Dominican College side secures second FAI title of the year

Scoil Chriost Ri, Portlaoise 1

(After extra time)

Fifteen months ago Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill had never even won a Connacht soccer title and now just a short time later they have secured not just multiple provincial titles, but three All-Ireland crowns.

It is a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of the Salthill school, as a new generation of soccer-playing girls are lifting the game to a new level and a Ciara Lynagh winner gave them national honours at this level for the first time.

Just a number of weeks ago, they retained their Schools Senior title and in Athlone on Wednesday, they added the Bank of Ireland FAI Minor (U-15) Girls’ All-Ireland title to their roll of honour.

Of course, they didn’t do it the easy way for after taking an opening-half lead when facing the elements, they didn’t build on that and after conceding a soft equaliser, they required an extra time winner to confirm them as champions.

That winner arrived in the first minute of extra time and came in rather dramatic fashion. A free-kick was awarded to Taylor’s Hill after a Portlaoise player picked up the ball on the sideline, after she thought it was gone out of play.

A free-kick was the correct decision, and dead-ball specialist Aoife Lynagh came forward from central defence to fire in the delivery. Maybe her cross went closer to the goal than she intended, but goalkeeper Aimee Keane was stretching and back peddling as she gathered possession on about her goal line.

The assistant referee was in a position to make a judgement on her positioning, and waving his flag high in the air, he confirmed that the ball had crossed the line and Taylor’s Hill were 2-1 ahead.

Thereafter, they had to survive some anxious moments, but in reality should have increased their lead in the closing minutes as two terrific Lynagh free-kicks set up great opportunities in the box that were missed by Lucia Lobato and Lily Hengerer.

The early action in the contest confirmed that both schools had a number of impressive players with both sides enjoying their moments of supremacy.

Enjoying wind advantage in the opening half, it was the Laois school which did most of the attacking, but despite forcing seven corners, they seldom directly overworked goalkeeper Stephanie Brady.

It was Taylor’s Hill who offered the first scoring threat on 16 minutes when the excellent central midfielder Meghen Hengerer drilled in a 25-yard effort that was comfortably gathered by Keane. This was quickly followed up by a Lobato shot that fizzed across the face of goal.

The well-directed corners, delivered mainly by Gillian Keenan, were a constant source of concern for the Galway rearguard and on the occasions that they varied them, Taylor’s Hill were somewhat slow to react and were lucky to get away without conceding.

It was following another set-piece that Dominican College took the lead on 24 minutes. After Lobato was fouled wide on the right, Lynagh swung in a sweet delivery that was met at the far post by Emily Browne. Her header rebounded off a post and at the second attempt, Wakila Latidoye forced the rebound over the line for a 1-0 advantage.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.