Dundalk U-14 girls lined up to face Albion Rovers in United Park earlier today in the Drogheda Concentrates Super Sunday Cup Final Day.  United Park was certainly a colourful and lively scene with more than twelve girls and boys teams playing competitive matches on the day. 

The Dundalk girls took to the field for a 12:45 kick-off and made the best start possible when Joanie Gray scored the first goal of the game in only the third minute.  Dundalk looked very confident and capable on the ball but Albion Rovers were certainly not phased by their opponents early lead and within five minutes they had scored an equaliser to make it 1-1.  A lapse in concentration by Dundalk along with some outstanding individual play by Albion meant that almost immediately after making it 1-1, Rovers found themselves in the lead at 2-1.  Dundalk’s goalscorer Joanie Gray had to be substituted just under 15 minutes into the game and although the Oriel Park outfit kept their heads up and worked hard to get back into the game, Albion retained the 2-1 advantage at halftime. 

Unfortunately the great start Dundalk made in the first half was not repeated when the second half got underway.  In fact it was Albion who scored very early this time to make it 3-1 in the fourth minute.  Twelve minutes into the second half the Dundalk girls found themselves 4-1 down to their rivals and shortly after this Joanie Gray was brought back on to lend her skills to her team mates.  Full credit must go to the girls because despite trailing 4-1 at this point, they never let it affect their hard-working commitment and strong team spirit.  They kept playing their game and were rewarded for their positive and attacking style two minutes from time when super striker Joanie Gray scored her second goal of the game to make it Dundalk 2, Albion 4.  Time ran out for the Dundalk girls and it was an impossible task to win the match at this late stage in the game.  Speaking to Dundalk coach Andy Lennon after the game he expressed his disappointment for the girls themselves and for the club that regrettably, today was not Dundalk’s day.  However, he was full of praise for this team.  “Unfortunately, it just didn’t go our way today, but I could not have asked for any more from the girls than they gave this season.  They played very well and I’m very happy with their performance.  Albion are a very good team and full credit to them on their victory here today”.  The Dundalk fans who had travelled to United Park to support the girls were also very proud of the team.  This is a squad that is only likely to go on to even greater achievements in the seasons ahead.  Everyone at Dundalk FC Trust and Dundalk Football Club are very proud of the U-14s squad for all of their hard work, dedication and commitment over this season.  Congratulations girls and here’s to even greater success in the future.