Holders Portadown College retained the Under-16 Girls Schools’ Cup with a fine 2-0 win against Parkhall Integrated College today.
Goals from Heidi Baird and Sasha Thompson helped the Co Armagh school to secure the Northern Ireland Schools' Football Association trophy for the second year running.
It was a thoroughly entertaining final at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
Portadown had to make a last-minute change to their starting line-up. Kornelija Arbociute was injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Faith Ritchie.
Both sides pushed forward from the start, with both defences making important interventions.
The first clearcut opportunity fell to Portadown’s Baird in the fifth minute. The winger shot over the top from close range after she got on the end of a loose clearance.
On 11 minutes Parkhall midfielder Grace Murray had a long range effort which was on target but comfortably collected
A minute later Baird showed some nifty footwork to skip past a couple of defenders but her shot-come-cross drifted across the six-yard box.
In the 16th minute a close range strike from Portadown College striker Sasha Thompson was superbly pushed over the top by Parkhall keeper Katelynn Kelly.
On 23 minutes the Antrim school’s keeper made another fine save, this time from Martha Speers. Thompson produced a great burst down the right flank and crossed to Speers. She fired in a good shot but Kelly was equal to it.
Makyla Stevenson conceded a free-kick for a robust challenge on Ella Kitson. Murray put the resulting free-kick wide of the upright.
On 29 minutes Portadown opened the scoring with a peach of a goal. Baird beat the offside trap, after latching on to an excellent lobbed pass from captain Leah Roney, and she ran forward to coolly slot the ball past Kelly from 16 yards.
After the interval Parkhall came flying out of the traps. They pushed Portadown back and Parkhall captain Jessica McQuillan scooped a shot wide after finding space in the area.
Portadown defender Faith Ritchie produced an excellent tackle to thwart Kitson as she was about to get a shot off inside the area.
Down the other end Kelly raced off her line to stop a Baird shot, while Baird put the rebound past the post.
Parkhall’s Holly Smyth then produced a strong shot which was pushed away by Portadown keeper Beth Evans.
Portadown extended their lead on 42 minutes. Another pinpoint pass from Roney found Speers down the left flank. She sped clear of her marker and smashed a shot against the post. The rebound was picked up by Baird down the right flank. She beat a defender before crossing to Sasha Thompson eight yards out and she clipped the ball home.
A minute later Thompson forced another great save out of Kelly, and shortly after she fired another shot straight at the Parkhall keeper. Speers also steered an effort past the upright.
Parkhall did not let their heads drop and kept going, driven forward by captain McQuillan, however they could not find a way through the resolute Portadown defence.
In added time a sweetly struck Murray free-kick was pushed away by Evans, and that was the last meaningful action of a well contested final.
Both teams created plenty of chances, but Portadown were more clinical in front of goal and deserved the win.
Parkhall Integrated College: Katelynn Kelly, Sienna Taylor, Chloe Tweedie, Sophie Trueick, Cora McCready, Darcy Grayson, Sophia Gill, Ella Kitson, Jessica McQuillan (captain), Grace Murray, Holly Smyth.
Substitutes: (used) Elizabeth Titterington, Mya Burns, Annie Barr; (unused) Lily Conway.
Portadown College: Beth Evans, Faith Ritchie, Lucy Megaw, Makyla Stevenson, Heidi Curran, Grace Adamson, Leah Roney (captain), Jessica McBroom, Sasha Thompson, Heidi Baird, Martha Speers.
Substitutes: Lucy McCombe, Katie Clarke, Evie Proctor, Alice Davison, Kornelija Arbociute (inj).
Action from the final
