08/06/2026
Our Sligo-Leitrim Gaynor Cup Girls are home from a magnificent week of football at the Gaynor Cup in Limerick, having finished in 4th position overall in the prestigious 27-team Tournament.
The Girls were drawn in a 3-Team Group initially.
Game 1 v Kerry on Tuesday morning saw Kerry strike first just 10 minutes in, but Sligo-Leitrim pushed back hard and an enforced scramble in the Kerry box ended in an own goal to level it on 16'. The girls kept pushing as the half wore on and hit the front on 30' when Sarah Toolan's thru-ball found Lily Rynn who finished superbly - the classic fox in the box finish. The second half was an ongoing battle but neither side could change the scoreline - Sligo-Leitrim's defending excellent all the way - with Sarah Gilmartin in the goals keeping her defence calm - it finished a 2-1 Sligo-Leitrim win. The depth in the squad was evident with the introduction of Rachel Henry who linked up well with Julia Michalik and Lauren O Rourke to continue to keep the attacks going.
Game 2 on Tues afternoon v NERL (North East Regional League) soon followed in a physically draining Tournament. Klara Gormanly had Sligo-Leitrim ahead just 4 minutes in with a wonder strike off her left, from a great Ornaith Guckian pass. NERL levelled just before the break. A long tough 2nd half followed with both sides chasing the victory, and Sligo-Leitrim's Captain Ornaith won the game with a magnificent self-crafted and finished goal on 60 minutes. A powerful masterful display of defending from Annalise Higgins supported by Kate Howard drew many compliments from the supporters.
Those 2 victories put Sligo-Leitrim top of their group and heading into the Cup round-of-16.
Game 3 Wed morning saw us drawn against friends and neighbours Mayo, and the ensuing game was (as both sides expected having played each other numerous times in the preceding 3 years) a very tight affair with little between these sides. Again the squad strength was evident with the Management able to introduce players at will to continue the good work. Seodin Watters, Rachel Henry and Joy Flanagan worked tirelessly as did Katie Maye and Ornaith Guckian. The 60' proved scoreless and the game went to Penalties. In the Shootout Sarah Toolan, Kate Howard, Seoidin Watters, Emily Brennan & Blaithin O'Meara found the net for Sligo-Leitrim, and Fay Morris had 2 saves, for a 5-4 win and opened the route to the Cup Quarter-Final and a guaranteed Top-8 finish.. Joy Flanagan and Emily Jane Norton were on point with some excellent defending taking all instruction on board .
The draw here gave us Limerick District (who we had played and lost to in the CSSL Ennis pre-Gaynor tournament). Another very tough game followed, with a lot of bruised and tired bodies but massive effort still being put in. Again it was scoreless with great defending both ends and again it went to a Penalty Shootout. Conversions from Katie Maye, Kate Howard, Seoidin Watters & Blaithin O'Meara, and again a save from Fay Morris, saw Sligo-Leitrim take the win and a Semi-Final place.
Cork were the opponents drawn for the Thursday Semi. The first half was scoreless, and the continuing excellent defends from the girls was impressive. Cork hit the lead 10 minutes into the second period, and just 10 minutes later Sligo-Leitrim were level, when Katie Maye rose to meet a Blaithin O'Meara corner and buried a magnificent header in the net. This was so well deserved. The remaining 10 minutes couldn't resolve it - though Chloe Connellan came so very close with a beautiful long range drive which beat the keeper but crashed off the crossbar. Incredibly unlucky for Chloe who had linked up very well with both Tara Morris and Lauren O Rourke to create some openings.
Again the dreaded penalties ensued, but tired legs and mental exhaustion (and in fairness some clinical ex*****on from the Cork girls) saw Sligo-Leitrim's Cup run halt there.
On Friday, our 6th and final game was the 3rd/4th Cup Place game (the 2nd highest game in the Tournament) where we faced DDSL (Dublin District) who had fallen just short against Galway in a penalty shootout in their own Semi).
A tired and battered Sligo-Leitrim were outmatched in this affair (taking nothing away from a excellent DDSL outfit & performance). All 20 girls made appearances despite exhaustion & injury and battled hard to a 4-0 loss. It wasnt for lack of effort from any of the squad with Ava Niland, Katie Maye and Klara Gormanly battling hard. Our keepers Sarah Gilmartin and Fay Morris were instrumental in our final standings with excellent displays.
A magnificent week of football and a very creditable 4th place finish from an absolutely incredible group of Girls - we are extremely proud of them. Thanks to all who supported both physically and on line - it meant a lot to the team. The future looks bright
Sligo-Leitrim U14 Girls Gaynor Cup Squad.
Lily Rynn, Blaithin O'Meara, Tara Morris, Fay Morris (Ballisodare Utd), Sarah Gilmartin (Benbulben FC), Kate Howard, Klara Gormanly, Rachel Henry (Ballymote Celtic), Chloe Connellan (Carrick Town), Julia Michalik, Sarah Toolan (Coolaney Utd), Annalise Higgins (Merville Utd), Katie Maye, Emily Brennan (Real Tubber), Ava Niland (Strand Celtic), Joy Flanagan, Lauren O'Rourke,EmilyJane Norton, Ornaith Guckian, Seoidin Watters (Yeats Utd).
Captain: Ornaith. / Vice Capt: Kate Howard
Management
Laura McGuinn
Clodagh O'Donnell
Sandra Moran
Brian Chambers
