutes Ballyoulster FC took a 1-0 lead.

Despite creating opportunities Clonee United fell further behind after about twenty minutes when  Ballyoulster FC made it 2-0 when Clonee United failed to clear their lines and after some frantic defending the ball landed nicely to a Ballyoulster FC player on the edge of the box who finished low and precisely beyond the keeper into the bottom corner of the Clonee United goal.

With halftime imminent, Clonee United were giving a lifeline back into the game when Liadan Kelly was taking down inside the Ballyoulster FC penalty area as she bore down on goal, Caoimhe Gorman dually stepped up to neatly slot the ball home to leave Clonee United trailing 2-1 at halftime.

The second half continued in the same highly competitive nature as the first half with both teams contributing to a highly competitive game.

Clonee United kept up the pressure on Ballyoulster United as they looked for the equalising goal, Cara Reilly went close but her effort went over the crossbar, Holly Brennan continued to deliver some excellent crosses for a string of corners but Clonee United failed to convert. The continued pressure from Clonee United did eventually pay off when Regan Hanley played in Liadan Kelly, who had just returned to the pitch following her injury on the stroke of halftime after winning a penalty, Liadan controlled the ball and with an excellent finish the two sides were level again 2-2.

Both teams continued to play some excellent football, challenging and competing for every ball, however, Clonee United found themselves behind again after they conceded a free kick close to the sideline about 20-yards from the Clonee United goal line, an excellently struck free kick from Ballyoulster FC deceived Alexa McDermott in the Clonee United goal and although she managed to get two hands to the ball it ended up in the Clonee United net, 3-2 Ballyoulster FC.

Again Clonee United managed to peg Ballyoulster FC back, Eabha Young and Nicole Sullivan combined well in midfield and with her back almost to goal Nicole hooked an excellent cross field ball into Liadan Kelly who made no mistake to make it  3-3 and once again draw the two teams level for a third time.

Both teams looked to finish the game on top in normal time but determination and resolute defending from both Ballyoulster FC and the Clonee United defence, Sophie Roach, Molly Hande, Aisling Griffin, Sophie Therville and Erica Byrne, insured the game would have twenty minutes of extra time, FT 3-3.

Clonee United would find themselves behind the the fourth time conceding again, when Ballyoulster FC made it 4-3, Clonee United gave away a free kick in a central position midway inside the Ballyoulster FC half, from the resulting free kick Clonee United tried to hold a high line but Ballyoulster FC beat the high line and with a player running from an onside position they finish well beyond the incoming Clonee United keeper.

But with the minutes ticking away and a never say die attitude displayed by both teams Clonee United struck again, Liadan Kelly grabbed her hatrick, chasing down what looked like a lost cause Liadan managed to get herself in front of the Ballyoulster FC keeper and defence and back heeled the ball into the Ballyoulster FC goal with their defenders scrambling to clear the ball which seemed to take an age but managed trickle over the line, final score AET 4-4.

And so to penalties, first up for Clonee United was Caoimhe Gorman who finished low to the keepers right to give the initial advantage to Clonee United, first up for Ballyoulster FC, a well struck penalty but just too high over the top of the cross bar, next up for Clonee United Liadan Kelly with a very composed finish low to the keepers left beyond her reach, Ballyoulster FC second penalty was again well struck but a little too close to the Clonee United keeper Alexa McDermott who got down well to her right to make an excellent save and deny Ballyoulster FC, 2-0 Clonee United after two penalties each.

Next up for Clonee United, Nicole Sullivan and another excellently struck penalty to the keepers left to give Clonee United a 3-0 advantage and putting pressure on Ballyoulster FC third penalty taker, Alexa McDermott saved the Ballyoulster FC third penalty to give Clonee United a 7-4 win after extra time and penalties.

Both teams contributed in a highly competitive and entertaining game and should be proud of their performance as individuals and as a team.

Shout out to Faye Lyon and Moya Berwick and all the support both on and off the pitch today 👏⚽️💪🔵🟡