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So Fresh Entertainment Women’s Cup Final.

(By Jamie Connolly) 

Derry Rovers FC 1 Monasterevin AFC 4

Monasterevin AFC emerged victorious in the So Fresh Entertainment Women's Cup Final, defeating Derry Rovers AFC 4-1 in a hard-fought contest.  While Derry Rovers showed moments of promise, Monasterevin's relentless attack in the second half proved too much and ultimately securing them the trophy.

The opening exchanges saw an immediate threat from Monasterevin, with Colleen Rickard breaking through in the 4th minute, though the chance was quickly closed down by the keeper.  Derry Rovers' keeper, Ava Farrell, was called into action early, making superb saves from Abby Kemmy and Colleen Rickard to keep the score level. Derry Rovers attempted to utilise the wings, looking to find Chelsie O’Driscoll, but the final ball lacked quality.  However, Monasterevin broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Following a corner from Ciara Morrissey that bounced around the box and was played back in by Rebecca Broughan, the ball fell to Nicole Moran who blasted home to make it 1-0. The middle period of the half was a tense midfield battle, with both defences holding firm. 

Derry's Chelsie O’Driscoll forced a good save from Monasterevin keeper Alex Oglebsy Kinsella, while Orlaith Sullivan worked tirelessly to drive Derry forward. Impressive linking play between Ally Gallagher and Aoife Tyrell provided a spark for Derry.  The midfield saw a great duel between Derry's Orlaith O’Sullivan and Monasterevin's Jennifer O’Keeffe. Just before the break, Derry Rovers found their equaliser.  A free kick from 25 yards out was expertly struck by Chelsie O’Driscoll, finding the back of the net to level the score. Half-Time Score: Derry Rovers AFC 1-1 Monasterevin AFC

The second half began with both teams looking to break the deadlock. Monasterevin's Roisin Keogh immediately tested the Derry defence, but Farrell collected her cross.  Derry's best chance early on came from a weaving run and shot by Ally Gallagher that went just wide. Derry continued to press, with O’Driscoll putting in a great cross that Kayla Ennis narrowly failed to control.  Roisin Keogh was a constant threat for Monasterevin, running at the Derry defence and keeping them stretched. 

A nervous moment for Monasterevin saw a shot from O'Driscoll slip under keeper Kinsella, but Bernie Hyland was there to clear the danger. The decisive breakthrough came in the 68th minute. Abby Kemmy made a strong run down the right and crossed the ball to find the surging Roisin Keogh, who put Monasterevin 2-1 up.  The goal injected confidence into Monasterevin, and they quickly pressed their advantage.  Kayla Ennis had a great opportunity to respond for Derry, but a superb tackle from Monasterevin's Bernie Hyland dispelled the danger.

The pressure mounted on the Derry goal, with Nicole Moran rattling the crossbar from 20 yards out in the 73rd minute.  Monasterevin's third goal arrived in the 80th minute: after a half-cleared ball, Colleen Rickard struck an excellent shot from 25 yards out to make it 3-1.  The scoring was completed in the 83rd minute when Brianne Kaye made it 4-1 following good work and a ball on by Roisin Keogh. In the final minutes, a cross from Colleen to Nicole Moran resulted in a final shot on goal, saved by the ever-busy Ava Farrell. Monasterevin AFC ultimately proved their quality and depth, running out deserved 4-1 winners to lift the So Fresh Entertainment Women's Cup.

Best for the winners were Bernie Hyland, Nicole Moran, Roisin Keogh, Abby Kemmy and player of the match Colleen Rickard  While for Derry rovers Alicia Kavanagh, Orlaith Sullivan, Chelsie O’Driscoll, and Ally Gallagher all shone. 

So Fresh Entertainment Women’s Shield Final.

(By Jamie Connolly)

Sallins Celtic FC 1 Allenwood Celtic FC 2

Allenwood Celtic Edges Out Sallins Celtic in thriller getting revenge for the 2016 shield final loss.

In a hard-fought and closely contested So Fresh Entertainment Women’s Shield Final, Allenwood Celtic emerged victorious, defeating Sallins Celtic 2-1.  The final, marked by some fantastic individual performances and relentless attacking from both sides, ultimately saw Allenwood claim the trophy thanks to a brace from their standout player, Chloe Donnelly.

The game kicked off with a high tempo, with Sallins Celtic creating the first clear-cut chance in the 2nd minute.  An Aoife Hand corner was headed goalward by Violet Moloney, forcing a superb save from Allenwood keeper Stacey O’Sullivan, who somehow tipped the effort over the top corner. The early stages saw a fascinating duel developing on the wings between Allenwood's Chloe Donnelly and Sallins' Sofia Di Stefano. Donnelly, linking up well with Sinead Crowe, showcased some intricate passing, but Sallins' defender Martha Plummer proved a formidable barrier. Sallins pressed hard, and in the 11th minute, a loose goal-kick fell to Sofia Di Stefano, whose shot was again expertly saved by Stacey O’Sullivan.

The deadlock was broken in the 37th minute. Tara Jacob threaded a superb ball in behind the Sallins defence, and Chloe Donnelly was clinical, slotting a lovely shot past the onrushing Sallins keeper Jane Healy to put Allenwood Celtic women 1-0 up. Sallins pushed for an equaliser before the break, with Di Stefano having a free kick saved, but Allenwood's defence held firm, sending them into halftime with a narrow lead.

Sallins introduced Aoife Fe Faoite at halftime to gain a foothold in midfield, a change that immediately paid dividends. Just three minutes into the second half (48th minute), Sallins drew level.  An Aoife Hand corner found Emma Mooney, who finished smartly to make the score 1-1. However, the parity was short-lived. In the 52nd minute, Chloe Donnelly restored Allenwood's lead from a free kick. Sallins keeper Jane Healy made a valiant effort, palming the initial shot onto the bar, but the spin carried the ball back into the goal, giving Allenwood Celtic women a 2-1 advantage. As the half progressed, Sallins fought desperately for the equaliser. Di Stefano was denied yet again by an alert Stacey O’Sullivan in the 63rd minute, who was quick off her line to smother the danger.

As fatigue set in, the game became scrappier, but Sallins continued to press. A goal was disallowed for offside in the 83rd minute, providing a late scare for Allenwood.  The Allenwood backline of Claire Ivers, Amanda Moore, Grainne Stafford, and Katie Hand stood resolute under immense pressure, protecting their slim lead until the final whistle.  The match ended on a disappointing note for Sallins' goalscorer and birthday girl, Emma Mooney, who had to leave the field with an injury.

Best for winners Allenwood Celtic in a fantastic all round team performance, Chloe Donnelly was rightly named Player of the Match for her two crucial goals. Other key performers for the winners included the sharp midfield work of Tara Jacob and the solid defensive contributions of Claire Ivers, Katelyn Ivers Magee, Katie Hand, and the outstanding goalkeeping of Stacey O’Sullivan. For Sallins Celtic, the twin forces of Martha Plummer and captain Hannah Plummer battled bravely throughout. They were ably supported by defender Samantha Cully and midfielder Isabella Campion. Ultimately, Chloe Donnelly's decisive goals proved the difference in a pulsating final that showcased the best of women's local football.

Additional Report.

Ace Sports Awards Masters Shield (Preliminary)

Longwood FC 0 Ballycane Celtic FC 4

(By Wayne ‘Bubba’ Doyle)

Ballycane secured a comfortable victory on the road against a determined Longwood team. From the opening kick off, Ballycane asserted its control, aiming to take advantage of its numerical superiority. However, they were a bit too eager in the final third and squandered several good opportunities early on. The visitors, undeterred, regained their composure and moved the ball quickly from defence through Kevin Higgins and Derdy Doyle, with Bubba Jacko and Jamie Curran orchestrating play in Ballycane's favour.

Jonny Finnegan was lively up front for Ballycane but struggled to find a clear chance on goal after a couple of half-attempts. Bubba set up Stewy O'Neill on the right flank after a solid build-up by Cillian Sweeney, Mick Shelly narrowly missed the Longwood post from StewyO'Neill cross. Ballycane finally found the net after early pressure, with Jacko assisting Jonny Finnegan, who broke free and finished well ten minutes into the match. Longwood, to their credit, defended vehemently, keeping Ballycane at bay, but this defensive effort proved unsustainable. Jamie Gray was a constant threat on the flank, troubling a stretched Longwood back line, while Mick Shelly supported Gray's advances.

Ballycane scored again on the half-hour mark when Bubba Doyle won a midfield challenge and linked up effectively with Jamie Gray, who delivered an impeccable cross that Jonny Finnegan converted with a looping header, doubling Ballycane's lead. Defensively, Ballycane had little to do, as Derdy and Higgy dominated Longwood's goal kicks, nullifying their main threats. Stewy O'Neill consistently delivered inviting crosses from the right wing, and Ballycane went into halftime deserving of their lead, having had additional chances to increase their advantage.

The second half started perfectly for Ballycane with a superb passing sequence between Eamon mcCormack and Jamie Curran, culminating in Jamie Gray whipping in a brilliant cross for Bubba Doyle, who headed home at the back post to extend their lead to three goals just five minutes in. Derdy Doyle came close to scoring with a header from a McCormack corner. Midway through the half, Ballycane netted a fourth goal when Kevin Higgins delivered a fantastic pass to Jamie Curran, who controlled it well before slipping Jamie Gray through for a neat finish that further solidified Ballycane's dominance.

Johnny O'Sullivan made several tidy passes on the right wing, while Tosh Higgins and Dogan Akhan worked well together on the left. Ian Cox, who came off the bench, led the line brilliantly and nearly scored after an excellent sequence involving Bubba, McCormack, and Jamie Gray. However, he scuppered his effort at a crucial moment. Kevin Higgins was denied a goal by an excellent save from the Longwood keeper, who deflected his header around the post. From the subsequent corner, delivered by Bubba Doyle, Derdy Doyle had another header saved, with the follow-up smothered by the Longwood defence. Late in the game, Dogan, Tosh, and Jacko all had chances but couldn't add to Ballycane's tally.

Overall, it was a solid team performance, with contributions from the entire squad over the seventy minutes. Ballycane created numerous opportunities throughout the match, though they were slightly hindered by the blazing sun in the first half, which made attacking challenging. At times, Ballycane displayed quality football, remaining creative and positive throughout the match. They will be on the road again next week for a quarter-final clash against a tough Raharney side.