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Castleknock Celtic
6 Bealnamulla 0
Under-13 Girls
SFAI Cup 2nd Round
"Celtic in rampant form in SFAI Cup"
Bealnamulla (Athlone)
FC Under-13s Girls made the long trip to Porterstown to
take on Castleknock Celtic in this Football Association
of Ireland Cup game. This looked like a very close game
on paper, and so it proved for the first half. It was
end-to-end stuff, with neither team dominant. Leah Byrne
thought she had scored for the home side when she chased
up a long ball that the keeper just managed to scramble
clear. Ballyhoula also had chances and it was excellent
goalkeeping by Naoise McAloon and superb defending by
Kelly Boyle and Lucy Hanlon that kept the visitors at
bay.
On the half hour however, the breakthrough came that was
to change the game. The ball ran to Lindsay Kearney who
let fly with a Beckhamesque shot from 35 yards that the
keeper failed to stop. Celtic held their 1-0 advantage
to half time.
On the resumption, Leah Byrne got her reward for her
commitment when she seized on a corner at the far post
and shot home to make it 2-0. Shortly after, it was the
ubiquitous Emma Boyle who rifled home from the edge of
the box into the far corner to make it 3-0. Celtic were
now rampant as the visitors visibly tired, the long
journey obviously taking its toll.
On 55 minutes, it was the majestic Aoibheann Lynch (see
photo) who broke through from the half way line with
superb control, and struck with aplomb. Ciara Brady then
made it 5-0 when her great all-round performance was
rewarded, her shot hitting the net from just inside the
box. She could so easily have had two, but her other
effort bobbled and shaved the crossbar. Leah Byrne got
her second just before the end when she buried her shot
in the top corner.
This was a tremendous performance by Celtic against a
very sporting and gallant Bealnamulla. But it is Celtic
who now go into the draw for the final 8 of the All
Ireland Cup next weekend. It was very difficult to pick
a player of the match, but the referee chose keeper
Naoise McAloon. This is not surprising as she has been
picked to go to a special summer coaching event in
Peterbrough with many top coaches from Europe in August,
a fitting tribute to a superb goalkeeper.
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