Stack strikes late to win the cup for Killeigh
Temple Villa Aces 1 Killeigh FC 2 (AET)
There was a dramatic conclusion to the SFAI U-12 Girls South Leinster Cup final as Killeigh FC struck for a winner in stoppage time of extra-time against Temple Villa at Moate Business College last Saturday morning.
The tie looked to be heading for penalties but the Offaly girls avoided the lottery of a shootout with a last gasp goal from Leah Stack to break Villa hearts.
Both goals in normal time were scored in the opening half as Killeigh struck first but Villa soon levelled matters. There was little between the teams thereafter and extra-time looked to have failed to separate two evenly matched outfits until the late drama.
Killeigh forced the first two corner kicks of the contest while Villa’s first chance fell to Sorcha Aspell whose shot was saved.
Villa earned their first after 14 minutes, but the scoring was opened at the other end a minute later as the Offaly girls struck through Leah Stack. The number eight tried her luck from long range and was fortunate to see her shot slip through the goalkeeper’s hands into the net.
The Westmeath outfit struck back to equalise after 19 minutes. Aspell did well to get past a number of challenges and her finish from close range was superb.
An all-action contest continued without any further scores in normal time. Temple Villa's Ally Duffy had a shot saved, while Killeigh also looked capable of regaining the advantage as Isabel Mooney sent in an inviting cross from the right and Aimee Gill fired wide.
The best chance of another goal came after 26 minutes but Emily White made up for her earlier slip up by blocking a goalbound attempt from Stack. Villa finished the half on a high with Mollie Quinn having a chance and Duffy had a shot blocked by the keeper’s legs. A corner on the stroke of half-time kept up the pressure but the first half still ended all square.
The Mount Temple team had the better of the exchanges during the second half but could not turn the chances into scores. Aspell fired wide from two early chances with Quinn also coming close. Most of the danger up to the closing moments came from corners as Killeigh forced three as against two to Villa.
Michael Greene’s charges came very close to claiming the cup in the final five minutes but good defending from Killeigh kept them at bay. Both number eights were impressive throughout and Villa’s Quinn looked set to be a potential match winner but saw her shot blocked by Killeigh goalkeeper Mollie Dillane.
The last chance also fell to Quinn but once more, the Offaly team did well to avert the danger. The shot from the left was heading for the net but the ball was again scrambled away by Dillane. It was the last action of the half and extra-time was now needed to try and separate the teams.
Killeigh may have been second best for periods in the second half but got a second wind for extra-time. Aspell drilled a free kick wide but the best chance fell to Killeigh after six minutes when White did well to deny Katie Cuskelly. Another corner fell Killeigh’s way with Quinn firing wide at the other end. Cuskelly was also off target for Killeigh in the last chance in the first period of extra-time.
In the second period, Killeigh were lucky to survive as Villa came very close. Aspell was again in action but saw her attempt cleared behind for a corner by Farrah Delaney. Stack fired wide for Killeigh in what looked to be the last action before penalties would come into play.
But Stack had another chance to hit the target as the tie headed into the first additional minute. Villa will have been disappointed not to have halted the number eight’s run but over an hour’s play had taken a toll on tired limbs. Stack burst through and kept her nerve to fire a low shot to the net.
It was a sensational ending to the final but there was still time for Villa to try and salvage a draw in added time, but the massed Killeigh defence held firm and closed out the decider.
Player of the match: Leah Stack (Killeigh). The Killeigh match winner was a constant threat to the Villa rear-guard and while her first goal was fortunate, there was no doubt about the status of the second as a great run was capped by a fine finish.
Killeigh: Mollie Dillane, Aoife Jones, Louise Doyle (captain), Ailish Walshe, Isabel Mooney, Clodagh Rigney, Ellen Cleary, Leah Stack, Aimee Gill, Farrah Delaney, Katie Cuskelly, Thea Farrell, Ava Sheeran, Aoife Dunne, Allana Morris, Katie Molloy.
Temple Villa Aces: Emily White, Orlaith Galvin, Lily Rattray, Daisy Bucys McLaughlin, Erin McHugh, Mikaela Greene, Ally Duffy, Kelly Lynam, Sorcha Aspell, Aoife McHugh, Mollie Quinn, Ellie Buckley, Molly Hynes, Erin Rattray, Emily Sullivan, Jane Geraghty, Elena Garcia, Georgia Donlon, Grace Berry, Chloe Doyle.
Referee: Martin Nolan (Athlone).
- John Dingle