Understrength Portlaoise never gave up trying
An understrength Portlaoise side battled gallantly against Temple Villa
MSL U/16 Girls League
Temple Villa 3
Portlaoise AFC 0
PORTLAOISE AFC U/16 girls headed to Temple Villa for their final away game of the season. A sunny breezy day and a firm pitch would make for tricky conditions for both teams.
Portlaoise travelled short-handed with only 11 players available, so were hoping for an injury free 80 minutes.
Aoibhe Ging made her first start of the season up front alongside Lola Conroy who was coming off a goal in her last outing. Portlaoise started with the breeze at their back and were looking to start on the front foot. However, in a very scrappy opening 20 minutes neither side created any clear-cut chances. Portlaoise were efficient at getting the ball forward, but too often the ball ran through to the Temple Villa keeper.
With neither team really threatening it was clear that the first goal was going to crucial. A thrown-in for Portlaoise was called the wrong way and Temple Villa broke quickly up the field. Their centre midfielder broke two tackles and drove into the penalty area. She had time to steady herself before finishing well beyond Leah Gibbons.
Temple Villa pressed on for the next 10 minutes with Leah Gibbons called into action to make some excellent saves. Being a goal down at half time left Portlaoise very much in the game. Turning to play into the wind would be hard work, but with the ball holding up better it might create some better opportunities in the attack.
Disaster struck for Portlaoise just after the start of the second half. Sarah Mousley, who had carried an injury into the game, was unable to continue and had to come off. This left them with 10 players for the second half.
Temple Villa scored two more goals and were good value for their 3-0 win. But this was only part of the story.
Aoibhe Ging played up front on her own, trying to battle against the Temple Villa back four. Then Lola Conroy dropped back into midfield. Conroy and the other midfielders, Leah Brophy, Zoe Dumbrell and Clodagh Booth, ran themselves to a standstill over the next 40 minutes.
The back four and keeper blocked and cleared their lines time and time again. Leah Gibbons made some excellent saves and came to claim the ball from corners like a veteran keeper.
The game did not look like a 11 v 10 match during the second half. Leah Brophy and Moya Ramsbottom combined well to make shooting chances. Zoe Dumbrell came closest to a goal for Portlaoise with a shot that went just wide. A soft second goal was disappointing from a defensive point of view and an unfortunate tangle of legs between Moya Ramsbottom and a Temple Villa forward led to a penalty to finish the scoring.
All 11 players gave their all and each one could be namechecked for their work rate and individual moments. The standout for Portlaoise was Zoe Dumbrell who shone in a very competitive and combative centre midfield area. Zoe is continuing to improve and getting more confidence on the ball, but she is adding that to an amazing level of stamina and endurance. She works so hard every game, but seemed to step it up to another level this weekend.
Portlaoise POM – Zoe Dumbrell PORTLAOISE U/16 GIRLS: Leah Gibbons, Roisin Devoy, Hannah Scully, Ava Donovan, Aoibhe Ging, Clodagh Booth, Katya Buckova, Leah Brophy, Zoe Dumbrell, Juliet Hajdukiewicz, Moya Ramsbottom, Demi Byrne, Lola Conroy, Sarah Mousley, Katie Holland, Marvelous Aransi, Erin Kavanagh, Charlotte Lalor, Millie Kehoe, Precious Nhleko.
