22/06/2025
U12 Premier League playoff
Ballindaggin 0
Curracloe. 0
(AET)
Penalties - Sudden Death
Ballindaggin 4
Curracloe. 3
In what has to be one of the most pulsating climaxes to any of the underage divisions in the Wexford Womens Soccer League our squad of superstars dug deep today to become the DOUBLE CHAMPS for season 24/25.
Ballindaggin and Curracloe have faced off 4 times this year with only the cup final a few weeks ago being a one sided affair where the girls claimed the IFAC u12 Cup on a 3-0 scoreline.
Today, we knew Curracloe would be anxious to prove a point and would fight for everything and so it proved to be.
The game kicked off 15 minutes late and both teams took a bit of a soaking during that period. When the game did start it was the Ballindaggin girls who started brightest, very nearly making it 1-0 in the opening 60 seconds with the ball being cleared off the Curracloe line.
After Doris ran riot in the Cup final, scoring a hat trick, Curracloe set up today to frustrate the Ballindaggin attack and to be fair the tactic worked for a long time. Whilst the girls had the lions share of possession in the first half there was few clear cut chances.
As usual our midfield trio of Sarah, Leona and Jodie were strong, composed and forceful in midfield with our backline of Kaylin, Aoife and Ella linking well with midfield to transition defence into attack on several occasions. Caoimhe and Doris worked tirelessly upfront but the Curracloe backline held strong and repelled several Ballindaggin attacks. We went into the break 0-0.
The second half took on the same format as the first with Curracloe looking to play tactical long balls to their speedy attack. Our keeper, Emilia, in conjunction with Kaylin, Aoife and the newly introduced speed merchant Meg dealt with any such attacks.
Emily came on for Sarah and brought some excellent footwork to the proceedings but again the deep Curracloe backline proved impenetrable.
Whilst not called into action too often today the importance of an excellent keeper was shown to be the case when half way through the second half Curracloe got away down our right hand side and unleashed an excellent shot which was heading for the corner only for Emilia to get down low to pull off a brilliant save.
This caused the girls to up the gears again with our midfield of Leona, Jodie and Emily playing some fantastic football to open up the Curracloe backline and Caoimhe and Doris came close on several occasions but the ball simply would not cross the line.
Full time 0-0
Extra time was a tense affair with Leona coming close for Ballindaggin when an excellent shot from distance was saved and Caoimhe, with almost the last kick of the game, came agonisingly close to the winner.
For Curracloe Stevie Rae got away down our left hand side but Meg, Aoife and Kaylin done brilliantly to s***f out the attack.
Off to Penalties we went.
Doris and Leona converted our first 2 with Curracloe missing their first 2. Aoife converted our 3rd with Curracloe also scoring theirs. After 3 pens Ballindaggin 3 Curracloe 1.
Kaylin and Sarah then came so close to getting the winners but it wasn't to be and Curracloe converted pens 4 and 5.
After 5 pens Ballindaggin 3 Curracloe 3
SUDDEN DEATH
Penalty 6 was brilliantly put away by Jodie and then the Parish held it's breath...............Curracloe penalty 6 was well hit but Emilia pulled off an excellent save and the girls became History makers as they completed the u12 Premier League and IFAC Cup double.
This group have now won the u10 Cup, U11 Premier Division, U12 Cup and U12 Premier Division over the past 3 seasons as well as reaching the Schoolboys/girls Football Association of Ireland All Ireland trophy semi final this season.
To say we are proud of this formidable group of young ladies would be an understatement. They are a credit to their families and club.
Week in week out they play against the best version of every other team and week in week out they rise to the challenge.
A special thanks again to their management team of Derek and Damien who have huge support from Leigh Dreelan Melissa Codd and Syl Hipwell.
Well done girls and enjoy the few weeks off before the prep for u13 season 25/26 starts in earnest. 💪
