St Annes 1 – 1
Cuala 3- 8

Cuala under-11 girls travelled to Bohernabreena on a glorious Saturday evening last to tackle St Anne’s in a league match. Cuala were a little slow to settle and St Anne’s opened the scoring with a point in their first attack of the match. However, from the kick out the Cuala girls upped their efforts and soon levelled through an Orlaith O’Sullivan free. Niamh Sheehan’s long pass was well gathered by Sinead whose quick handpass to Orlaith split the St Anne’s defence. Orlaith was fouled and pointed the free herself. Brid and Jennifer Dunne began to dominate midfield, winning much possession to pass into the forwards who were getting on top of their markers. A fine point by Katie Reilly put Cuala in front before a lovely turn and shot by Rachel was narrowly wide. Though St Anne’s were on the back foot at times they mounted some attacking breaks, but the Cuala back line was holding firm, with Albha and Emer Reilly working hard and reading the game well. At half back Niamh Sheehan was showing great athleticism and soon burst forward to score a goal herself. A further St Anne’s attack was broken up by Nora and the ball was fed through to the forwards for Sinead to score another goal. Orlaith added a point to put Cuala 8 points ahead before Jennifer Byrne won the ball in defence and worked the ball up to Chloe who slotted the ball over the bar to extend the lead. Unluckily Cuala conceded a goal just before the break, leaving the half-time score St Anne’s 1-1 Cuala 2-4.
Soon after the restart Alison Slowey burst down the right and was unlucky to see her effort come back off the crossbar. Jennifer and Brid, together with Alison, continued to work hard to win possession around the middle of the field, at one point spreading it out to Niamh on the left whose clever handpass inside to Chloe resulted in a point. Catherine Scully, Orlaith O’Sullivan and Caoimhe O’Carroll were putting great pressure on the St Anne’s defence despite the heat, and mid-way through the half Cuala’s efforts paid off with two quick points from Katie and Niamh. Then came one of the best moves of the match, with Jennifer Byrne winning the ball in defence, passing it up the right wing to Sinead who fed it through the middle for Katie to burst through and slot home Cuala’s third goal. Another raid down the left by Niamh drew the St Anne’s defence towards her but she squared the ball to Orlaith who calmly put it over the bar. Cuala ended the game on top with their defence absorbing any pressure and the midfield and forwards combining well. The final score in the sunshine was St Anne’s 1-1 Cuala 3-8.