OLSS DO DOUBLE DERBY

**Our Lady’s Secondary School senior Boys and Girls soccer teams both came out on top in the local derby against neighboring ST.Brendans . 

The boy’s teams went head to head on Friday 8th November. The game started at breakneck speed with some great football and tough tackles throughout. The visitors (St.Brendan’s) got the opening goal and our Lady’s hit back immediately with two penalties expertly converted by Cormac O Muirithe after good work from Mark Tighe, Finnian Carolan and Luke Mcwilliams. Another flowing move saw left back John Ginty finish neatly to the net after great work from Jorge and Luke. The home team were in full control until the visitors were awarded a penalty before halftime, and the spot kick was brilliantly saved by keeper Shaun Noone, which ensured it stayed 3-1 at the break.

The second half began with St Brendans looking for the next goal, but the defence of Billy O Connor, Shea O Donoghue, Nathan Ginnelly and John Ginty dealt easily with any threat and continued to launch more attacks on the opposing goal. Subs Seamus mason, Cillian Reilly and Justin Lynch added to the attack and eventually saw Daithi Cosgrove score a screamer from 25 yards to settle the game and finish 4-1.

The girls game kicked off on a cold, wet Monday morning and with there being little between the teams in the past , this match wasn’t going to be any different. Our lady’s kicked off with an early attack, runs from both Tara Doocey and Rebecca Mc Manamon made it easy for Kelly Hefferon and Leah Neary to have a shot on goal respectively . No luck here as St.Brendans made a quick return and drove the ball toward the Our Lady's goal but goalkeeper Katelyn Cosgrove dealt with this easily. Defenders Annelize Mc Donnell, Jade Mc Dowall , Shauna Maloney and Soirse Grealish were there to drive the ball forward once more, and a free in the other half of the pitch gave Jade Mc Dowall an opportunity and she took it . Her power and precision resulted in the first goal of the game . This was soon followed by a penalty in the Our Lady's goal after a hand ball and St. Brendan's took their chance to level the game which brought the  score line  to 1-1 at halftime . 

However, it was the persistence of the OLSS girls in the second half that ensured an OLSS win, with runs from Molly O’Connor and Annie Gaughan and some quick footwork by Molly Mc Manamon to set Jade McDowall up to score a second goal. Shauna Maloney was a driving force up the pitch and made sure the ball stayed out of the OLSS box. . It was nail biting stuff right until the end and relief and joy echoed in the cold wind on the Our Lady's pitch as the ref blew the final whistle .

Thanks to coaches Harry Reilly, Rob Turner , Áine Murphy and Joe Mc Nulty for all their hard work with the teams.