Golden goal enough to earn Athboy Celtic cup final glory

NERL FINALS Kells Celtic Youths put up brave battle

One of the most surprising aspects of this u-12 McGuinn Brennan Cup final at the MDL early on Saturday morning was that there wasn't more goals. Many more.

One golden strike was enough to secure the trophy and a sweet victory for Athboy Celtic but over the course of an engaging, highly entertaining encounter both sides showed loads of attacking enterprise and endeavour.

As it turn out, the only goal, the golden goal, was a terrific effort - worthy of winning any game. It arrived just minutes into the contest. Athboy Celtic, who had the strong breeze at their backs, won a free on the edge of their opponent's penalty area.

Up stepped one of the winning team's best players - Lucy Donnelly. Displaying a sublime piece of skill she lifted the ball over the wall and under the bar giving the Kells Celtic Youths netminder Shannon Reilly absolutely no chance. No goalkeeper would have saved Donnelly's rocket. The ball flew into the top corner like lightning.

Donnelly had a marvellous game full of mazy runs and scorching shots and that goal merely served to embellish a five-star performance. Yet she wasn't the only Athboy Celtic hero. The whole team played in a composed, measured, mature manner.

Emily Donnelly, Janine Nicol, Aine McConnell, Abbie Jackson, Ellie Mullen were just some of the other Athboy players who threatened to find a way through. Nicol in particular was only denied by an outstanding save by Reilly. Defensively Athboy Celtic absorbed whatever was thrown at them.

Kells Celtic Youths were rocked by the concession of that early goal. Did they panic? Did they lose their way? Not a bit. They constructed some fantastic moves and went close to finding an equaliser. Very close. In the lead up to the break Lily Carville threaded through a pass to Anna Kavanagh and she brought a top-notch save from Athboy Celtic's guardian Hazel O'Connor. Ruth Smyth was another to fire narrowly wide.

Despite the bravery, the relentless efforts of the Kells Celtic Youths contingent no equaliser arrived. Athboy Celtic were left to savour a famous victory.

Athboy Celtic - Hazel O'Connor; Brigid Quinn, Lily Mai Hickey, Emilija Norvaisaite, Angie Nicol, Janine Nicol, Ellie Mullen, Alanah Nugent, Aine McConnell, Aoife Phelan, Lucy Donnelly, Emily Donnelly. Mentors - Ronan O'Connor, Michael O'Connor, Saoirse Lane.

Kells Celtic Youths - Shannon Reilly; Eabha Lynch, Bonnie Ryan, Feiladh Walsh, Ruth Smyth, Anna Gaffney, Lily Carville, Ella Farrelly, Anna Kavanagh, Halle Mulligan, Zara Stone, Lucy McEntee, Freya O'Loughlin, Abbie Jackson, Indyah Mulligan, Coco Griffin. Mentors - Patrick Matthews, Darren Ryan, Greg Smyth, Conor Walsh.

Referee - Conor Flaherty; assistants - Derek Hegarty, Aidan Byrne.