Registration
All players need to register with the club. Registration is through https://www.myclubfinances.com/memberships_cart_m.asp?LL_ID=845&intMF_ID=2925#Anchor
Match Reports
Girls U18s
Herbertstown 0-7 Aisling Annacotty
Our U18 girls produced a near-flawless performance today against a young Herbertstown team, to maintain their 100% record in the league. Despite missing some key players, the girls dominated from start to finish, and didn’t allow the opposition a single shot on goal. Emma Costelloe, playing majestically in centre midfield, got things going with a slide-rule pass to Laoise Ní Aodha, who coolly slotted it past the onrushing keeper. The scorer turned provider a few minutes later, retrieving a shot from Emma O’Donoghue that hit the post, and squaring for O’Donoghue, who made no mistake second time round. With the two Emmas raining in perfect crosses from every corner, it was always likely one would lead to a goal. Sure enough, Amy Costelloe, timing her run to perfection, pounced on one, and smashed the ball to the net from 10 yards. Next up was Aisling Kennedy, with a bullet-header reminiscent of Smith versus Borussia Mönchengladbach or Keane versus Juventus. Remarkably it was the first headed goal of her career (no doubt it will not be her last). With half-time approaching, Ní Aodha meandered in from the right wing, looking to pass, but finding no options, figured she might as well cut back onto her right, beat her defender, and casually sweep the ball into the bottom corner. The second half was certainly less one-sided, as Herbertstown fought extremely hard, and pushed into our half on several occasions. However, the girls’ fitness levels allowed them to swarm in twos and threes, and snuff out any danger. Íde Ní Ifearnáin’s timing in the tackle was superb, and her distribution was neat and tidy. Aisling Doran was in a ding-dong battle with her opposite number all day and came out on top on most occasions. Sarah Hall threw herself into tackles most would shrink from, and almost got through for a goal after a mazy run from the half-way line. Taylor McEvoy, likewise showed her customary disregard for her own personal safety, and was ferocious in the tackle. Abby McCarthy, freed from the goalkeeping duties for the half, broke through on several occasions but found putting the ball in the net a little more difficult than keeping it out, on this occasion anyway. Sarah Cleary, having fulfilled her duties at centre back and in goal, got the run up front she was craving, and within five minutes had the ball in the net, robbing the unfortunate keeper, on a backpass. She nearly had another too, when she swivelled on a ball in the six-yard box only for the keeper to make a good save. It was fitting that team captain Jade O’Connor, who had been the rock of the defence all day, had the final say, turning in our third goal from a corner, and bringing her tally for the season to a remarkable five. At full-time, the Herbertstown manager, who is on the league committee, pronounced that the girls were now league champions. However, there is still some uncertainty on this, and a final match versus Murroe may be needed to bring the first girls league title ever to the club.
SFAI Under 14 National Cup Quarter Final.
On the 19th March Cherry Orchard of the DDSL were the visitors to Annacotty to take on our under 14's in the Quarter Finals of the Sketchers SFAI National Cup. The sun shone in Annacotty after the recent snow and the large crowd who turned up in Annacotty were treated to a great exhibition of football that saw the league champions from Dublin against the league champions of Limerick.
Cherry Orchard came with a proven reputation as one of the best schoolboy team at this age in the Country, League and Cup champions in DDSL, five players in national development squad and only been beaten once in three years. Aisling Annacotty also had strong pedigree as Limerick under 13 champions from last season and two under 14 and two under 13 players in the national development squad in the starting team and no fewer than 8 players on the day who are currently competing for places in the Limerick Kennedy Cup Squad.
Aisling Annacotty got the start to the match they dreaded when Cherry Orchard scored after two minutes to put us on the back foot. However, this is a resilient Aisling team and they dug in well to gain parity and get themselves back in the game. Unfortunately, we did not create the scoring chance we needed to draw level and it was the visitors who scored next to take a two-nil lead after 25 minutes. This was the wakeup call Annacotty needed and for the next 10 minutes they played some great football and were rewarded on the half hour mark when they scored following a free kick from 25 metres by Mark Murphy that was parried by the goalkeeper and Ciaran Coulter following up drove it to the back of the net to leave the half time score 2-1 and all to play for. The second half was a more even contest and Aisling had a great opportunity to draw level mid-way through when Stephen Kiely struck the crossbar with a header and we were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the follow up that saw an Aisling Annacotty player left on the deck. Aisling threw everything at the visitors for the last 15 minutes but it was Cherry Orchard who got a third goal on the break to make it 3-1. Eugene Hurley pulled of a fine save from a free kick to keep the score at 3-1 and despite Darragh Murray, Leon Kirrane and Stephen Kiely creating some late chances it was not to be and the game finished 3-1 to Cherry Orchard who now go on to meet Leicester Celtic in the Semis.
On a day when all the Aisling Annacotty players gave 100% it was a great defensive performance from Ben Hayes, Ciaran Coulter and the young Colm Lenihan that stood out, and they were well supported in these defensive efforts by Alex Carragher, Donnacha O'Leary, Darragh Murray, Darren Nwankwo and Conal O'Duinn. The whole team can be rightly proud of themselves and despite the disappointment of this loss they have a lot to play for yet this season yet with a Regional Cup Quarter final to come, we are fighting for top place in the League and we have the Quarter finals of the LDSL Cup to come. The romance of the National Cup is over for this year and full credit to the large crowd of home supporters who came out to cheer on the home team. 324 under 14 teams started out in round one of the competition so reaching the last eight is a great achievement and a kinder draw could have seen us through to the last four. This is a great young team and we are sure they will still have a great season, well done lads.
(Team v Cherry Orchard 19/3/2018 – Eugene Og Hurley, Colm Lenihan, Ciaran Coulter, Darren Nwankwo, Ben Hayes, Darragh Murray, Donnacha O'Leary, Mark Murphy, Stephen Kiely, Leon Kirrane, Alex Carragher, Conal O'Duinn, Finn Durack, Ryan Beni Djiopang, Niall Burns, Aaron Hough.)
Soccer Sisters Easter Camp
Announcing a soccer sisters camp in Aisling Annacotty om April 3rd and 4th. Any girl who signs up for the AVIVA Soccer Sisters before the end of February will be in with a chance to become a flag bearer at one of Ireland’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Tallaght Stadium, Dublin this April.
Two of the winners will act as a flag bearer for the game vs Slovakia on April 6thwith the other two winners acting as flag bearers for the game against European champions Netherlands, four days later. Each winner will receive a ticket to their match plus three others for family and friends.
To register, visit www.soccersisters.ie
For further information, click on the link below:
http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/become-a-wnt-flagbearer-this-april
News
Under 12A remain top of Premier Division following a 4 – 1 win at Mungret Regional. Goals from Jack, Fionn, Davy and Alberto.
U14A had a 4-1 win away to Fairview Rangers this weekend. Two goals each from Darragh and Stephen.
Coffee Shop
Thank you for supporting our Saturday coffee shop. A gentle reminder that all funds generated support the club.
