CAILINI FAOI 13
On Saturday last the club’s under 13 girls competed in the Annual Sandra Keane Blitz in the John Mitchels complex in Tralee. 16 teams competed on the day with teams divided into 4 groups of 4. Our girls were in a group with the hosts John Mitchels , Dr Crokes and Rathmore.
Our first group game against was against the hosts, and the girls got off to a great start, winning nine points to two. All the girls took the game to Mitchels from the beginning, playing against a strong breeze, to lead four points to no score at half time with Sinead Mc Keown (2), Cora Savage and Aylssa Leen getting the scores. With the aid of the breeze in the second half the girls dominated notching five more points , three from the boot of Cora Savage from midfield and two from Kate O Connor at full forward.
This result gave the girls great confidence heading into their second game against Rathmore and again playing against the breeze in the first half our backs especially Roisin Long, Sophie O’Donoghue, Emily O’Brien and Cathy Palmer kept a very dangerous Rathmore forward line in check even though they racked up five points , no goals were conceded. In the forward line our girls made the most of their opportunities with the excellent Mary Anne Fleming accounting for two goals and a point to leave us ahead by two points at the break. The second half was nip and tuck but we managed to keep our noses in front ,with Cora Savage showing great leadership, getting on the scoreboard on three occasions with three points. Rathmore managed two points to leave the final score 2-4 to 7pts. Other girls to perform well in this game were Holly Geary, Millie Dunne , Aoife Galvin and Emma Leen.
Our final group game was against Dr Crokes with the girls proving too strong winning on a scoreline of 1-6 to 0-1. Sinead Mc Keown got in for an excellent goal and also chipped in with a point along with the excellent Kate O Connor scoring three points and one from the boot of Cora Savage. Grainne Galvin in goals played with great assurance again and in the backs Ciara Palmer and Laura Dunne did their bit for the team. Up front Katie Enright was involved throughout along with Aylssa Leen and the free scoring Kate O Connor.
After winning the three group games this meant the girls were in the Cup semi final. The ladies football power power house in South Kerry , Southern Gaels stood in the girls way of a final place. After roughly seventy five minutes of football played by both teams at that stage both teams served up a great game . SG started off lively with a goal and a point but Cora Savage kept us in touch with two excellent frees into the wind and one from play . SG finished the first half with a point to leave the half time score 1-2 to 0-3. The second half was very tense with both teams going for the win and the girls brought the game level with two points from play from Cora Savage but SG responded with a point in the closing stages to take the lead. The girls gave everything to get the initiative back but fatigue was a factor in denying them , and with the last kick of the game the niece of Kerry legend Maurice Fitzgerald got in for a goal to give SG the win. on the score of 2-3 to 0-5.
Kieran O Connor, coach with the girls, said on behalf of the management, but how proud they were of the girls on the day. He wished to thank the parents for their cooperation on the day considering the conditions.
SG went on to win the final so it goes to show the talent that our club possesses in the future for ladies football. Well done
CAILINI FAOI 10
Well done to two of our U10 girls panel Alice Brosnan and Jill Quirke who were selected as Rose Buds at the recent Rose of Tralee Festival. It was a great experience for both girls.