Kiltimagh/Knock edge Snugboro in Mayo cup final

KILTIMAGH/KNOCK held off a brave fightback from Snugboro United to be crowned Mayo Under 13 cup champions in Solar 21 Park last Sunday.

The east Mayo side took the lead after eight minutes. A fine run into the box by KK captain Ava Mitchell saw her upended by the defender. Ava dusted herself down before firing the resulting penalty low into the left-hand corner of the net.

KK doubled their lead on 16 minutes when Mollie Gaughan reacted quickest in the six-yard box to divert a loose ball into the net. This seemed to really shake Snugboro into life and KK ‘keeper Laya Walsh, not for the first time this season, showed real bravery in diving on a loose ball at the attacker’s feet. Alannah Bourke of Snugboro was just wide before Walsh again was bravery personified keeping another goal-bound effort out.

Kinsella was denied by Walsh as Snugboro very much dominated proceedings as we edged close to half-time. Beth Murrihy brought another fantastic save from Walsh and the young ‘keeper then had a bit of luck as she diverted a goal-bound shot wide of the post.

Half-time arrived and though KK led 2-0, such was Snugboro’s play in the last 15 minutes of the first half this game was far from over.

Snugboro began the second half on all-out attack and KK centre-backs Sive Flanagan and Ruby O’Brien were having to be at their imperious best to close off all avenues to goal. Both full-backs Elen Juonova and Leah McNicholas continually closed down their opponents and in midfield, Orlaith Redmond and Mia Dowd got through a phenomenal amount of work.

The game was back in the melting point on 48 minutes when Lauren Kinsella scored a brilliant individual goal to halve the deficit. ‘Boro certainly had their tails up now and a well struck free three minutes later flashed just wide. They had the ball in the net a minute later but it was chalked off for offside.

KK were reduced to 10 players with a straight red card for an off the ball incident but time ran out for Snugboro.

Head of Mayo Girls League’s Emerging Talent Programme, John Flanagan, congratulated both teams on a game that ‘had a bit of everything’. He presented the cup to KK captain Ava Mitchell and the Player of the Match award to Snugboro’s Alannah Bourke.

Kiltimagh/Knock United squad: L. Walsh, E. Jounova, L. McNicholas, R. O’Brien, S. Flanagan, A. Mitchell (capt), E. Gibbs-Harris, O. Redmond, M. Dowd, S. Jennings, M. Gaughan, E. Burke, A. Burke, S. McNicholas, L. Jennings.

Snugboro United squad: M. McLelland, S. McHale, A. McCarthy, J. Lavelle, L. Kelmelyte, A. Bourke, B. Murrihy, E. R. Lavelle (capt), L. McNamara, E. McHale, L. Kinsella, R. McNamara, S. Stevenson, E. Webb-Floyd, E. Brosnihan, L. Doyle, A. Burdis, C. Hoban, N. Shaw, E. Mulchrone, A. Kelly.

Ref: V. Joyce.