Pres Athenry claim Minor Girls Soccer title with Duffy hat-trick

PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY captured the FAI Schools Minor Girls National Cup following a superb second-half display to overpower Leinster stars Kingswood Community College 3-0 in Athlone Town AFC yesterday (Wednesday, May 8th)

This is the second title for Presentation College this season as they captured the Junior Girls National Cup last month at the same venue to complete an impressive double. There was nothing to separate the two sides as it was scoreless at half-time with very little on target but a pulsating second half for the Connacht side saw them explode into life.

 Under 15 Schools’ International Abbie DUFFY was the hero of the ‘half-hour’ as her hat-trick guaranteed the top spot for Athenry. The first of her three goals came just three minutes into the second half with a beauty from Duffy to see past a busy Sophie Farrell between the posts for the Tallaght school. Duffy’s second was six minutes later as she converted from the penalty spot. The third goal came on 41 minutes when she produced a delightful free kick from 25 yards out to see the ball go over Farrell’s head and in.

 Kingswood Captain Abigail Quinn came close to snatching a late goal but her effort was dragged wide of the far post with three minutes of normal time remaining. Ella Byrne and Caitlin Curtis were impressive for Kingswood but the sheer power of the Athenry crew was too much to handle. Patrick Conroy’s team won the First Year Girls National Cup last season, he’s added the Minor title to his collection this season so he will be attempting an ambitious Junior crown in 2025 with this impressive selection of players and retain the status quo a year on. Anything is possible as you have the quality of Duffy and Bouhlel McNamara scoring hat-tricks for fun! 

 PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY | Jane Brennan, Cadhla Fox, Saoirse Counihan, Aoibhín Hannon, Brooke Corcoran, Anna Jordan ©, Sinéad Feeney, Abbie Duffy, Amira Bouhlel McNamara, Kacie Lally Duffy, Tegan Kilkenny

SUBS ROLL ON / OFF | Lily Mae Feeney, Sophie Murray, Amy Gilmartin, Sophie Murray, Gemma Cloonan, Áine Duffy, Isabel Furey

TEACHERS | Patrick Conroy, Majella Carr, Dom Coll

 KINGSWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN | Sophie Farrell, Naiya Rankin, Sophie Sheridan, Sophie Eite Ennis, Ciara McGuire, Lauren Dalton, Katie McGovern, Ella Byrne, Caitlin Curtis, Abigail Quinn ©, Jessie O’Reilly

SUBS ROLL ON / OFF | Lannah Hurley Stanley, Lauren O’Reilly, Holly Judge, Grace Power

TEACHERS | Mary Flora Scott, Chloe Crean, Stephen Lawless

MATCH OFFICIAL | Damien Conlon (Athlone)