1st Years Qualify for Cup Final!

28th March 2023

Latest News

Donabate Community College – 1 (DCC win 5-4 pens) 

Alexandra College – 1 

Congratulations to the 1st Year girls football team who have qualified for the Leinster First Years Girls’ Cup Final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Alexandra College. Lucy Caswell scored the all important goal in the second half of extra time to ensure the game went to penalties and Jay Coates proved exceptional in goal making a number of brilliant saves including the all important penalty save!

DCC started the game in possession and made a running start towards goal but were dispossessed by Alexandra College before they were within shooting range. The first corner kick took place seven minutes into the match. The opposition tried to go for a goal but DCCs keeper Jay Coates saved it and put DCC back into possession of the ball.  

Going from the goal kick, DCC carried the ball from the halfway line into their shooting range. The opposition blocked the first shot taken and the rebound shot was saved by the keeper. As the game progressed, the other team had possession more than us however all advances at goals were stopped by keeper Jay Coates.  

A moment of chance took place 17 minutes in from a throw in the attacking end. An attacker from DCC broke through Alexandra Colleges’ defence and took a shot, however, the effort went wide. A close goal from the opposition turned into an incredible save from DCC’s superstar defender, Anna Russell, as she ran into the net and kicked the ball away before it crossed the line after the ball slipped through the keeper’s hands. 

The opposition started the second half. As they tried to work the ball up the field, Saoirse Brennan tackled and worked the ball back into the attacking half. A corner kick taken by our team was worked into the box however it was saved by the opposition’s keeper. Tensions were running high as there are many near chances, however, none scored. Alexander College striker tried to break through DCCs defence however Anna Russell stopped any further advances.  

As the full-time whistle sounded, neither side had scored despite plenty of chances, so it was on to extra time! The energy on the pitch was unmatchable as both sides realised only one team was making it through to the final.  

In the first half of extra time, the game is very back and forth until Alexander College scored a goal in the last minute of the first half. To their credit, the DCC girls did not let this knock their confidence, they came off with their heads in the game thinking about how they were going to play the second half of extra time. 

During the second half, the opposition made advances towards DCC’s defence line to take another goal. However, goalkeeper Jay Coates had other plans. Saving the ball, Jay worked it back out into the attacking half. The whole team worked together to get the ball to Lucy Caswell who found the net for the girls, pushing them through to the penalties and getting them one step closer to the final. 

When penalties were being taken, DCC scored 5/5 whereas Alexander College scored 4/5 because once again Jay Coates pulled off a brilliant save, blocking the ball and it went over the crossbar. This save sent the girls to the final! 

The girls will face Loreto Kilkenny in Peamount FC this Thursday 30th March at 11:30am. We are so proud of them, and we know they will do us proud no matter what the result is. 

DCC: Jay Coates, Katie Fogarty, Zofia Warzynska, Erin Finn, Lucy Sheridan, Lucy Caswell, Orlaith Browne, Sarah Weir, Niamh Zaidan, Anna Russell, Georgia Hall, Saoirse Brennan, Izabella Reilly, Lucy Caswell 

Report and photos by Murron McGuire and Sadbh Bracken, TY Journalism