PAUL HOWARD’s LEINSTER side snatched the title from Connacht in dramatic fashion to claim the Interprovincial crown on Sunday afternoon following the conclusion of the FAI Schools U-15 Girls’ Interprovincial tournament in Athlone Town FC (November 11).

Connacht had the slight advantage heading into the final game as the two sides were level on points however Connacht were just edging it on goal difference. If the game remained scoreless, Connacht would have seen them lift the title for the first time in their history

With Dom Coll at the helm for the past 17 years it may have been just rewards for his endeavours

With the game now in injury time, the Connacht girls were etching for an historic victory only for the Leinster side to be awarded a penalty which Eleanor Ryan Boyle confidently converted to see her team bask in the glory.

Heartbreak for Connacht, jubilation for Leinster

Leinster merited the win and as records show the Province have an incredible record at this level as they have tasted success 7 times in 14 years. The last victory was in 2009 when they put a stop to Munster’s four in a row ambitions.

Connacht deserved something more from the game as they came close on a number of occasions. The team impressed throughout the park and Coll can take great pride in their wonderful accomplishments. Their intensity and hunger for the game was evident through the sixty minutes of football with the standard of play from all four provinces immense over the six game test

Confidence would have been high in the Connacht camp as Coll’s charges were in prime position following their impressive run of form which continued into the final day of the event. The previous day’s outing saw them secure a hat trick against 2010 Champs Ulster in a thoroughly entertaining encounter while their opening game on Friday against defending champions Munster, saw them win 2-1. A valuable collection of points for Coll’s team as Leinster also secured their opening win against Ulster on Friday following a 2-0 victory.

Leinster 2-0 Ulster

Lucy McCartan and Sinead Ryan turned supplier for the Leinster squad as they opened their campaign in Tullamore in fine form against a very imposing Ulster outfit. Jerry Casey’s team were disappointed that they didn’t share the points as there was nothing between the sides in the first half and equally it was the case in the second period. Reddin, McLaughlin and McGlynn were outstanding for Ulster as were Leinster’s Flynn, Ryan, Higgins and Farrelly. Two well worked goals came hard for Leinster but their gutsy performance awarded them the points in the end

Connacht 2-1 Munster

Jessica Nolan had two chances to score for Connacht midway through the first half but on both occasions the ball nicked the post and crossbar in quick concession. Agonising for the girls but it fuelled their determination as the game progressed. The deadlock was eventually broken with the industrious Dearbhaile Beirne and Jessica Nolan finally registering scores.

Munster responded with an excellent effort courtesy of St. Angela’s student Michelle O’Driscoll which pinched the post while Colaiste Iosaef pupil Kelly Walsh had a brilliant run down the right wing just missing the mark by inches. The Munster girls were rewarded for their hard work with a super goal from Sarah McKevitt which saw her run 30 yards finishing neatly.

Lorraine Counihan’s young team worked tirelessly for an equaliser but couldn’t break the Connacht defensive force.

Connacht 3-0 Ulster

This game witnessed three wonderful goals, the first for the Connacht side was sourced through some hard work from Kiltimagh’s Jessica Nolan this was followed by a penalty dually converted by Captain Rachael Fitzmaurice while the third came courtesy of Katie Melly

Ulster’s goalkeeper Aoife McColgan (Carndonagh CS) was in marvellous form in this game denying the Connacht girls on several occasions. The young net minder went off in the second half as concussion ruined her out for the remainder of the game. Amy Canning was an excellent replacement for McColgan between the posts and had a very impressive outing for the Ulster side.

Leinster 2-1 Munster

Eleanor Ryan Boyle opened the game with a clear cut chance for Leinster but was just short of the mark early on as Jenny Nagle cleared the ball off the line in dramatic fashion to keep the stalemate.

Lauren O’Callaghan hit the crossbar moments later as Howard’s squad advanced.

The game came to life just before the interval as Eleanor Ryan Boyle smashed the ball to the roof of the net for a splendid goal for the Leinster ladies.

O’Callaghan made the Munster goalkeeper Coffey work as her wicked effort was heading straight for the corner but an inch perfect save put merit to the net minders selection

Munster went on to equalise following the restart with six minutes played as Thurles star Sarah McKevitt finished a magnificent solo run to net for the Southerners.

Leinster’s Danie Murray was one on one with goalkeeper Christine Coffey but yet again the net minder pulled off an exceptional save to deny the young Lucan student

With only 15 minutes remaining the Leinster dynamo and Captain Jamie Finn struck a fabulous ball from over 20 yards out to leave the keeper stranded. A wonderful finish for a promising star leaving Leinster with the upper hand

Munster 0-1 Ulster

These two teams went into the final game in search of a win following narrow misses in their previous two encounters. This game served up a mouth watering tie as both teams went all out for a win.

It was end to end action in the penultimate game of the three day series. Very little was between the sides as the game came to a close. It took a screamer of a free kick from the Crana College student Alison McGonagle to see the points go Ulster’s way.

Connacht 0-1 Leinster

A penalty conversion from last year’s Schools Internationals Eleanor Ryan Doyle ensured the riches to Leinster this year with a high end finale to the game.

Nolan, Fitzmaurice, Beirne and Egan impressed throughout for Connacht as did McCartan, Higgins, Ryan and Boyle for Leinster

Newly appointed Schools International Manager Richelle O’Neill, who teaches in Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore will be charged with putting together a provisional squad ahead of the Bob Docherty Cup which will take place from 1 to 4 April, 2013 in Northern Ireland. 

O’Neill will be accompanied by Lorraine Counihan (Colaiste Mhuire, Buttevant) who has been drafted in as Assistant Manager this season. Jason Carey (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue) has been appointed Coach for the upcoming campaign.

Carey was part of the management set up for the last two years alongside O’Neill.

The trio will relish the opportunity to travel to the host nation in search of the silverware which they last won in 2010 in Glasgow. Northern Ireland has been the dominant force of late. O’Neill will be looking to upset the odds to our border rivals as Northern Ireland go in search of the three in a row in 2013.

CONNACHT: Louise Creaven (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Aibhne O’Regan (Coláiste na Coiribe, Gaillimh), Sorcha Ní Bhraonain (Indreabhan), Maeve Kenneally (Ursuline College, Sligo), Carmel Heerey (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salerno), Jessica Nolan (St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh), Rachael Fitzmaurice (Scoil Muire gan Smal, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon), Elle O’Flaherty (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Katie Melly (Mercy College, Sligo), Deabhaile Beirne  (Mohill Community College), Grainne Egan (Ursuline College, Sligo), Aoife Connolly (Our Lady’s Bower Secondary School, Athlone), Heather Payne (Ballinasloe), Emily Rogers (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Jennifer Chambers (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Emma Sheeran (Davitt’s College, Castlebar), Sinead Heffernan (St. Paul’s Oughterard)
Management: Dom Coll, Head Coach (Presentation College, Athenry), Seamus Mac Eachmharcaigh, Coach (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Sean Boland, Coach and Sarah Farragher (both Scoil Muire gan Smal, Convent of Mercy)

ULSTER: Amy Canning (Moville Community College), Aoife Page (Deele College), Caoimhe Walshe (Mulroy College, Milford), Emma Doherty (Moville Community College), Lianne Boyce (Mulroy College), Eimear Reddin (Moville Community College), Zoe McGlynn (Deele College, Raphoe), Roma McLaughlin (Moville Community College), Shania McGonagle (Carndonagh Community School), Alison McGonagle (Crana College, Buncrana), Amanda Callaghan (Mulroy College), Laura Creggan (Carndonagh Community School), Orla Friel (Garimscoil Chu Uladh), Erin Coll (Deele College), Erica Wilson (Deele College), Zoe Green (Mulroy College), Aoife McColgan (Carndonagh Community School)
Management: Jerry Casey (Crana College), Maria Ryan (Mulroy College, Milford), Emma Duffy (Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny)

MUNSTER: Christine Coffey (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles), Aislinn Meaney (Coláiste Mhuire, Ennis), Saoire Barry (St. Joseph’s College, Doon), Emma Buckley (Mount Mercy, Cork), Evelyn Daly (Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney), Grainne Regan (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Doon), Jenny Nagle (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Convent of Mercy, Mallow), Kate Hurley (Abbey Community School, Ferrybank), Keely Linehan (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Newport), Keely Linehan (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Newport), Kelly Walsh (Coláiste Iosaef, Kilmallock), Melissa Hayes (St. Alibe’s School, Tipperary Town), Michelle O’Driscoll (St. Angela’s College, Cork), Sarah McKevitt (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles), Sophie Hudner (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville), Sophie Tuohy (Davis College, Mallow), Tara Walsh (Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton), Niamh Ryan (Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney)
Management: Lorraine Counihan (Colaiste Mhuire, Buttevant), Richard Grimes (St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon), Caroline Counihan and Shannon Lewis

LEINSTER: Amanda McQuillan (Beaufort College, Navan), Amy Denise Guilfoyle (St. Mary’s College, Arklow), Lucy McCartan (Loreto College, Mullingar), Courtney Higgins (Coláiste Dhulaigh Post Primary School, Coolock), Niamh Farrelly (St. Joseph’s College, Lucan), Chloe McNamee (St. Oliver’s Community College, Oldcastle), Lauren O’Callaghan (St. McDara’s Community College, Templeogue), Chloe Flynn (St. Mary’s Holy Faith, Killester), Sinead Ryan (St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross), Erica Byrne (Balbriggan Community College), Eleanor Ryan Boyle (St. Joseph’s College, Lucan), Danie Murray (Lucan Community College), Alex Kavanagh (St. Michael’s Secondary School, Finglas), Jamie Finn (St. Finian’s Community College), Olivia Nolan (Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny), Katie Miley (Avondale Community College, Wicklow), Rebecca Simons (Gaelcholáiste Reachrann)
Management: Paul Howard (Loreto College, Crumlin), Alistair Harvey (St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh), Cerrie Byrne (Ardgillan Community College, Balbriggan), Leanne McGrath (St. Thomas’ Community College, Bray)

INTERPROVINCIAL RESULTS & FIXTURES:
Friday, November 9, 2012 (Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore Town FC)
4:00pm Leinster 2-0 Ulster
5:30pm Munster 1-2 Connacht
Saturday, November 10, 2012 (Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore Town FC)
2:00pm Leinster 2-1 Munster
3.30pm Connacht 3-0 Ulster
Sunday, November 11, 2012 (Athlone Town FC)
10:00am Munster 0-1 Ulster
11:30am Connacht 0-1 Leinster
Winners: Leinster
Points: Leinster 5, Connacht 4, Ulster 2, Munster 0

BOB DOCHETY TOURNAMENT (Girls International)
April 1 to 4, 2013 in Northern Ireland

Promoting the game of Association Football in all schools
 
Diane Fay
National Administrative Officer  Football Association of Ireland Schools
National Sports Campus
Abbotstown
Dublin 15
diane.fay@fai.ie
tel: +353 (0) 1 89995222
fax: +353 (0) 1 8999501
mobile:  +353 (0) 86 0404 952