Created on Wednesday, 05 September 2012 15:28
St Joseph's Girls retained the FAI Umbro Women's Junior Cup when they came from behind to defeat Manulla 3-2 in the final at Michael Keaveney Park, Ballyglass, Co Mayo, on Sunday, August 26.
Their win in 2011 meant that they were unable to call on any of that squad for the 2012 campaign but such is the strength in depth available to the Sallynoggin club that their management team of Christy Dodd, Thomas Watson, Mick Patton and Philip Henry were able to build a winning side around the squad which won the FAI Umbro Women's U16 Cup last year.
Twelve of the 18 players on duty for this year's Junior Cup final were part of that U16 squad and it was one those young guns, Danielle Scales, who inspired Joeys with a superb individual performance that rightly earned her the Player of the Match Award.
After a scoreless first half, Manulla took the lead when Stacey Freyne smacked home a 25 yard free-kick but Scales was then brought down inside the penalty area and Katherine Meaney slotted home the equaliser from the resultant penalty.
Scales then scored twice, one a fine individual effort, to give St Joseph's a commanding 3-1 lead but they were made to sweat for the final few minutes when Aoife Brennan pulled a goal back for Manulla in injury-time with another spectacular free-kick.
After the match the FAI Umbro Women's Junior Cup was presented to St Joseph's Girls captain Niamh Barnes by FAI Board member Eamonn Naughton and Pauline O'Shaughnessy from the Women's Football Association of Ireland.
Manulla: Kyla Canny, Ciara Freyne, Natalie Lundy, Louise Mulready, Sinead Flaherty, Tracey Hall, Aoife Freyne, Stacey Freyne, Aoife Brennan, Olivia Tolster, Niamh Barrett. Subs: Susanne Cunnane, Mags Giblin, Laura King, Laura Mannion, Catherine Giblin, Linda McDonnell, Grainne Gilligan.
St Joseph's Girls: Sarah Kechkar, Ciara English, Niamh Barnes, Louise Philips, Lorna O'Sullivan, Emma O'Brien, Katherine Meaney, Chelsey Spain, Danielle Scales, Avril Bierly, Aisling Byrne. Subs: Niamh Moran, Jessica Hunt, Kellie Dodd, Jessica Byrne, Paula Boyle, Rebecca Patton, Chloe Brown.
Match Officials: Brian Lynch (Referee), Vincent Carew (Assistant Referees), Pat Barry (Assistant Referee), Peter Flaherty (Fourth Official).
