Kilnamanagh U12 girls reach All-Ireland final

KILNAMANAGH’S U12 girls team qualified for the SFAI Subway National Cup final following a thrilling nine-goal thriller after they overcame Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe 6-3 in Ned Kelly Park at the weekend reports William O’Connor.

The home side started the game fast scoring two goals after 10 minutes of play.

Elodie Durkin opened the scoring with a low shot into the bottom corner followed by Kaydee Roche with a nice finish after a well-worked moved.

The Galway outfit had a couple of chances after this, however good defending from the Kilnamanagh backline and fantastic saves from Nea Mislanovic in goal kept Bearna at bay.

Kilnamanagh were a constant threat and a third goal arrived 20 minutes by Ciara McGuire after a good passage of play.

The hosts’ dominance was starting to show when Aoibheann Phillips made it four with five minutes to go in first half with a powerful shot from distance the Bearna keeper could not hold.

The visitors pulled a goal back just before the break – a well worked free kick caught Kilnamanagh out at the back post and the Bearna player made no mistake to leave it 4-1 at the interval.

Kilnamanagh U12s marched into the All-Ireland decider.

Kilnamanagh started the second half as brightly as the first half and after five minutes made it 5 -1.

Kaydee Roche, a threat all day got her second after another well work passage of play saw a fantastic through ball from midfield by Daisy Fleming who found Kaydee finishing it off around the advancing keeper.

Bearna enjoyed their best spell whey they controlled the game for 10 minutes and they pushed forward creating chancing.

To their credit they pulled two goals back to make it 5-3 and then the game took another turn after the introduction of Ella Byrne for Kilnamanagh.

Ella made it 6-3 to Kilnamanagh which effectively killed off Bearna chance of making a comeback.

Lily Power, Hattie Farrell, Emma Norton, Daisy Fleming and Kaydee Roche put in great shows for the winners.

Dayo Power Head Coach who runs the team with Alex Molloy and John Brophy said: “It’s a massive achievement for the club to reach an All-Ireland Final for the first time in history of club.

“The group that has done it consist of 46 girls and six coaches, hours of work and dedication.

The club and committee back it up and what we saw today by the 16 girls that took to the pitch is the fruition of hard work from everyone at Kilnamanagh AFC, I am proud part of this special group and Club.

” A huge crowd of over 300 people attended the game and there was a touching minute silence held in memory of Crumlin United player Glenn Fullam.

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