Sally Shines in the SFAI Semi Final
A Sally Morgan-inspired Portlaoise AFC 15’s overcame a stubborn Rathangan in the SFAI South Leinster u16 Semi-Final at a windy Leisure Center on Saturday morning.
Portlaoise AFC 15’s 7
Rathangan FC 0
Portlaoise started brightly and pressed the home team back, with Emma Frances and Aoibheann Bourke gaining an upper hand in central midfield early on. Emily Flynn, reveling in her new position in midfield continually offered herself as an option and played some fantastic through balls to the front three of Keelin Moore, Ciara Breslin, and Sally Morgan. On 10 minutes some fantastic combination play from Flynn and Frances set Breslin on her way, and she slipped the ball past the onrushing keeper into the net for an early lead.
Rathangan played the high line well in the opening half, and Portlaoise fell into the offside trap on more than one occasion, but it never deterred them.
Moore continually found space and her clever prompting was behind Portlaoise’s second goal on 17 mins. From wide on the right, she turned inside and played a ball back to Aoibheann Bourke, who played a perfectly weighted through ball to Sally Morgan. Morgan went through one on one with the keeper and coolly slotted the ball home, for what was a cracking goal.
Three minutes later a third Portlaoise goal arrived, courtesy of an Emma Frances corner, which was only partially cleared to Saoirse Carroll Connell, who dispatched it calmly to the net.
Anna Keegan and Lucy Moran arrived on the pitch and both made an instant impact - Keegan’s high pressing and strength in possession a real plus for Portlaoise, whilst Lucy Moran slotted in seamlessly to the left midfield role, supporting her defense and attack when required, and always choosing the right option in possession.
In the last 10 minutes of the half, Portlaoise played some great football, using goalkeeper Doireann Brennan and Leah Brennan, and Niamh Dundon and effectively building from the back through midfield. From one of these passages of play, captain Hollie Murphy stepped out of defense, and passed to Moore who found Breslin who finished beautifully for her second of the day.
At halftime, Leah Brophy and Lily O’Meara came onto the field of play, and both were to have massive impacts on the second half. Brophy was very busy in a new central midfield role, bringing great energy and physicality to the role, supporting defense and attack when required. O’Meara slotted effortlessly into the wide left role, and worked hard, covering for Niamh Dundon when she stepped into midfield, and joining the attack and getting in the box also when the opportunity arose.
On 55 minutes, a great run on the right by Lucy Moran stretched the Rathangan defense - she squared it to Maisie Kerry who played a beautiful ball around the back of the defense where O’Meara had ghosted in and she caught it full on the volley into the top corner. A very popular scorer, and easily the goal of the day.
Ciara Breslin got her hat trick on 70 minutes when Maisie Kerry held up a ball played forward and laid it off to Hollie Murphy, who in turn slipped it through. Breslin hit a powerful drive into the top corner from 12 yards, giving the keeper no chance.
Murphy was having a real impact in centre midfield, driving at the Rathangan defense at every opportunity, and in the last play of the game, she showed great balance, skill, and footwork to dance past three defenders and pass the ball into the net to complete the scoring.
Portlaoise now progresses to the SFAI South Leinster Final, which will take place after Christmas.