Abbey girls topple Virginia College in one-sided affair to reach U-16 Ulster final

Nothing could separate the two teams in their first meeting, but time proved to be a lot different as the Abbey U-16 girls team led by as much as 10 in the first half and didn't look back, booking their place in an Ulster Shield final in Garvaghey on Monday.

The game started tit-for-tat and looked to be heading in the same direction as the previous meeting with both teams scoring goals in the opening 10 minutes.

Abbey slowly got a grip of the game, winning lots of key ball around the middle-third of the pitch and through kickpassing into their lively forwards who caused the Virginia rearguard trouble throughout the affair, began edging in front.

20 minutes into the game, Abbey's midfielder Romy Byrne gained possession and went on a mazy run with the ball ending up in the back of the Cavan colleges net. 

This was a turning point as it gave the Abbey great confidence and they began pressing up on the opposition teams kickouts, not allowing Virginia out of their own half.

Abbey finished the half stronger of the teams, scoring two goals in the final five minutes of the first half. It left Virginia with a mountain to climb in the second-half being down by 10 points going into the second period.

Half-time:  Abbey 4-4, Virginia 1-3

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Abbey started from where they left off as Laura Quinn won the ball from the throw- in and scored a point, reducing Virginia's college chances of a comeback even more.

In the first outing Virginia's forwards were accurate in front of the posts, but the Abbey backline had their matchups right, allowing Virginia no space to manoeuvre scores. 

Virginia's focal point in the attack from the first game was snuffed out by Abbey’s centre-back Alex Crawford, who along with the other half backs didn't mind making late runs from deep helping furthermore to punch holes in the Virginia defence.

Abbey truly put the tie to bed with two well worked goals halfway through the second half. Virginia rallied late on scoring a few nice scores, but it was too little too late as the Donegal town school ran out eventual winners.

It was an all round team effort from the Abbey with every player a part to make sure they got over the line. 

Abbey VS: Cara Tooher, Deirbhile Greene, Cora Cassidy, Mia Gavigan, Eva Dunnion, Alex Crawford, Claire McGroarty (0-01), Romy Byrne (1-01), Ellen James, Amy Ward, Laura Quinn (0-01), Aoife Doherty, Ava McGroary (1-03), Megan Gallagher (2-00), Emma McNulty (2-01)

Subs: Amy Doherty, Sally McGonagle, Niamh Brogan, Clodagh Hannigan, Mia McGowan, Grace McBrearty, Eimear Meehan, Daire Brogan, Niamh Reilly, Eloise Healy, Aine O’Donnell, Roisin Hegarty, Aimee McGowan.