Clinical Hoops take chances to claim crown

A second-half goal from Elizabeth Clarke put Trim Celtic three goals clear and ensured there would be no way back for Torro United in the u-13 NERL Cup final at the MDL on Sunday.

Torro United had a good spell in the opening half, but a Robyn Healy goal sent Trim Celtic in at half-time with a 1-0 lead. The second goal came shortly after the break with Lucia Kelleher finding the net before Clarke sealed victory for Trim Celtic.

Trim Celtic’s Claire McMoreland and Kelleher performed marvellously while Torro United's 'keeper Una Uradnikove ensured that the gap between the two sides wasn’t larger with a couple of fantastic saves.

Uradnikove was called into action early and in the opening exchanges pulled off two fantastic saves from shots that came off the boot of Kelleher. Torro United’s first opportunity came when Caoimhe Oakes played through Anna Mai Burke, but Burke’s attempt flashed past the post.

Torro’s captain Lily Ward had a significant physical impact on the game and her long-range shot was well dealt with by 'keeper Shona McCaffery. At this stage, Torro were going well and looked in control. Aimee Cumiskey came close to giving the girls in green and yellow the lead however her shot just missed the target.

Kelleher looked like Trim Celtic’s main threat and once again she almost opened the scoring but her shot just went the wrong side of the post. Nearly all of Trim Celtic’s chances in the first half originated from Claire McMoreland bursting up the line and whipping balls in and that finally paid off when McMoreland found Robyn Healy with a cross, Healy managed to find the net to give Trim Celtic a 1-0 lead.

The last chance of the half fell to McMoreland but her shot on goal went wide and Trim Celtic went in for the half-time team talk with a one-goal advantage.

Trim Celtic started well in the second-half and went in search of a second goal. Isabelle McKeever came close on two occasions as her dangerous free kicks almost caught Torro United off guard twice.

Kelleher had been threatening to score all game and when Caoimhe Farrell played a lovely ball through, Kelleher rounded the 'keeper before making no mistake with the finish to double Trim Celtic’s lead.

At this stage, Torro United looked defeated but Uradnikove kept their hopes alive with another two fine saves.

That hope was short-lived though when Clarke gave Trim Celtic their third goal and sealed the victory. The girls in green and white hoops saw out the final quarter well and were deservingly crowned U13 NERL Cup champions.

Trim Celtic – Shona Mc Caffery; Ella Scanlon, Aoife Creevey, Isabel Westphal, Isabelle McKeever, Siofra Curley, Robyn Healy, Elizabeth Clarke, Claire McMoreland, Caoimhe Farrell, Lucia Kelliher. Subs – Rachel Westphal, Riona McCormack.

Torro United – Una Uradnikove; Elise Donohoe, Lilian Meehan, Zara Finnegan, Caoimhe Oakes, Kayla O’Reilly, Robyn Rooney, Lily Ward, Anna Mai Burke, Aimee Cumiskey, Amelie Tyndale. Subs – Jessica Leonard, Clodagh McKeever, Meabh Byrne, Lucy McFadden, Christine Lynch, Bonnie O’Reilly, Millie McClinton.

Referee – Jude Melkias.