Cappry Rovers U-12 girls hold onto their title after tense final day drama

The final day of the DWL U-12 league campaign had all the drama you'd expect on trophy day. 

Cappry Rovers A knew that a win against Keadue Rovers would guarantee them the championship for a second consecutive year. 

Mulroy Academy, on the other hand, needed to defeat Ballyraine Harps and hope for a Keadue upset to snatch the title. 

The tension was palpable, not just on the ground but in the skies as well - it was as if a helicopter hovered over Errigal, mid-way between Keadue and Fanad, ready to swoop down and deliver the trophy to the deserving winners.

In Keadue, Cappry Rovers faced a determined home side that was in no mood to let them claim the title without a fight. 

Keadue, despite missing several key players, started the match brightly. Their youthful squad displayed excellent energy and precision, zipping the ball around with purpose. 

Just five minutes into the game, Jessica Keys set up Katie Gillespie, who fired Keadue into an early lead. Cappry, shaken by the early goal, struggled to find their rhythm as Keadue’s midfield trio of Ayva Boyle, Fia Ham, and Evie Ham took control.

Meanwhile, at Trialough, Mulroy Academy knew they had to do their part and secure a victory against Ballyraine Harps. Despite the challenging conditions, a force 6 wind and heavy rain, Mulroy started strongly. 

They took the lead when Mia Carlin broke free to score past Ballyraine’s keeper, Holly Gordon. With the wind at their backs, Mulroy pressed hard, but Holly Gordon's heroics in goal kept the scoreline at 1-0. Nevertheless, Mulroy doubled their advantage before halftime, with Anita Peoples slotting home a fine goal to make it 2-0.

Back in Keadue, Cappry regrouped during the break and came out for the second half determined to turn things around. 

With the wind now in their favour, they began to assert themselves, pushing Keadue back into their own half. 

Despite the pressure, Keadue’s defense, led by Amelia McGee, Teigan Boyle, and Shauna McGovern, stood firm. Whenever Cappry did breach the defense, Ciara Gallagher was there with a series of stunning saves. 

However, on 45 minutes, Cappry finally got their break when a loose ball in the box fell to Mbuli, who calmly finished to level the match.

As the second half progressed at Trilough, Mulroy Academy kept their foot on the gas, knowing that a comprehensive win was necessary to keep their slim title hopes alive. 

Ballyraine, hoping the wind would aid their comeback, found themselves outmanoeuvred as Mulroy smartly kept the ball on the ground. 

With Alice Gibbons pulling the strings in midfield, Mulroy extended their lead to 3-0 through Clodagh McVeigh. Alice Gibbons then put the icing on the cake with a brilliant solo effort, sprinting the length of the pitch to score Mulroy’s fourth goal.  Now all they could do was wait as news of the match in Keadue filtered through.

As the clock ticked into added time at Keadue, Cappry’s relentless pressure finally paid off. A through ball found Molly Gallagher, who broke free and finished with composure to give Cappry a 2-1 lead. 

Keadue’s players appealed for offside, but the goal stood. Despite their disappointment, Keadue could take pride in their performance against the league leaders. Cappry, however, knew that this late goal had secured them the title, and when the final whistle blew, their celebrations began in earnest.

In the end, Cappry Rovers’ hard-fought 2-1 victory at Keadue ensured that the helicopter would be heading to Keadue with the trophy. 

Mulroy Academy’s 4-0 win over Ballyraine Harps, though impressive, was not enough to alter the final standings. Cappry were crowned champions for the second year running, while Mulroy could only wonder what might have been. The final day had delivered all the drama expected, with both teams showcasing their talents and determination in pursuit of glory.