Villa show their class to land deserved cup final success
Villa FC celebrate their Schoolgirls U14B Cup Final won over Park Rangers at Ozier Park on Sunday last. Photos: Paul Elliott
Villa FC won the Waterford Schoolgirls Under 14B Cup Final at Ozier Park after putting in a top class performance against a Park Rangers side who gave it everything in effort on Sunday afternoon last.
The victors had the better players in the important position and at the final whistle they fully deserved their victory, but credit Park Rangers as they battled to the very end with goals from Jesse Kelly, Zara O’Byrne and Kate Douglas the difference.
It was Villa who made the better start to the game and they forced Park Rangers onto the back foot in the opening exchanges. It came as no surprise when they took the lead after 11 minutes.
Frankie Maher played a clever ball into the feet of Emily Murphy, the striker turned in the box but her left foot effort was turned against the bar by Rangers keeper Molly O’Brien and when the rebound dropped at the feet of Jessie Kelly,, she slammed home the opener from six yards.
Minutes later a free-kick by Emly Murphy forced Rangers keeper Molly O’Brien into a fine near post save. Rangers striker Mia Verwistis gave the Villa defence the slip on 16 minutes, but Villa keeper Penny White dived low to her left to save.
Three minutes later, Ellie Kennedy released Verwistis but Villa keeper Penny White was quick off his line to clear the danger. On the stroke of half-time, Rangers keeper Molly O’Brien saved a low drive from Jessie Kelly, the ball spilled out to Emile Murphy but the keeper was quick to recover to make a fine double save.
Villa doubled their lead two minutes into the second-half when Zara O’Byrne picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and hit a spectacular drive that beat the Park Rangers keeper and crossed the goal line in off the underside of the crossbar.
On 40 minutes Villa captain Emily Murphy swung in a corner-kick that found the head of Frankie Maher but she flashed the header wide of the target. Park Rangers found it hard to get on the front foot as Villa defended in numbers.
At the other end the workLAB Connors Park outfit created a hatful of chances but good goalkeeping by Molly O’Brien and poor finishing by Villa kept Park Rangers in the game. Villa finished the game with a third goal on 65 minutes as Frankie Maher fired in a powerful right foot strike that was saved by Molly O’Brien but Villa striker Kate Douglas was following up to tap home the rebound.
Penny White, Emily Murphy, Mia Quinlan, Caoimhe Quinlan, Aoife Cleary, Zara O’Byrne, Jessie Kelly, Jessica Ferguson, Frankie Maher, Sophie Bradfield, Eva Brennan, Kate Douglas, Kate Delahunty, Lydia Maher, Aine Hayes, Amelie Bierry, Roslyn Grant, Lauren Waddell.
Molly O’Brien, Aoife O’Dwyer, Aideen Touhy, Leah Moran, Ellie Kennedy, Alex O’Neill, Lainey Walsh, Hannah Daly, Eimile Radziudize, Caoimhe Phelan, Mia Verwistis, Ellia Lazare, Ruby Corcoran.
Adam Walsh assisted by John Burke and Owen Simms.
