Kilnamanagh U12s topple Lucan

SATURDAY saw two clubs reach the U12s All-Ireland Final for the first time in each of their history, reports Scott Mahon.

Kilnanamagh faced off against Lucan in an excellent battle and great game of football for the neutral.

Both managers were full of praise for the desire and determination on show from both sets of players.

However, in the end it was Kilnamanagh who notched up a 2-1 win.

The 11 o’clock kickoff out in Wayside Celtic, who hosted an unforgettable and unbelievable experience for the two teams and fans on the day.

Kilnamanagh took the lead within the first few minutes when winger Ciara Maguire slotted away an excellent finish after she latched on to a deflected through ball.

The first 20 minutes set the tone of a 100 mile an hour final. Skipper Daisy Fleming’s free-kick gave Kilnanamagh a 2-goal cushion from a powerful strike.

An excellent atmosphere from the Lucan crowd spurred on what looked to be a comeback when just after the 20-minute mark, Beth D’adhemar hit the back of the net.

Causing another turn for the books in a well battled final.

Kilnamanagh coach Damien Power spoke to me after the game where he told me that the night before the final, he presented his players with a heart touching video from the families of the players involved wishing them the best of luck before their first final together as a team.

That video gave the players an added incentive to go on and bring silverware back to the club.

The second half commenced with Lucan applying plenty of pressure.

Hitting the post and coming close to an equalizer on many occasions.

However, every Kilnamangh player played a part in controlling and managing out the rest of the game, showing high levels of experience for such a young age group in a high-pressure game.

A real credit to the girls. Both midfields played a major role in in setting the tone for the game.

Lucan midfielders Doireann Macken and Sophia Galanti, really excelled in a tough battle in the middle of the park.

The Kilnamanagh girls would go on to see out the victory after a high paced dramatic first 20 minutes.

As for Lucan they just fell short, however did have a taste of victory the weekend beforehand where they lifted the MGL cup.

Their focus now switches to their league campaign as they have 5 games left to play in their league season.

Kilnamanagh celebrated their win which highlighted how tight knit the club is.

Teams from as young as U8s to U13s took to the field to celebrate with the girls and showed how proud they were of their club.

The pictures speak a thousand words on how proud the club is of their U12’s and on how much of a family club they really are.

They travelled back to the Kilnamangh Community Centre with their silverware where they celebrated in the best way possible for the club.

This may not be the only silverware they win this season as they still have a semi final clash in the league cup and a special tournament to be apart of as they travel to the London Cup in late May where they face sides such as Arsenal, West Ham and Crystal Palace.

The final was a magical experience for both sets of girls with so many lessons to be learnt for both. A real showcase for some of the upcoming talent we have for women’s football.

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