Ballyduff in seventh heaven thanks to brilliant Counihan four-timer
Ballyduff FC celebrate their Schoolgirls Under 14C Cup Final win over Tramore at Ozier Park last Sunday. Photos: Paul Elliott
Top billing must go to Ballyduff left winger Aishling Counihan who hit a first half hat trick and then added her fourth goal in the closing stages to help her side land the Waterford Schoolgirls Under 14C Cup final on Sunday afternoon last.
Ballyduff had too much firepower for a gallant Tramore side who stayed in the game until Ballyduff finished the tie in the last quarter.
The game was only two minutes old when Ballyduff went close to taking the lead when Aishling Counihan cut in off her left wing but her shot on the run flew just over the bar. Millie Carey played the ball out wide and Aishling Counihan stepped inside her marker before firing a right foot shot into the far corner of the net.
Tramore responded well and Eve Quigley and Pippa Doheny put the Ballyduff defence under pressure with some deep surging runs down the flanks. However it was 2-0 on 19 minutes, good work by Eve Corrigan as she crossed to the far post and Aishling Counihan again found space to fire the ball into the far corner of the net.
A third goal arrived on 23 minutes when Sophie Vaughan dribbled past the Tramore defence before shooting high into the roof of the net. Tramore bounced back with Tianna Barrett set off on a driving run into the Ballyduff box but a good tackle from Ella Phelan stopped her progress.
Eve Quigley then pulled a goal back for Tramore on the half hour. However two minutes later Ballyduff scored again with Aishling Counihan completing her hat-trick with a class finish. On the stroke of half-time Tramore gave themselves a lifeline when Eve Quigley found the net with another clever finish.
Lily Coffey and Katie Coffey were both busy down both wings for Tramore as they pressed to pull another goal back. It was to no avail as it was Ballyduff who increased their lead, on 48 minutes Aoibhinn Murphy pulled the ball wide of the Villa defence before firing a powerful strike past Ann Flynn in the Tramore goal.
Murphy struck again for Ballyduff with a sixth goal on 51 minutes, this time she found the net with a cracking finish into the bottom corner of the net. It was fitting that Aishling Counihan finished the scoring with goal number seven after Nathasha Kearns had set her up.
Maeve Keane, Katie Murphy, Mia Kirwin, Niamh Murray, Ellen Kelleher, Ella Phelan, Antasha Keane, Aoibhinn Murphy, Julie Behan, Aishling Counihan, Eve Moran, Millie Carey, Aine Counihan, Eva Duggan, Doirnen O’Sullivan, Ruby Veale, Dolly Ann White.
Ann Flynn, Freya Dale, Letisa Barrett, Lily Walsh, Lily Tubbritt, Tianna Barrett, Katie Coffey, Eve Corrigan, Eve Quigley, Denise Simo, Anna Dale, Pippa Doheny, Finola Coughlan, Mia Long, Ashling Weldon, Susan Tubbritt, Lily Gillane, Sophie Vaughan.
Noel Lavery assisted by Noel Connolly and Thomas Barry.
