Battling performance from U-13 Girls before losing out to Nenagh Celtic

Rearcross U13 girls played Nenagh Celtic U13 girls in Rearcross on Saturday morning last January 13th. On a dry clear morning with conditions ideal for football, both teams attacked each other’s goals with end to end activity from the start. Rearcross breached the Nenagh Celtic defence on a few occasions with Kate Kennedy and Orlaigh Carr having chances saved by the Nenagh Celtic custodian. Nenagh too had some early chances with Saoirse Guidera in the Rearcross goals and the Rearcross defence ably keeping them at bay. This was a very open game with free-flowing football, both midfields engaged in a ding-dong battle trying to gain the upper hand, a highlight of the game been the battle between Hailee Tanner from Celtic and Orlaigh Carr Rearcross, with both having periods of dominance. Both defences were dogged in defending throughout with Aoibheann Devitt, Lauren Hartnett and Zara Maher repelling Nenagh Celtic attacks and launching quick counter attacks. Nenagh Celtic scored 3 quick fire goals in rapid succession in a 10-minute period before half time, Rearcross possibly been too adventurous in playing the ball out from the back for 2 of these goals. Shortly into the 2nd half with great defending from the Rearcross rearguard and constant pressing and attacking from our midfield of Abbie Carroll, the Carr sisters Orlaigh and Maria and Saoirse Guidera, Rearcross pressure eventually resulted in the winning of a penalty which Kate Kennedy dispatched to the net. Rearcross dominated for the next fifteen minutes, winning multiple corners but ultimately could get past the Nenagh goalie. This was an open and entertaining game, much closer than the eventual 3-1 scoreline, with Rearcross girls improving with every game. Nenagh are one of the better teams that the Girls have played in a while and every ball was contested fairly with no quarter given as has always been the case with Nenagh Celtic v Rearcross clashes. The girls showed their versatility by taking turns in goal and our starting goalie Saoirse going up front and putting in an impressive shift up there, Zofia Kwiecinska impressing when going in goals, special mention to Ava Kwiecinska at 9 years old who impressed greatly. Also well done to Maria Collins who also made her debut and has 2 more years at this age group. All girls are playing really well and are creating loads of chances in every game, becoming a hard team to beat.
Best of luck to a very good Nenagh Celtic team whom we will hopefully play again before the season ends.

Rearcross U-13 Girls: Saoirse Guidera, Aoibheann Devitt, Ruth Johnson, Zofia Kwiecinska, Lauren Hartnett, Zara Maher, Abbie Carroll, Orlaigh Carr, Maria Carr, Kate Kennedy, Chloe Quinlan, Anna Kennedy, Maria Collins

Nenagh Celtic: Abbie O’Leary, Leah White, Lauren Ryan, Wiktoria Walerowicz, Bailee Lawlor McGrath, Abi Carr, Aiveen Ryan, Mary Carmody, Ruby Keith-Crosse, Hailee Tanner, Rhea Ryan Donnellan, Saoirse Kelly, Carla Stanescu

Referee: Colin O’Gorman

Report by Myles Devitt