GAYNOR BOWL SUCCESS

DONNA HAT TRICK SETS UP GAYNOR GLORY

GAYNOR BOWL U15 FINAL

Limerick Desmond (3) 5  (Donna Kenny 3, Lucy McInnes, own goal)

Inishowen (0) 0

A tonic start for Limerick Desmond set them on the way to a much deserved win in the Gaynor Bowl against Inishowen. The game was only three minutes old when Donna Kenny put us ahead, her well struck effort from inside the right side of the penalty area proving too strong for the keeper. We continued to press Katie Lawlee and Poppy Giltenane having efforts on goal before Inishowen threatened when their number eleven shot across the six yard box but the ball eventually going wide. Two minutes after this their number ten sent in a free kick which broke for their number eight but her effort was very easily dealt with by Maedbh Nolan in goals. Back at the other end Aine Nolan tested their keeper who was equal to the task. On twenty eight minutes it was two nil. At this stage Donna and Katie had switched wings and this definitely was a factor in the second goal when Donna came in from the left and hit a really fierce effort that was deflected into the net by a defender. Three minutes later it was three nil when Katie sent over a low cross from the right that went all the way to the back post where Donna ghosted in behind a defender to finish to the net.

We had a great start to the start of the first half with Donna’s goal and lightning does indeed strike twice as at the start of the second half she completed her hat trick. Getting the ball on half way she took the ball down the left wing before cutting into the penalty area and firing low past the keeper to effectively seal Inishowen’s fate. New faces were introduced but the football kept flowing towards the Inishowen goal. Amy Tierney, who had another fine game came close when she hit the butt of the left post following a quickly taken corner while Katelynn O’Dwyer Guiren tested their keeper with a well struck effort from twenty five yards. The icing was put on the cake with a brilliant goal from Lucy McInnes who flicked the ball over a defender before her effort flew into the roof of the net. Maedbh  Nolan, who hadn’t much to do overall made a very good save late on from a free kick.

The full time whistle soon sounded and as the rain came down in UL. It mattered little as Limerick Desmond had just won the Gaynor Bowl which is no mean achievement. After the euphoria and emotion the squad and management walked to the presentation area where Neil Cronin from the SFAI presented joint captains Chloe O’Keeffe and Poppy Giltenane with the Gaynor Bowl. Great scenes indeed as you can imagine.

Limerick Desmond – Maedbh  Nolan, Ellie May O’Sullivan, Aisling Enright, Chloe O’Keeffe (capt), Sophie Burke, Amy Tierney, Donna Kenny, Ciara Curtin, Aine Nolan, Poppy Giltenane (capt), Katie Lawlee. Subs Katelynn O’Dwyer Guiren, Cameryn Moloney, Lucy McInnes, Laura Browne, Aoife Russell, Aoife Geary.