Maria Ni Ghallchoir drives Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair to FAIS U-15 glory

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair were crowned All-Ireland champions in Monaghan on Wednesday with Maria Ni Ghallchoir grabbing a hat-trick.

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair 4
Balbriggan Community College 1

In the final of the FAI Schools Minor ‘B’ Girls National Cup U-15 Small Schools at Monaghan United FC, it was the Leinster champions who opened the scoring through Aoife Sheridan on 11 minutes.

However, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair weren’t hindered by that setback and almost got back on level terms within a minute, with Brianna Ni Fhearraigh hitting the post. Ni Ghallchoir equalised on 21 minutes with a brilliant individual effort.

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair really had their tails up and after captain Mary Anne Nic A Bhaird hit the crossbar, Maria Ni Ghallchoir struck in the 28th minute to put the west Donegal side 2-1 up at the break.

Instead of sitting on their lead, a third goal for Pobalscoil three minutes into the second half made it 3-1, with Eva Ni Dhuibhir on target and goalkeeper Roisin Ni Chasaide maintaining that two-goal cushion with a fine save from Shannon Corr eight minutes from time. 

Maria Ni Ghallchoir put the cherry on top of a fantastic Pobalscoil performance when she scored her third of the afternoon on 54 minutes to complete a fantastic victory.

For team manager Michelle Duffy, it was a poignant moment in capturing her second national title, with her first coming in 2011 with Loreto Letterkenny alongside the late Bríd Carr.

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair: R Ni Chasaide, NicPhaidin, Magner, Ni Dhuibhir, Ni Bhaoill, A Ni Fhearraigh, B Ni Fhearraigh, A Ni Chasaide, Nic Giolla Chomhaill, Ni Ghallachoir, Nic A Bhaird.

Balbriggan Community College: Casey, Megrane, Reynolds, Murtagh, Harper, Sheridan, Mazewska, Orange, Bronislovaitye, Eghuchulam, Corr.