Slane 3-9  Dee Rangers 1-7

On a really warm evening our u14's faced Dee Rangers in the Semi-Final at home.

The game started brightly to match the weather, the opening attack came from the visitors which went wide. From their kick out Slane won possession and worked the ball well and earned a free, which Holly Kealy duly dispatched for a point.
Dee Rangers scored 2 points to put pressure on the girls which they responded to by leveling up and moments later taking the lead following a well worked passage of play that ended with a goal scored by Kerrie Kealy. The midfield was sometimes chasing shadows as they played a sweeper system and meant there was 4 in the center, Aisling Martin and Maia Searle coped as best they could along with Bronagh Lane, Roisin Mullen and Ava Healy keeping them limited to few attempts on goal. Special mention to Bronagh Lane who stopped a clear chance for a goal for the opposition. The heat was a factor for both sets of players when the chances arose water breaks were welcomed. Slane managed two points in succesion from Maia Searle and Holly Kealy. The half ended 1-4 to 0-3 (7-3)

For the second half Slane picked up the spare player and on the opposition with Roisin Mullen putting in a great performance. The girls were really up for it and put away the points very well. The change of Tara O'Sullivan to forward and Erin Lane to slot in to her position seamlessly. The game became all the more tight when Dee Rangers scored a goal & point half way through the second half. Aoife Hickey and Eva O'Hagan made break after break in play to get the half forwards into attacking positions which paid off, with chance after chance from Tara O'Sullivan one of which was a great point. There was a very precise hand passing passage between Aisling Martyn and Holly Kealy which ended in a point from Holly Kealy. At this stage there was only 2 points between the two teams, in the favour of Slane, and then came the turning point when a penalty was awarded to Slane. Holly Kealy took her time and scored a great goal, which she followed up with another goal to give them the comfort of a 2 goal advantage. The match ended 3-9 to 1-7 (18-10)

I just want to wish them well for the final, whenever it may be, and it was a pleasure to mentor/coach them this season and I hope that they get something to show for the effort they have displayed and as a team they deserve it after winning each match they played in, 8 wins from 8 matches.

Slane: Lauren White (GK), Roisin Mullen, Ava Healy, Bronagh Lane, Tara O'Sullivan (0-1), Aisling Martyn, Aoife Hickey, Maia Searle (0-1), Eva O'Hagan, Eve Smith, Holly Kealy (2-6), Kerrie Kealy (1-1), Rebecca Tully (Sarah Kealy), Sarah Kealy (Erin Lane) Subs : Aisling Mooney, Caoimhe Gough, Ava Russell, Noirin O'Malley, Emily Flynn.

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