Torro dominate to take the spoils in the rain

U-14 GIRLS CUP FINAL

Torro Utd 2 Navan Town Cosmos 0

As 2-0 wins go this was one of the more straightforward ones as Torro dominated from start to finish and rarely gave Navan Town Cosmos a sniff in the u-14 Colm Duffy Girls Cup final at the MDL on Saturday.

Despite their total dominance Torro didn't put the game to bed until the 69th minute when the excellent Shauna Kate Smyth smashed a spectacular second goal.

It needed to be something special to beat the outstanding Hannah Lyons in the Navan Town Cosmos goals and what it strike it was.

There appeared to be nothing obvious on as Torro played the ball into the corner, but a quick shift of the point of attack saw the ball land at the feet of Smyth about 25 yards from the target and without taking a touch she unleashed a fierce drive that was past Lyons before she even saw it.

That goal eased the tension for Torro and they emptied their bench in the closing minutes to let all their players savour the victory.

If the possession was measured by Opta it would have been close to 90%-10% in Torro's favour and they also must have had 15 shots on target, but only two managed to beat Lyons.

Indeed Navan Town Cosmos' only real threat on the Torro goal came five minutes into the second-half when Naomi Cameron's whipped free from the edge of the box was deflected onto her own crossbar by defender Fionnuala Conlon.

Town Cosmos did manage to win a few corners when the wind was at their back in the second-half, but nothing serious materialised for them as the well-organised Torro rearguard gave nothing away.

Smyth was outstanding for the winners as she controlled the game from midfield and she deservedly picked up the player-of-the-match award, but she wasn't her side's only star turn.

Sarah Burke also had a fine game and caused Town Cosmos plenty of problems, while Chloe Callaghan also ensured Lyons was busy throughout.

Callaghan created the first clearcut chance after eight minutes when her brilliant pass picked out Conlon, but the Torro player's shot only found the side netting.

Two minutes later Burke fired a snap shot goalwards which Lyons saved and in the 13th minute Lyons was on hand again to deny Callaghan who shot from over 20 yards.

Torro were particularly dangerous from corners and Abbie Shiels 21st minute delivery curled onto the back post before being cleared.

Burke went close again, but Lyons beat her to the ball. However the breakthrough did eventually come in the 32nd minute and it turned out to be a scrappy goal.

Another expertly delivered corner from Smyth did the trick with Burke in the right place at the right time to head the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble.

Torro maintained that lead to the break and when play resumed they were fortunate not to concede an equaliser when Conlon's misdirected header hit the bar.

After surviving that scare Torro assumed full control again with Smyth releasing Burke who shot straight at Lyons.

In the 60th minute Smyth struck a fierce free-kick into the wall, but 10 minutes later there was no denying her as she smashed the insurance goal to spark wild celebrations.

Torro - Ellen O'Reilly; Lauren Carroll, Sadhbh Smyth, Ava Bennett Tallon, Lulu Halloran, Lyn Byrne, Abbie Shiels, Shauna Kate Smyth, Fionnuala Conlon, Chloe Corrigan, Sarah Burke. Subs - Ruby Finnegan for Byrne 46 mins, Hayley O'Reilly for Conlon, Aimee Coghlan for Halloran both 71m, Amy Byrne for Callaghan, Aoibhinn Monaghan for Carroll.

Navan Town Cosmos - Hannah Lyons; Emer Martin, Hannah Byrne, Katie McNally, Lucy Murphy, Sophia King, Ruby McDonald, Lauren Skelly, Maomi Cameron, Grace Murray, Ellie Brennan. Subs - Charley Coogan for Murray 43 mins, Milana Sharhayeu for Brennan 57m, Caohla Butler for Skelly 60m, Alexa Wimsey, Annabel Kavanagh, Ellana Wong.

Referee - Evan Logue; assistants - Brian Murphy, Charlie Pierce.