A dramatic extra-time winner from Cronk-y-Berry A’s Tiegan Campbell ensured a 2-1 victory over Arbory, and in doing so, secure the Primary Girls School Shield for the six consecutive year.
The grass roots of junior girls’ football continue to grow from strength to strength and there was further evidence of this with fourteen teams competing in this year’s competition.
In Group A consisting of Rushen, St John’s A, Fairfield, Ballacottier, Onchan A, Cronk-y-Berry B, and Foxdale, it was Ballacottier who qualified as Group winners with a 100% record, defeating Rushen Primary 4-0, reaching a place within the final four as runners-up.
In Group B comprising of Onchan B, Peel Clothworkers, Arbory, Cronk-y-Berry A, Andreas, St John’s B and Scooil Vallajeelt, Cronk-y-Berry A yet again let their intentions be known by winning all of their group matches and top their group, Arbory clinching the remaining semi-final berth after losing 2-1 to Cronk-y-Berry.
In the semi final, Cronk-y-Berry beat Rushen 6-0 with Lydia Shaw scoring a hat-trick. She was joined on the scoresheet by Leanne Costa (2) and Tiegan Campbell.
In the other semi, it proved a closer affair with Arbory taking a lead through a Chloe Mulhern strike, with Ballacottier equalising with a Charlotte Dougherty effort. The match then went into extra-time which saw Kirsten Lane hit the winner.
In the final, Cronk-y-Berry opened the scoring through a Gemma Kirkham speculative effort, but Arbory level matters in the second half with a Chloe Mulhern opportunist strike. In a compelling match which saw plenty of commitment from both teams, the match entered extra-time. A penalty shoot-out loomed until Jessica Marsay’s effort hit Tiegan Campbell’s back steering her effort under the goalkeeper’s palm and into the net for the winner.
In the third – fourth play-off place Rushen beat Ballacottier 1-0, Sarah Wignall scored the only goal in the match.
Colby AFc and Island International Nicky Cooil went onto present the trophy and medals including the Fair Play Award which was awarded to St John’s A.