Portlaoise AFC girls end their season on a winning note

MSL Under-16 Girls Shield Final 

Portlaoise AFC 5 

Hodson Bay 2 

THE final game of the season saw Portlaoise play a fourth time this season against Hodson Bay. The previous three games have all been very tight affairs, but Hodson Bay have held the upper hand. A draw and a loss in the league and a loss after extra time in the SFAI Trophy for Portlaoise indicated that they would be slight underdogs heading into the Shield final.

Leah Gibbons lined up in goals looking to be protected by a back four made up of Aoibhe Ging, Roisin Devoy, Ava Donovan and Millie Kehoe. The ever-reliable Zoe Dumbrell and Clodagh Booth lined up in centre midfield with Leah Brophy and Lola Conroy on the wings. A strong forward pairing of Erin Kavanagh and Charlotte Lalor gave Portlaoise a good edge up front.

Hodson Bay pushed forward from the off, but were caught with an excellent Portlaoise attack after just four minutes. Erin Kavanagh picked up the ball outside the box and took on her opposite number. She got to the by line and pulled the ball back across the six yard line. Charlotte Lalor ran onto the ball, took a quick touch to avoid a defender before smashing it to the roof of the net.

From the resulting kick off Portlaoise got on the front foot again and looked to press home their advantage. They were rewarded when the same pair combined after 10 minutes for a second goal. A perfect start for Portlaoise.

Hodson Bay battled back forcing Gibbons into her first save of the day, tipping a long range shot round the post. Donovan and Devoy led the defensive line to clear from the first of a wave of Hodson Bay attacks.

Portlaoise were still dangerous on the break, but momentum was definitely with Hodson Bay. The Portlaoise defenders were beaten by the bounce from a long through ball and a Hodson Bay forward sprinted clear. It looked certain that they would get a goal back but Gibbons dived to parry the ball and scrambled up to gather it.

A counterattack started in defence by Leah Gibbons throwing the ball to Conroy. Two more passes gave Lalor another sight of goal, but the Hodson Bay keeper made a good save.

The play was still mainly into the Portlaoise end and they had another close shave when a free kick from all of 25 yards smashed off the crossbar and back in play only to be scrambled clear.

Hodson Bay kept the pressure on with a series of corners, but couldn’t press home their advantage.

Just on the stroke of half time Portlaoise managed to break out and again Kavanagh was the provider for Lalor to close out the half for her hattrick, putting Portlaoise 3-0 up as the whistle went.

It had been an excellent first half for Portlaoise who had to consider themselves lucky to head into the second half with a three-goal advantage.

Portlaoise started the new half with a breeze at their backs and went onto the attack from the kick off. After just four minutes they won a corner which Leah Brophy lined up to take. A wicked inswinger pinged in right under the cross bar. At full stretch and under pressure in a crowded penalty area the Hodson Bay keeper was unable to keep it out.

Again Hodson Bay didn’t drop their heads and pushed Portlaoise back. They had played some good football throughout the game and a lovely through ball finally managed to unlock the Portlaoise defence to get them a goal back. Leah Gibbons made another save a few minutes later from a free kick.

Despite a comfortable looking scoreline it was not comfortable on the pitch. However, when Erin Kavanagh was fouled on the right, another excellent delivery from Brophy was met by Zoe Dumbrell at the back post to bundle into the net.

Portlaoise emptied the bench for the last 20 minutes and continued their good play, but couldn’t add to their goal tally.

Hodson Bay kept going right to the end and managed score again, but with limited time left couldn’t close the gap.

This was PAFC’s best performance of the season. A near perfect start took the pressure off and the goals just before and after half time gave them a winning lead.

All 17 players who played showed moments of quality and no lack of hard work. Clodagh Booth and Zoe Dumbrell worked their socks off in centre midfield. The wingers supported the attack well and Erin Kavanagh and Charlotte Lalor combined for three goals and three assists between them. Millie Kehoe was always available to play out through for the back line.

Of the players who came on Juliet Hadjukiewicz and Sarah Mousley continued the great passing in attack and Marvellous Aransi’s direct running caused more problems for a tiring Hodson Bay defence.

A great finish to the season.

PAFC U16 GIRLS: Leah Gibbons, Roisin Devoy, Hannah Scully, Ava Donovan, Aoibhe Ging, Clodagh Booth, Katya Buckova, Leah Brophy, Zoe Dumbrell, Juliet Hadjukiewicz, Moya Ramsbottom, Demi Byrne, Lola Conroy, Sarah Mousley, Kirsten Gannon, Katie Holland, Marvelous Aransi, Sarah Vostinar, Erin Kavanagh, Charlotte Lalor, Millie Kehoe, Faye Cleland, Precious Nhleko.