Carrigtwohill secure first National title

FAI Schools Minor ‘B’ Girls National Cup Final (Under 15, Small Schools)

Carrigtwohill CC

St. Kilian's DSD, Clonskeagh

Carrigtwohill Community College 2-0 St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh

Clodagh Dorgan (46), Sonia Balanzin (54)

CARRIGTWOHILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE were crowned 2023 Minor ‘B’ Girls National Cup Champions following victory over St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh in Evergreen FC.

Two second half goals were enough to see the title go South.

While the School is six years old, the Carrigtwohill outfit have only contested the Cup competitions over the last two seasons. This year has been extra special with a Munster title and the ultimate prize of National glory for the young scholars.

They faced formidable opponents in St. Kilian’s DSD as the Leinster stars defeated last year’s defending Champions Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair in the National semi-final in Monaghan last week to reach this stage of competition.

It was a lively exchange in the opening minutes as Ruby Smith forced the Cork netminder Lily Burke Curley into a fabulous save three minutes in.

Then it was St. Kilian’s who broke free with Rachel Barrett dragging a brilliant shot across the face of goal with eight minutes on the clock.

Both sides were cancelling each other in the middle of the park as it remained scoreless at the interval. 

Captain Lily O’Connell showed exceptional ball control to have a snapshot on goal but unfortunately the strike went straight to Akasha Schwarz seven minutes into the restart.

The game came to life midway through the second half when Clodagh DORGAN struck a rocket at the edge of the box that swirled past Schwarz and into the far corner.

The contest was wrapped up by Sonia BALANZIN six minutes from time as she latched onto a long ball, the pace of the strike saw the ball ricocheted off the goalkeeper and back onto Balanzin and into an open goal.  

Matylda Stelmaszek and Sapphire Trepel tested Lily Burke Curley with shots from distance, but the Carrigtwohill keeper was on form to deny the St. Kilian’s duo.

Daithí Purcell’s crew held out for an historic victory, a first National Cup title for the School who have a bright future ahead of them.

CARRIGTWOHILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | Lily Burke Curley, Emma O’Shea, Kinga Prajsnar, Sarah Cronin, Roybn Keating, Maedhbh Carroll, Lily O’Connell ©,  Rachel Barrett, Isabella Snow, Clodagh Dorgan, Zoe Allen

SUBS | Sonia Balanzin Kaci Rice, Amelia Sheehan, Megan Walker, Aisling Kennedy, Abigail Cronin, Robyn George, Naoise Coughlan, Caoimhe Stenhouse

TEACHERS | Daithí Purcell, Shauna Horgan, Clodagh McNamara

ST. KILIAN’S DEUTSCHE SCHULE, CLONSKEAGH | Akasha Schwarz, Evelynn Spicer, Alice Koloskova, Neasa Finn, Carolina Vitulano Alvarex, Tara O’Colmain, Stella Osing ©, Ruby Smith, Sofia Lopez O’Sullivan, Matylda Stelmaszek, Sapphire

SUBS | Clara Rohling, Rosa Matthews, Hazel Doorly, Hannah Doyle Wahl, Sophie McCann (ROLL ON / OFF)

TEACHERS | Nika Arevadze, Dillon Fox | ASSISTANT Sophia Murphy

MATCH OFFICIAL | Eoin Walsh (Kilkenny)