U12 Girls Co. League Rose Hotel Co. League Div 1 Glenflesk 3-5 Austin Stacks 2-8
The Austin Stacks U12 girls bus rolled into scenic Glenflesk last Tuesday night for a final round league game in Division 1 of the County. Down 3 points with as many minutes left, it looked like curtains for the young footballers of Rock Street, but two frees by Grace O’Donnell brought it back to one. You could cut the tension with a knife, that is, if you chose to do so instead of killing a few midges, who were swarming like the Glenfelsk girls were swarming our attackers. But cometh the hour, cometh the players, and up stepped Amy Stack Leen and Lucy O’Connor combining for an equalising point for the ages. Final score a draw, Glenflesk 3-5, Austin Stacks 2-8. This leaves the Rockettes on 7 points with 3 wins, a draw and one loss, qualifying the girls for a final, depending on other results. So well done to all the players. The game was played on a beautiful evening, surrounded by spectacular scenery, on a perfectly manicured surface at Glenflesk’s designated juvenile pitch, with Stacks ending the half first half two points to the good. However, the local blue and gold Glenflesk girls scored two spectacular goals and some great points to edge them ahead until the spirited Stacks sisters got to grips with the sweeper and the blanket defence being employed by the locals. If Brian Cody had been on holidays and peered in, he would have recognised the lack of frees in the game from the renowned Kilkenny in house training games where no whistle was used. Considering the heat and the fact that most of the girls had played school games earlier, it was a remarkable achievement to show such resolve when it mattered most. Captains Ciara Laide and Amy Scanlon showed superb leadership throughout and the efforts of Kate Sugrue, Emily Flynn, Ella Moore and Lucy O’Connor were nothing short of spectacular. Thanks to all the supporters who made the journey eastwards to cheer on this talented and hardworking squad. Hard luck to a strong Glenflesk team who did their club proud. Beidh lá eile.
(report by Gene O’Donnell).
