Stacks U16 Girls Crowned Champions of Tralee
On Wednesday 24th September,in perfect conditions, our U16’s Girls team led by Aoife Brick collected another honour for the club by defeating John Mitchels, 5-6 to 4-7 in a genuinely pulsating game of football. The final of the town league was played in a committed fashion by both teams and the level of skill on display bodes well for Kerry Ladies’ football. John Mitchels created a number of scoring chances early on but found in Deborah Mangan a goalkeeper at the very top of her game. In front of her the Austin Stacks defence constantly denied their opponents time and space on the ball and wave after wave of Mitchels attacks floundered against a defence bereft of the inspirational Ellen O’Connell,but with Megan O’Donnell, Emma Ryan, Orla Casey, and Rebecca Ryan all playing their part alongside their teammates in ensuring that Stacks went in ahead at half-time ahead by 2.3 to 1.3 courtesy of two wonderful points by Ciara Corridon and 2 decisively taken goals and a well-placed point by Mollie O’Carroll.
Again the second half was a wonderful exhibition of all that is good in the Ladies game. In midfield Meabh McKivergan again began to dominate the centre of the park and with Doireann Morgan, Catriona Collins, and Mary Duggan making runs and creating space Stacks found their own shooting range helped by the speed and decision making of Lauren Barrett. The very impressive Caoimhe Barry Walsh slotted over 3 beautiful points, whilst the free scoring Mollie O’Carroll again showed her full potential by scoring another 3 goals after great approach play by her teammates, taking her own personal tally to 5-1. In the closing stages Mitchels rallied but with Martin McKivergan calmly reminding our players of the need to pick up their markers our defence held out yet again and our girls were worthy winners of the 2014 Town League.Special thanks goes to the supporters for coming to see the final and to all the mentors who have put in so much of their own time in developing this exceptional group of girls. Again, well done to all the team who played their part in a great game.
