After topping the group, our U-12 C team welcomed Trim to Piltown on Sunday afternoon.
Preparations were a-go, with Lisa Clarke (who had enough nerves for the whole team) wheeling her trolley of foldable chairs to the pitch, which she then expertly made into a subs bench.
The Cilles started the game in complete control. The girls won the throw-in before sending the ball narrowly wide. The subsequent goal-kick was won by the Cilles midfield which then saw another effort go wide of the post. Trim won the next goal-kick but the Cilles defence swiftly met the Trim attack and the ball was turned over. St Colmcilles countered with another attack but unfortunately, this effort was also struck just wide. The Seasiders did not let the missed efforts get to them though. A free kick was sent from midfield into the forward line and the opening point was finally claimed by the Cilles!
After gaining confidence and momentum, the Cilles displayed some more quick play and put some points on the scoresheet. The St Colmcilles ladies were relentless and just before the water-break, one of the Cilles forwards took on two Trim defenders and the goalkeeper and put the ball into the net once more.
Fresh legs were introduced in the Cilles side but Trim came out after the water break with great determination to get the first point of the quarter. Another dangerous attack followed but this was turned over by the Cilles defence. The game became very end-to-end, with both teams refusing to give up any scores. The Trim defence pressured the Cilles into putting more shots wide. The game’s score drought was eventually ended by the Seasiders just before half-time. (Phew!)
The beginning of the second-half mirrored the first as the Cilles won the throw-up once again and this was followed by two wides from the Cilles. Trim then hit two wides of their own and sent a very dangerous ball in which was won by the Cilles defence and the lines were cleared. The Cilles had been rolling subs on and off throughout the game but at this moment, one of the subs came on and with her first touch after being introduced, she won the opponent’s kick out and kicked a perfect pass for her teammate to run onto and the ball was sent over the bar. The next Cilles attack was caught by the Trim goalkeeper who was blocked down by a Seasider striker but Trim managed to get the ball away. The Cilles showed off their excellent kick passing once more in the build-up to another score.
Our girls came out at the start of the final quarter with another fisted point to extend the lead and were denied a goal with an excellent stop from the Trim goalkeeper. The Cilles goalkeeper was called upon to deal with a long ball that had been sent in. She did so with enough calm and grace to fill goalkeeper coach-Andrew Clarke-with pride. She then picked out a perfect pass to restart the Cilles attack and after some more back-and-forth play, the Cilles broke through the Trim defence only to be denied once again by the Trim goalkeeper. The Trim side fought to the very end and were rewarded with a goal just before the final whistle.
After a fine display from both sides all over the pitch, the St Colmcilles ladies will contest in their very first final in the coming weeks. The match-up will be against a strong Seneschalstown side who have also been unbeaten so far in the competition. This should prove to be a cracker of a game. Hopefully we won’t need to strap Gearóid to one of Lisa’s chairs so that he doesn’t tear any of his hair out. (He can’t afford to lose any more!) Cilles Abú! In the words of the Great Lisa Clarke: “You got this!”
Match Report: McPeake Media (Caoimhe & Saoirse)
Photos: BM
