Youghal Utd U-14 girls secured the Division 2 title and promotion last Friday evening after a tense play-off against Innishvilla at Douglas Hall. Both clubs had finished the campaign on 22 points and had to face each other for the third time this season.

Last April Innishvilla came to Youghal and left with a 4-0 victory. Three weeks ago Youghal reversed their fortune by beating their toughest opponents 2-0. That victory, followed by a 10-0 hammering of Ballinhassig and victories over killinardrish and Richmond meant Youghal entered the play-off on a strong run with 23 goals for and only 1 against.

The final was a carbon copy of the last time the two sides met. A slightly nervous Youghal side were pushed back to the edge of their area for the first ten minutes. Yet, when they had possession, they showed glimpses of what was to come. Rachel Galvin, Holly Twomey, Jess Lawton and Jess Swayne exchanged passes as they probed for an opening. The first real effort of the match fell to Holly Twomey.

A clever turn and neat pass at the edge of the area by Jess Swayne found Holly on the left side. The No. 9 tried to curve the ball on the back foot but her effort swerved up and away from the upright. There were few openings and Innisvilla’s pressure never brought goalkeeper, Aoife Landers into any significant action.

The movement of the Youghal forwards and wingers meant the opposition never quite got to grips when Youghal were on the offensive and Jess Lawton was unfortunate on a number of occasions not to produce more positive results on the right. However, midway through the first half, a fine interception by Sarah Roche inside her own area set the impressive Molly Schofield away on the left. Molly’s inside pass to Nora Walsh was pushed wide right to Jess Lawton. The No. 10 turned outside the defender and from the edge of the area her strike dipped under the bar to break the deadlock.

It was just desserts as Youghal had showed more inclination to pass and create chances. At the break the girls knew they were 35 minutes from glory and were determined to be only the second Youghal girls team to lift a title after Dick Sheehan’s U-16s in 2009. Innishvilla showed  great improvement in the second half. Under enormous pressure for the first 15 minutes, wherein Innishvilla almost leveled when a scrambled shot dribbled past the post, Youghal’s defence of Molly Schofield, Sarah Roche, Katie Manning and Kamilla Piecuck settled down and the efforts of the opposition began to peter out.

Most of the second half was a scrappy affair with Youghal desperate to hold on. With Innishvilla running out of options the towering presence of the outstanding Nora Walsh and Ellen Benaim meant Youghal were again taking control.

They broke Innishvilla hearts and resolve with quarter of an hour to the whistle. After great work by Jess Lawton on the right, her cross was intercepted in the area but the ever lively Jess Swayne pounced on the ball and her right footed half volley nestled in the corner. At 2-0 Youghal were in control and once again returned to the passing game that has served them so well this season.

There were further half chances for Rachel Galvin, Jess Lawton, Nora Walsh and Holly Twomey but another goal would have made unjust reading for an excellent Innishvilla side. There was much relief and joy at the final whistle and the girls celebrated with abandon after a long, tough season. The most satisfying aspect of winning this title for Youghal is the manner in which they achieved it.

All season they have worked hard and tried to play the game the right way and most importantly they had fun doing it. Everyone who took part this season can feel proud of this achievement and it marks another landmark for girls’ soccer in Youghal: two titles in two years. The girls and their Manager would like to thank all the parents who made long journeys in all weathers to support the team this year.

The squad collect their medals at a special awards night at the Rochestown Park Hotel this Tuesday.