National success worth the wait for St Mary’s

SOCCER: FAI Large Schools Under 15 Girls National Cup Final

St. Mary’s SS, Nenagh 3

Presentation College, Athenry1

Report: Kevin Egan at Athlone Town Stadium

A glorious victory that was delayed, but ultimately couldn’t be denied to St. Mary’s Secondary School last Wednesday, as the Nenagh students got off to a flying start that ultimately secured 2021/22 All-Ireland honours at the expense of Presentation Athenry in Athlone.

Ailbhe Tracey, having scored the vital goal against Loreto Kilkenny to secure St. Mary’s place in this decider, followed up an early goal from Republic of Ireland international starlet Clodagh Daly to give the school a two-goal lead by the fifteen-minute mark, and that made for a much more comfortable afternoon for manager Shane Doherty and his players.

“Getting the early two goals settled everybody down, me included” admitted Doherty afterwards.

“Of course, there was nerves there, it’s an All-Ireland final and a huge occasion for these players, but once we got out to that start, you could see the pressure lifting. 2-0 at half-time was a great position to be in, so the message for the second half was to keep playing, stay comfortable, and the girls did that, getting their reward when Maeve Cunneen made it three. It was nerve-wracking when they got the goal to come back into it, but at that stage the defence really came to the fore and they ensured that Mollie (Ryan) wasn’t tested too much” he added.

On the fast 4G surface in Athlone Town Stadium, home of the local League of Ireland side, St. Mary’s settled into the contest very well in the early stages, controlling possession and using the full width of the pitch to try and stretch their Galway opponents.

Eimhear Troy’s role as the holding midfielder was vital as it gave St. Mary’s a solid defensive presence, while it also helped keep tabs on Kerri O’Driscoll, the Presentation captain and attacking midfielder around which the Connacht side built their attacking game plan.

Hot on the heels of her recent international caps with the Ireland U16s, Clodagh Daly would have been earmarked as a similar threat on the St. Mary’s side but Presentation Athenry were unable to curtail the Ballymackey club star to the same extent, and it was her emphatic finish from twelve yards out after ten minutes that got the game out to a flying start from the perspective of the Nenagh school.

Getting width on the ball and sending in good deliveries from wide positions was central to the St. Mary’s plan and it was one such ball from the right side, whipped in with pace by Kellie O’Dwyer from a corner, led to a goalmouth scramble and a smart close range finish from Ailbhe Tracey after fifteen minutes.

There were opportunities for St. Mary’s to extend their lead, with Athenry goalkeeper Molly Gilligan called into action to repel good efforts from Daly and Emma Costello, while at the other end, Mollie Ryan was equally assured, though she was getting excellent defensive cover from Maura Gleeson and Jane Ryan, the latter already well on the way to a Player of the Match performance as the leading light in an excellent centre back partnership.

Presentation Athenry stepped up their efforts after half-time but that in turn left them exposed on the break, and it looked like St. Mary’s would coast to victory when Maeve Cunneen, who had started the game but was now back on the field as a rolling substitute, neatly stepped past the Athenry goalkeeper to add a third goal just after the midway point of the second half.

By now both managers were using their bench to the full extent possible (unlike Munster series games, only the named sixteen players could feature) and some of the structure went out of the contest, no doubt in part because of the desperation that was creeping into Athenry’s play as well.

Kerri O’Driscoll demonstrated her value with a stunning free kick from just over twenty metres out to give Presentation some hope with nine minutes remaining, but typical maturity and composure from St. Mary’s ensured that they preserved their two-goal cushion up until the final whistle.

“I was a little bit worried before the semi-final because they weren’t playing club football, last year in the lead up to the Munster final, girls were playing club games and they were sharp,” said Doherty.

“We were able to get in about two weeks of training before the semi-final, and we got two more sessions in between games, so I felt coming in that they were in a good place and that we were ready, albeit it was always going to be a huge test.

“They’re the kind of a group that never appear to feel the pressure or get nervous. Travelling to the semi-final in Cahir, they had music playing and I was worried they weren’t tuned in, but they proved that it was just what they needed”.

Doherty also praised his group for how they haven’t had any issues with the huge level of expectation that has been put on their shoulders, and how they simply go about their sport and make his life much easier.

“Talent wise, no St. Mary’s team in the past would have come close to this team. Even position wise, sometimes with school teams you’re filling a gap and trying to make it work. Positionally, they knew what they were doing, and they’ll do whatever it takes. School training at 3:30pm, club training after, no problem.

“Now it’s straight back into it, 2022/23 season competitions won’t be long getting underway and most of these girls are getting ready for the Munster Junior (U17) Cup, where we’ve a bye in the first round but towards the end of October, we’ll play the winners of the Thurles derby between Ursuline or Presentation.

“They’re not the type of group that would want a break though. They love it, and that’s why they’ve earned a special day like today”.

Player of the Match: Jane Ryan (St Mary’s SS Nenagh)

St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh: Mollie Ryan, Thia McCarthy, Nikola Zarina, Maura Gleeson, Jane Ryan; Kellie O’Dwyer, Éimhear Troy, Emma Costello, Maeve Cunneen; Clodagh Daly; Ailbhe Tracey.

Subs used: Isabella Kingston, Laura Kinsella, Sadhbh Fogarty, Ruby Power, Ava Conneally.

Extended panel: Robyn O’Dwyer, Katelyn Deane, Ava Moroney, Sophia O’Meara, Ellie Ryan, Lydia Leamy, Emma Nolan, Roisin Connolly, Katie Ryan, Leah Slevin, Martha Devaney, Maureen Seymour, Sarah Young.

Presentation College, Athenry: Molly Gilligan; Aisling Costello, Isobel Whyte, Niamh Kilgannon, Tarron Kilkenny; Mollie Noone, Sophie Costello, Kerri O’Driscoll, Sophie Hogan; Ella Farrelly, Ciara Mullins.

Subs used: Amira Bouhlel McNamara, Sarah Egan, Sinéad O’Mahony, Saoirse Cooley, Leah Mullins.

Referee: Paul Tone (Midlands Branch)