Benfica are crowned champions of Summer League
Benfica who were crowned champions of the Women's Summer League after victory over Park Rangers.
Park Rangers 1-4 Benfica Benfica were crowned champions on Wednesday evening by virtue of a comfortable win in the Glen against Park Rangers coupled with nearest challengers Dungarvan slipping up with a draw against Mooncoin. It has been a dominant campaign by the city outfit with eight wins from nine matches to see them lead the table by four points with just one round of fixtures left. Benfica took the lead on eighteen minutes through Jessica Devereux and doubled their lead twenty minutes later when Rachel Hutchinson was on target. Eight minutes into the second half Rangers struck back when Breanne Hutchinson netted but the reprieve was to be short lived as within five minutes Aleisha Cullen had restored the two goal cushion with captain Lisa Dower rounding off the scoring with a goal six minutes from time. The title is Benfica's first since 2015 and they now turn their attention to the Cup and a possible double.
Elsewhere Mooncoin held Dungarvan at Suir Crescent in a 1-1 draw. Sarah Walsh gave the hosts a first half lead but just past the hour mark Karen Delahunty equalised for the Kilrush Park outfit, Villa recorded their first points of the season after eight successive defeats as they stunned Tramore at Graun Park. Emi Adebayo gave Villa a second minute lead with Blathnaid Britt equalising on fourteen. The winning goal arrived on fifty four minutes when Eileen Stokes scored.
Benfica 4-1 Dungarvan United For the second time in less than a fortnight Benfica put Dungarvan to the sword to advance into the cup semi finals and a meeting with Mooncoin. Two goals in the space of five first half minutes swung the tie in the hosts favour as first Aleisha Cullen and then Leah O Donoghue scored to put Benfica firmly in the driving seat. Orla Hickey gave Dungarvan a ray of hope when she netted on fifty tree minutes but a five minute spell saw Benfica again score twice and miss a penalty. Lisa Dower put Benfica 3-1 ahead and within seconds Kerryanne Hamilton added their fourth. Benfica were awarded a penalty within another minute but O Donoghue was unable to convert although it was not to prove to be a costly miss.
Villa 1-7 Tramore Tramore extracted swift revenge for their league defeat to Villa as they picked themselves up to knocked Villa out of the cup just four days later. Two Nicole Bennett goals along with goals from Ali O Toole and Tara Power saw the Seagulls race into a four goal half time lead to leave the second half as a formality. Catherine Munroe pulled a goal back just after the hour mark but Sophie Power struck for Tramore two minutes later followed by Bennett completing her hat trick with seven minutes remaining. Britt completed the scoring deep into time added on. Tramore now face Park Rangers this coming Sunday in their semi final.
Bohs made the trip to Tipp but came away with the points after a 3-1 win over last season's double winners Carrick United. Bohs captain Fiadh Costin got her season off to a flying start when she opened the scoring after five minutes. An own goal on the quarter hour mark saw Carrick back on level terms but Bohs regained the lead on thirty two minutes with a cracking strike from distance from the right foot of Hope Halligan. Freya O Keeffe made the points safe for the visitors when she scored on the hour mark to give Bohs a two goal cushion. Elsewhere Mooncoin proved to be too strong for Park Rangers at Suir Crescent running out 6-1 winners. Goals from Keelin Byrne, Molly Long, Aoibhe Rees and a hat trick from Emily Blackmore for Mooncoin.
Piltown got their season off to the perfect start as they defeated Dungarvan United 3-0 at Kildalton Park. After a goal less first half three second half goals - two from Vittoria Pascolini and one from Elie Walsh Tapp - gave the South Kilkenny side the points. Bohs were also off to a flying start as they registered the three points at St Laurences Hall against Balllinroad. Kayleigh O Neill was in fine form as she netted five goals with Sophie Whittle and Saoirse Ferguson also on target.
Emilia Cala struck a hat trick for Park Rangers as they defeated Piltown 3-1 to kick start their season. Villa had a winning start as they came from two goals down to win after a storming comeback. Anna Rochford had hit a pair of first half goals but in the second half Caoimhe Quinlan scored twice either side of an Emily Murphy's goal to see Villa take the spoils. Kilmacthomas were winners against Portlaw by a 4-0 scoreline while Carrick United defeated Southend 4-2. For Southend Lydia Lanigan and Hollie Roche Murphy were on target.
Klmacow made club history as their first Schoolgirl side took to the pitch at Coolnamuck against Carrick with Kilmacow coming out on top 2-1. Meanwhile Ferrybank made their return to the league and celebrated in style with a 5-0 win over St Josephs. In Kildalton Park there was a seven goal thriller with the home side winning 4-3 against Tramore. Aoibhinn Stuart (2), Orlaith Frisby and Keeley Power on the scoresheet for Piltown.
