U13s Girls: Comeback of the season

Our U13 girls made the trip to Kilshanvey on Sunday morning looking for another win after their successful outing against Loughrea last week. Our girls were led out by Captain Aoife Jordan on the day.  From the kick off Colemanstown  were on the attack. Great link up play between Clodagh Jordan , Grace Mitchell and Libby Kennedy led to a great pass to Aoife Jordan whose shot on goal was just wide. The Kilshanvey girls were clearly also out for the win and our back line of Annalise Doran, Ally Nutley, Eva Molloy and Lucy Roberts worked tirelessly all day as they were put under serious pressure by an impressive Kilshanvey team. A brilliant through ball from Aoife Jordan to Grace Mitchell allowed her to make a fantastic run up the line to pass to Clodagh for a shot on goal and it was deflected out for the first of many corners. The Kilshanvey girls moved it up a gear and got their first goal 10 minutes into the game. Colemanstown girls were not giving in and straight from the tip off Aoife Jordan gave a ball to Louise Kelly to create a run on goal but a great save from the Kilshanvey goalie denied the goal but created another corner for our girls. A fantastic corner by Clodagh Jordan landed in the box at the feet of Aoife Jordan for a volley but she was denied by a fantastic Kilshanvey defence. The ball was fed out the field but got to the feet of Libby Kennedy but she was denied by the upright. Our girls were caught on the bounce and Kilshanvey got their 2nd goal on 14mins.

A fantastic clearance by Eva Molloy in centre back landed up in the forwards as an impressive through ball for Libby Kennedy but the Kilshanvey goalie was on her toes. Kilshanvey got 2 more goals in the space of 3 minutes and left our girls in shock. Louise Kelly was on fire as she covered every inch of the pitch in her centre midfield position from tracking back to running on goal with endless chances. Grace Mitchell living by her motto ‘just keep shooting’ was on fire all day but the Kilshanvey goalie wasn’t allowing for any of them to slip past her. A fantastic save by Edel Egan in goal where she had her hands on the ball on the ground but the attacker kicked the ball out and continued on allowing for a controversial 5th goal on the half time mark and an uphill task . 5-0 half time.

Our girls regrouped at half time and they could all acknowledge that they had the goals in them and that the 2nd half was going to be a much better performance.  A refuelling with some Jaffa Cakes was just what they needed. Immediately from the tip off Aoife Jordan was straight in on goal but was unfortunately just offside on her run in. Our defence was fantastic all day led by Edel Egan in goal who is growing in confidence and talent every week and her communication to her backs was fantastic. A fantastic passage of play between Blaithin Keane and Libby Kennedy where they both weaved between the Kilshanvey feet to feed the ball to Aoife Jordan for a goal on 6mins in. The girls were lifted and the comeback was on. Annalise Doran on the wing of defence was fearless all day and wasn’t letting anything down her wing. Grace Mitchell, Louise Kelly and Blaithin Keane were giving fantastic through balls all day and really put the Kilshanvey defence to work. A fantastic ball was given to Louise Kelly who made a phenomenal run and was straight on goal slotting it to the back of the net on 13minutes. The work rate of Blaithin Keane must be noted as she covered every patch of grass in the 2nd half ensuring her backs had the support they needed while also feeding the ball forward. Fantastic Blaithin.

But the Colemanstown girls were not done yet. In the space of 2 minutes Libby Kennedy with her top corner goal and Clodagh Jordan with her impressive goal made it 5-4 18mins into the 2nd half. Kilshanvey had a shot across the goal and unfortunately it deflected off a Colemanstown girl to make it 6-4 on 25mins but our girls picked each other up, patted each other on the back and carried on . From the tip off our girls went straight for goal and a shot for Lousie Kelly was deflected into the back of the net for 6-5. Kilshanvey tried to take a quick kick out but a fantastic take down by Louise Kelly to give a brilliant through ball to Clodagh Jordan who stormed through defence and grabbed the equaliser for the girls. It truly was a showstopper of a game and I think all parents in attendance can agree the girls have done themselves and the club so proud with their never give up attitude. The game certainly will go into the history books as one of the greatest comebacks. Dead & buried and back to life springs to mind!  Colemanstown 6 -6 Kilshanvey  final score in a goal feast.   Well done ladies.                  Report by Laura Parker