Torrential wind and rain plays havoc with SFAI fixtures
Dungarvan United squad who defeated Thomastown United in the U14 SFAI Cup.
It took extra time for Dungarvan to defeat Thomastown, but it was a well-deserved win for the Old Borough outfit, who move into the National draw and last 32. Ozier Park was the venue for a game played in atrocious conditions that did its best to spoil the game. Dungarvan had a good call for a penalty turned down after five minutes, after Alicia Radley and Rojin Cambeg played a 1-2 down the right, and as Radley closed in on goal, she was sent to the ground by a challenge, but referee Michael Wall waved away the protests of Dungarvan. Radley was instrumental throughout proceedings with a dominant performance. Despite having the lion's share of possession, Dungarvan found it very difficult to get past a resolute opposition defence. The best chance of the half arrived on the half-hour mark after Cambeg won a corner. Saorla Sexton's delivery was cleared to the edge of the box, where Cambeg turned her marker, and Molly Cottrell saved her low drive at full stretch.
The second half was much the same, with Dungarvan pressing forward, and after 40 minutes, Radley's stinging drive was saved by Cottrell. Thomastown came within the width of the woodwork of taking the lead themselves after Bella Quaglia's corner struck the woodwork. Emily Fraher was called into action after an hour from Ava Begley's speculative effort, but with conditions worsening, chances were few and far between, and it was no surprise when extra time was required.
The first period of extra time saw Dungarvan regain a foothold. Elsie May Shaw made space in the penalty area and fired off a shot, but Cottrell made herself big to deny the striker. Five minutes into extra time, Dungarvan finally breached the visitors' defence, and fittingly it was Radley who scored the goal. A corner from the right broke to Radley 25 yards out, and she sent a powerful drive that Cotterell got her hands to but couldn't prevent it from entering the net. After 80 minutes, it was 2-0 when Niamh Kirwan found Cambeg, and her effort took a deflection and went past Cottrell.
Thomastown finally began to throw caution to the wind for the second period of extra time. Quaglia broke through the Dungarvan defence, but Fraher, at full stretch, made a brilliant save, and Fraher denied Quaglia twice more to keep her clean sheet intact.
Just one local club progressed in the Trophy as a further three were eliminated. Villa defeated Gorey Rangers 4-2 thanks to doubles from Khalessi Ryan and Emily Murphy. Ferrybank went down 7-2 to Callan United while Peake Villa progressed at the expense of Tramore.
It was an all-local affair at Ozier Park as Dungarvan came out on top against Southend United in monsoon conditions. It was a dream start for Dungarvan as they were ahead within 90 seconds. Kate Sheridan split the Southend lines, and Elsie-May Shaw raced in on goal and slotted home. The same pair combined with the same result after 25 minutes, and Shaw once more showed her composure to double her side's advantage. Southend halved the deficit before the break when Molly Dooley found the top corner with a good finish. The second half saw Dungarvan add two more goals, with Shaw completing her hat trick when she cut inside from the right and fired home.
Elsewhere, Mooncoin exited the Trophy competition, while Villa were defeated by Ballindaggin in the Cup competition 2-0.
With driving wind and torrential rain making conditions very difficult at workLAB Connors Park, the referee Jim Kealy abandoned the game two minutes into the second half, with Evergreen three goals to the good.
The visitors had the wind on their backs for the first half. Still, it was Villa who should have taken an early lead when Aleiha Tobin Power's pass from the left wing into the area found Caoimhe Quinlan whose initial shot was saved by Ellen Butler with her follow up effort beating Butler but lacking power allowing Lucy Hogan to clear off the line, From there on it was Evergreen making complete, use of conditions to put Villa under pressure. The visitors took the lead after 14 minutes through Celie de la Funeite. She won possession from a Villa goal kick and, cutting inside, she shot across Waddell to find the corner of the net. Evergreen doubled their lead in 19 minutes when Eabha Hanrahan played a perfectly weighted ball for Emma Roche to run onto as her pace out her in on goal. She rolled the ball past Waddell. Villa's task was made even more difficult when Evergreen increased their lead on 39 minutes. De la Funeite dispossessed a Villa defender close to goal, and she sent an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
With Villa having the benefit of the wind in the second half, they weren't to get the opportunity, as two minutes into the half, the game was abandoned due to deteriorating conditions.
