No joy for Dungarvan in Women's FAI Shield final
Dungarvan United side that took on Cabinteely in the FAI Women's Shield Final in Arklow last weekend.
It was a cup final to forget for Dungarvan as their depleted squad found that their Dublin opponents had just too much on the day for them.
Cabinteely took the lead on thirteen minutes when O Brien won possession in the centre circle. Her pass found Rice in space and she in turn played a pass in between the Dunarvan defenders and Molloy was left run through on goal to fire low past Jordan. It didn't get any better for Dungarvan when on nineteen minutes they found themselves two goals down. Snell and Gaynor combined down the right wing with Gaynor's cross finding Driver o the edge of the box. Driver and Molloy palyed a neat 1-2 with Molloy confidently finishing past Jordan giving Dungarvan a difficult task turn the game around. Dungarvan's first chance arrived on twenty two minutes when Hickey played in Magill but her effort went wide of the target.
The second half saw both sides cancelling each other out and as time ran out and Dungarvan pushed for a lifeline it was the Dublin outfit who scored the crucial third goal. Ivory won possession in the Dungarvan half and she laid the ball back to Rice who played a delightful first time ball that split the Dungarvan defence and with McGlip left unmarked she side footed past Jordan to make it 3-0 with eleven minutes left. Two minute into added time Cabinteely rounded off the scoring. Keyes saw her effort deflected into the path of Hudson - Hudson's shot was again blocked but fell at the feet of McGlip and she clipped a deft effort over Jordan and into the top right hand corner.
It was a tough result on a Dungarvan side who had battled hard and the scoreline didn't reflect the full story. Tommy Butler's charges will now need to regroup for the top of the table clash with Benfica at the RSC on Wednesday evening where a win would all but wrap up the title for them.
Cabinteely: Haskin, Snell, O Brien, Crowe, O Donnell, Driver, McGlip, Rice, Molloy, Gaynor, Waldron. Subs: O Reilly, Ivory, Wade, Fox-Walsh, Hudson, Keyes.
Dungarvan: Jordan, Hogan, Keohan, O Brien, Hurley, Morrissey, Phelan, McGill, Hickey, Delahunty, Fennell. Subs: Hickey, Toolan, Fee.
Dungarvan made light work of Villa as a blistering first half performance saw them lead by seven goals at the interval. It was a costly victory however with an injury to Ashlee Keohan meant that she missed out on the FAI Shield Final three days later. For Villa it was another tough night at the office as they have no lost all seven league games, scoring just twice and conceding thirty five goals.
It was Keohan who opened the scoring when she netted after two minutes. Karen Delahunty doubled the lead for the visitors on seven minutes and four minutes later she added her second. Ella Casey was introduced from the bench on twenty minutes and within three minutes she had scored her first senior goal. It was a nightmare half for the hosts as Hayley Phelan proceeded to score a hat trick in the space of eight minutes to leave the score at 7-0 with only thirty six minutes played. Beth Toolan scored on fifty five minutes for Dungarvan's eight goal and with the match over as a contest the Kilrush Park outfit managed out the remainder of the game.
Benfica maintained the pressure on Dungarvan as they took all three points at the RSC against a dogged Tramore side. Laura Stafford gave Benfica the perfect start when she scored after five minutes. Leah O Donoghue continued her rich vein of form when she increased Benfica's lead on nineteen minutes. Tramore made their way back into the game on twenty six minutes when Sophie Power swung over a cross that Nicole Bennett latched onto to score. Benfica continued to control the game and it was no surprise when right on half time O Donoghue went through on goal and she made no mistake firing past Brennan in the Tramore goal. The second half saw Benfica continue to create opportunities and after Dower had struck the crossbar Aleisha Cullen scored twice in the space of three minutes with her second goal the pick of the bunch as she turned her marker and curled a right footed shot past Brennan into the top corner. Substitute Blathnaid Britt scored a consolation goal for the Seagulls. The result leaves Benfica a point behind the leaders Dungarvan with the two sides scheduled to face each other tomorrow (Wednesday) night at the RSC.
Rangers stay third in the table after recording their fourth win of the season against their Kilkenny opponents thanks to a double from Breanne Hutchinson. Hutchinson gave Rangers the lead after twenty one minutes and she would double her sides lead two minutes into the second half. With three minutes left in normal time Emily Blackmore scored for Mooncoin to set up a nervy ending for the home outfit but they held on to claim the points.
