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Syls u16 Girls – Another Tremendous Season ...

Nuala & I had the pleasure of managing the Girls u16 squad this season. We played in Division 2 of the League and with just 2 narrow defeats all season we managed to finish 2nd in a very tough league campaign. We were placed in Division 2 of the Championship and this was a competition that we really wanted to do well in. Our first game of the round robin group phase resulted in a heavy defeat to Foxrock/Cabinteeley.

Through no fault of our own we had to take the field without any form of warm up and found ourselves 4 goals down before we’d even began. After that game we promised ourselves that we would avenge this defeat by hopefully meeting Fox/Cab again in the Final and would you believe it both teams made it all the way to the Final.

The game was delayed due to the involvement of a number of our players with the Ladies Senior Team’s great run in Leinster. Our Final took place last Friday night under lights in the wonderful surroundings of Belfield, UCD. The only real problem was the COLD – I was wrapped up like an Eskimo and I was frozen – what did the girls feel like running around in shorts!

This time we prepared properly with a good intensive warm up and were ready for the Fox/Cab thunderous start. Unfortunately they hit us again with the type of start that makes it near impossible to recover from. If ever I could have done with a Basketball style timeout I could certainly have done with one after 15 minutes. However the girls really rallied after halftime and kept playing right up until the full time whistle (in fact we won the 2nd half). These girls showed huge character and resilience and I could not be more proud of each and every one of them. We may have fallen slightly short but we won in so many other ways. Runners up in both League and Championship is not too bad a return. Also consider that we have 4 u14s and 7 u15s in the squad – I cannot wait to let these girls loose again at u16 next season.

Joking aside is was so cold last Friday night that I do not have any pictures – I would have been brought up on cruelty charges had I asked the players to pose for photographs. Can I just take this opportunity to thank all of our players this season – you should all be so proud of your achievements this season – I know I am so proud of you all.

Squad – Maebh Reid, Laoibhse Branagan, Lauren Hughes, Aoife O’Flynn, Áine Cummins, Emma Lynch, Cliona Hamill, Lucia Hughes, Louise Ryan, Anna Brennan, Emma Sullivan, Lisa Murphy, Áine McDonnell, Nicole Barry, Danielle Lawless, Aoife Carroll, Alana Hogan, Lisa Kirwan, Aoife Sheridan.

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