The Under-12 girls had an early 10am KO in Kinsale yesterday and travelled in the hope that the damp heavy misty rain would lift – but to no avail ! 
This was a winner takes all Cup tie and the girls were definitely on form and the first half was perhaps their best 30 minutes of football all season.

Despite the home team grabbing an early goal against the run of play, the Carrigtwohill girls were superb. Lili, Rolina, Kalina and Kayla at the back were imperious and the central pairing of Lauren and Hanna was key to the first half as they constantly kept Kinsale under pressure.

Pheobe, Eliza, Allie and Sadie on the wings we a constant threat and Sofia, playing her first match as striker made several clear-cut chances which the Kinsale keeper was doing well to keep out.

Pheobe got in for a neat goal and a second by Lauren, who was the standout player on the field with her best performance of the season, meant the Carrigtwohill girls went into half-time 2-1 ahead.

However, this would be a different game in the second half, a much tighter and tenser affair with chances hard to come by and with just 3 minutes left in the match, Kinsale scored a fine team goal to level it up and send the game to penalties.

After having been knocked out earlier in the season, 4-3 in a shoot-out it was fitting that the girls came out right side yesterday 3-0

A penalty shoot-out can sometimes be tough on kids of this age but not our keeper Lucy who took it all in her stride and was immense for each of the Kinsale kicks making 3 saves.

The girls were soaked from the constant misty rain throughout the game but none of that mattered as they celebrated getting through to the next round.

Well done to all 12 players.