Juvenile Reports

U9/10 Girls Football-v- St Marks

On a beautiful afternoon last Saturday, our youngest team of girl footballers faced St Marks in the new format of matches at the U10 age group.St Marks had asked that we play our younger girls as they only have a young panel. As a result 5 girls made their debut in the claret and blue and in a remarkable show of footballing skills the Olafs side dominated from start to finish. Handpassing, catching, and kicking were of the highest order and not even the ‘transfer’ of  four older Olafs girls to Marks managed to change the dynamic of this group of superb young footballers – the future is very bright indeed!
Panel: Aisling Bonar, Orla Brennan, Aoife Brennan, Nia Kennedy, Niamh Gannon, Ciara Donnelly, Emily Gannon, Aoife Maher, Ciara Gray, Aoife McGrath, Katie O’Rourke, Grace Lanigan, Rachel O’Crowley, Clara O’Sullivan, Emma Smyth.

U11 Camogie
Naomh Olaf -v-St Vincents

Table toppers St Vincent’s came to Pairc Ui Bhriain for what we hoped would be an entertaining game as they have had some big wins in winning all their games since the start of the season. There was also the added competitive edge between two of the mentors on both teams as they use to work together and had not seen each other in years. Both teams settled quickly and play was very tight with both teams very much up for the match. Again we lacked the strength in the forwards to take advantage of scoring opportunities. The Vincents full back used her body strength and skill to time and time again to gain possession. Our half back line especially ‘player of the match’ Rachel Mahon cleared long balls out of defence with first time pucks on both sides, however 20 minutes in they scored a goal. For the next 10 minutes both teams had chances but the scores were just not coming as both sets of defence cleared their lines.At half time we told the girls they had every chance to win this game if we continued to contest every ball equally and stayed in our positions. ten minutes into the second half we were very unlucky when we conceded a second goal. With six substitutes on the bench all needing a game we made changes to the forward line and after what seemed an eternity Aoife O’Rourke netted for Olaf’s. With 15 minutes to play we again had two open chances on goal and missed both of them. Huge sighs on the Olaf’s line. We were really giving them a game The tension between both teams and mentors was tremendous. It was not to be our day however, and Vincents scored another goal at the end of the match. What we realised from this match is that we not far off the standard at the top of  Division 1, but we need to improve our play in the forward line and with this in mind we will be aiming to get as close as possible to Vincents by the end of the season.

Panel : Roisin MacLoughlin, Claire O’Connor, Jodie Ellis, Saoirse Melwani, Laura Hayes, Amy McGrath, Jordan Bent, Rachel Mahon, Shannon McDonagh, Jemma McNulty, Eimear Hughes, Rebecca Sinnott, Hayleigh Gunning,  Morgain Reynolds, Aoife O’Rourke, Martha Malone and Aisling Murphy

U12Girls Footballers
For the second week in a row, the U12 girls put on a tremenduous performance to eventually overcome a tenacious and brave St Anne’s team. In a low scoring game dominated by two strong defences a final minute goal from our graceful centre half back, Niamh Donnelly, gave Naomh Olafs the lead on the scoreboard their play justifibly deserved. A strong performance by the Annes centre half forward, redeployed to full back for most of the game, saw the Bohernabreena girls hang on to the slender lead they had got from a great early second half goal. Some wayward shooting, that saw Olafs hit the woodwork on four occasions, had the home supporters on tender hooks as the clock wound down. However, a great move started by Róisín MacLoughlin at the back, that worked its way up the field through Niamh Lakes, Katie Grimes and Stacey McNulty before ending in the soft hands of the mercurial young Donnelly, saw her powerful kick fly past the keeper to give Olafs a one point win. Next stop Kilmacud Crokes on 19th April.
 
Naomh Olaf 1-04  St Anne’s 1-03
Panel: Niamh Lakes, Niamh Donnelly, Katie Grimes, Róisín MacLoughlin, Jemma McNulty, Stacey McNulty, Amy McGrath, Stefanie Deasy, Rachel Mahon, Oonagh Fitzgerald, Teresa Lee, Niamh Brennan, Ailish Murphy, Aoife O’Rourke, Hayleigh Gunning, Ciara Donnelly, Ellen Brien & Rachel O’Crowley

U13 Camogie
Our Under 13 Camogie girls entertained Erin Go Bragh from Clonee in a league game on Saturday afternoon. Both teams found it difficult to hit the sliotar on the ground given the length of the grass. In a tough and physical match Olafs scored a couple of quick goals and went into the break 3-0 up. Although the visitors put a few scores over the crossbar, the Olaf girls racked up another three goals eventually running out comfortable winners. Well done to all the girls involved – continuing good performances such as this will soon see them at the business end of the league.
Panel: Patricia Barrett, Harriet Meegan, Aine Doyle, Jenny Moore, Kate Murray, Mairead O’Shea Scanlan, Katie Pollard, Neeama Keogh, Ellen Rourke, Leanne Smith, Orla Farrell, Lisa Kelly, Katie Grimes, Shauna O’Connell, Eilish Murphy, Niamh Donnelly, Sadhbh Maher, Sadie Lanigan, Carolyn McGuirk & Louise MacDonagh.