Regina Mundi girls make history with first ever soccer title

Large support at St Colman's Park sees Cork City secondary school lift the Cork Girls Minor U-15 title.

The history making Regina Mundi soccer team who collected the schools' first ever SFAI title with a win in the Cork U-15 Cup Final.

Regina Mundi College 2 - 0 St. Marys High School Midleton

A well deserved and hard fought victory over St Mary's Midleton in this year's Girls Cork U-15 Cup Final secured a small piece of history for Cork City's Regina Mundi College.

The win means the school has secured its first ever SFAI soccer title.

The game was played in a fantastic atmosphere in front of a sizable crowd at a pristine St. Colman’s Park in Cobh on Monday, May 13.

While St. Mary’s were on familiar ground having won last year's final, for Regina Mundi this was their first ever appearance in an SFAI Cup final.

Regina dominated the early exchanges and pressed as a unit, with Faye Hanratty's early chance denied by the Midleton net minder who went on to pull off a series of great saves to keep the dominant Regina side at bay.

The inevitable breakthrough came with five minutes left in the opening period when another Hanratty effort was saved, only to be turned in by Fiona O’Connell on the follow-up.

St. Marys tried to claw their way back into the game with some positional changes which saw Cork City U-17 player Orla McCarthy and former Cork Gaynor player Sarah Goulding move into the heart of midfield.

Despite the changes the well organised Regina Mundi back four - anchored superbly by another Cork City U-17 player, Holly O'Hagan, - gave their opposition little chance to get back in the game.

In fact, Regina Mundi continued to dominate possession and several chances created by excellent team play in the final third were again denied by St. Mary’s goalkeeper, Bronach Thomas, whose excellent saves kept her side in the game.

She had no chance with five minutes remaining, however, when Alex Carroll burst through the defence and set up Fiona O’ Connell for an excellent top corner finish to secure her brace.

Minutes later the final whistle was met with joyous scenes from the Regina Mundi, players, coaches and sizable support.

Mr. Cian O’ Flynn (Regina Mundi Coach) and Faye Hanratty (Captain) with the U-15 Girls Cork Schools Cup. The schools first ever soccer title.

Presenting the Cup to the ecstatic Regina Mundi players Aiden Twomey, of Cork FAI Schools, commended both teams on a splendid display of football and sportsmanship.

He extended thanks go to both schools’ management for their continued support in allowing their students compete in competitions, all supporters that travelled on the day, all teachers involved, fixtures secretaries, Cobh Ramblers FC and the three match officials for their dedication throughout the season.

Match Officials: Referee: Pat Cambridge, AR 1: Mark O’Connell, AR2: Denis Morley 

Regina Mundi: 1.Zoe Hourigan, 2. Faye Hanratty, 3. Holly O’Hagan, 4. Alex Carroll, 5. Jessie Cunningham, 6. Olivia Browne, 7. Emma David, 8. Freya Tynan, 9. Mia Quille, 10. Thea Barry, 11. Poppy Lynch, 12. Rose Davis, 13. Tara Murphy, 14. Beth McLaughlin, 15. Ava O’ Mahony, 16. Cara Murray, 17. Chloe Murray, 18 Fiona O’Connell, 19. Layla Hogan O’ Connell. Management: Cian O’ Flynn & Anne Cashman. 

The St. Marys High School Midleton team who were runners up in this year's Girls Cork U-15 final.

St Marys HS Midleton: 1. Aoise Woods, 2. Kate Byrne, 3. Madalyn O’Halloran 4. Olivia McGrath 5. Sophie Murphy Shanahan 6. Aoibhinn Murphy 7. Caoilfhionn Deane 8. Lauren Conroy 9. Orla McCarthy 10. Sarah Goulding 11. Brónach Thomas 12. Molly Barrett 13. Erin Roberts 14. Olivia Casey 15. Abbey McSweeney 16. Lucy Behan 17. Meta Zukauskaite 18. Niamh Hankard 19. Hannah Casey 20. Leyla Raissa 21. Layla McGrath 22. Lena Matczak 23. Clara O’Brien 24. Sophie McCarthy. Management: Aidan Kelly & Erin Nagle.