Heartbreak for St Mary's Newport in All Ireland semi-final
SOCCER: FAI Schools All-Ireland Senior ‘A’ Girls Semi-Final
Claregalway College 2
St Mary’s SS, Newport 1
Report: Enda Treacy in Tulla
It was heartbreak for St Mary’s Secondary School Newport last Monday after a Claregalway goal five minutes from time sank the Tipp ladies after battling their way back into the game having been behind at half time.
Having been completely outplayed by the Connacht champions in the first, albeit playing against a stiff wind, St Mary’s played extremely well in the second half and were very unlucky to lose having had the chances to see it out.
It was the stereotypical game of two halves and the first half was all one-way traffic from the off with Claregalway dominating possession and creating a lot of good chances, and it didn’t take long for them to take advantage, with Shauna Bohan thundering a cracking strike into the top corner in the 12th minute after a mazy run which left the Newport defense in knots.
Newport were struggling to get a foothold in the game as the breeze was preventing them from getting the ball up field as Claregalway pressed them high up the pitch and were looking dangerous when they turned over the ball, with the Bohan sisters and Kate Slevin playing some lovely passes through the lines and pulling the trigger at any sight of goal.
They had numerous chances throughout the half, the biggest of which coming in the 29th minute when Elisha Bohan’s dribble into the box was well repelled by Eimear Carey, only for the loose ball falling to Kate Slevin who fizzed a strong low shot at goal to force a fantastic reaction save from Marie O’Brien to keep it out.
To read more, pick up a copy of this weeks Nenagh Guardian locally or subscribe to our e-paper to access it online each Wednesday.