Mayo native named player of the match in Bob Docherty Cup opener
Ballyheane FC's Emma Duffy was named player of the match as the Republic of Ireland schools got off to a winning start yesterday (Monday) in the 2022 Bob Docherty Cup campaign with a confident victory over their English counterparts.
The hosts had a comfortable 4-0 win against Northern Ireland yesterday evening which left little doubt that it was going to be a mammoth task for Richard Berlekey’s side this afternoon.
Duffy, who attends Davitt College, Castlebar, gave a stellar performance over the seventy minutes. Her reading of the game was excellent and her composure on the ball ensured the holding midfielder halted plenty of the English attacking prowess.
Another Mayo player, Keeva Flynn (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina), came on as a second-half substitute.
England had the first real opportunity of the game as Niamh Boothroyd came closest to scoring when she rounded Clodagh Fitzgerald in the Irish goal but a heavy touch took the ball away from her and over the endline.
Five minutes later, it was Ireland that tested the merits of the English number one when Orlaith Doherty forced a fine save from Ella Stowell at the near post. The responding corner saw Tallaght Community School pupil Lauryn McCabe rise highest in the box but her header just sailed wide of the mark.
The crucial opener came courtesy of the tenacious St. Columba’s College scholar Orlaith Doherty as she got on the end of a Kiera Sena (Coláiste an Chraoibín, Fermoy) corner four minutes from the interval.
An out swinging corner from Lauryn McCabe found Chloe Wallace (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street, Limerick) in the box who made no mistake from six yards out with a wonderful strike for Ireland’s second with 54 minutes played.
A purple patch for the Republic of Ireland as two minutes later, Captain Hannah Healy (Holy Faith SS, Clontarf) made it 3-0. Her penetrating run down the centre of the park was ably finished with a perfect shot on goal, past the diving keeper.
England got one back just before the hour mark when the impressive Niamh Boothroyd struck from close range.
Ireland’s fourth came from substitute Emily Fitzgerald (Coláiste Iognaid, Galway) who was only on the field a few minutes. Her impact was immediate when she got on the end of a McCabe cross from the left flank to convert past Stowell.
Ella Stowell pulled off an excellent save five minutes from time to deny Emily Fitzgerald her second goal of the day.
An inspiring outing for the Irish girls in their opening game of the tournament.
Next up for the Republic of Ireland is Northern Ireland which kicks off today (Tuesday) at 4 p.m.
The last time these two sides met was at the end of February in Midgley Park, Belfast when the hosts won 2-1 in a highly competitive outing. Northern Ireland will want to bounce back from their opening day defeat to England and the Republic will want to ensure a top spot in the group table.
The other group game tomorrow will see Scotland and Wales face off.
The tournament will conclude on Thursday morning with games kicking off at 11 a.m.