Sophie Murphy’s hat-trick fired Carndonagh Community School to glory in the FAI Schools Minor Girls Ulster Cup final.
Carndonagh Community School 4 Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny 2
By Chris McNulty at The Lakeside
Murphy’s hat-trick and a close-range Ellie Long strike had Carndonagh four-nil in front and coasting at The Lakeside, before a spirited Loreto hit back in search of a late salvo.
A fine finish from Marie Rushe and an Erika Gallagher penalty lifted their hopes, but it proved too little, too late.
Carndonagh hit the front in the ninth minute when Murphy beat Loreto ‘keeper Aoibhin Randles with a superb arched finish from outside the box.
A little earlier, Randles had come out to thwart Long, who surged onto the end of a Murphy pass.
Loreto Secondary School
Carn continued to threaten and Emma Devlin headed wide from a teasing Katherine Doherty free before Murphy clipped wide having been played in around the back by Devlin.
After Devlin shot at Randles, the game was still finely poised when Carn put it beyond Loreto’s reach with two goals in the final minute of the first half.
First. Long stabbed home from Devlin’s delivery before Long raced clear to tuck home after rounding the advancing Randles.
Six minutes into the second half, Murphy scampered away, glided past Randles and applied the finish.
Ten minutes from time, Rushe kicked Loreto to life as she riffled home from the edge of the area.
Loreto edged closer when Gallagher fired home from the spot, but Carndonagh – via Murphy – had the spadework done.
Carndonagh Community School: Amy McLaughlin, Fiona Doherty, Ella McGonigle, Kate McCallion, Chaylee Greene, Lorinne Greene, Katherine Doherty, Emma Devlin, Sophie Murphy, Ellie Long. Subs: Katie Harkin and Chloe Lacey for L.Greene and F.Doherty (48).
Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny: Aoibhin Randles, Ava Doherty, Eva Harvey, Caitlin Hume, Erika Gallagher, Marie Rushe, Emma Gribben, Maria Kealy, Nicole McDaid, Hannah Hopkins, Gabrielle O’Donnell. Sub: Niamh Sweeney for McDaid (31).
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