Kaye dreaming big after Newbridge Town qualify for Womems FAI Cup
Manager Brian Kaye with the Newbridge Town womens squad
Newbridge Town’s Women’s side had a weekend to remember, as they advanced to the semi-finals of the FAI Women’s Amateur Cup after a 2-1 victory over Wilton United of Cork at Station Road on Saturday afternoon.
It was no surprise that manager Brian Kaye was thrilled with the result.
“It was a brilliant, the girls really dug in," said Kaye.
The result was all the more remarkable given that they went down to ten players just before half time when goalkeeper Kate Foley was dismissed when the game was still deadlocked at 0-0.
The Cork side took the lead early in the second half but two goals in the last 15 minutes from Rebecca Kavanagh sealed a famous win.
"We were reduced to 10 players there before half-time with our keeper being sent off. We did well to keep at 0-0 until half-time. The plan was just to stay in the game, but they obviously scored early on in the second half, but we got it level with 17 minutes and got another one then to win it. I’m really proud of the girls.”
“Wilton are a really good side, so it’s hard enough to score against them with 11, never mind with a player sent off, but the girls really dug in. When we went one behind, I have to be honest, I wasn’t sure we would get back into the game, I had my doubts. But the bench we have is incredible. We won that game because of our bench. We have a women’s B team in the club, and we called a few of them up. The bench made a huge impact. Rebecca Kavanagh got our two goals; she’s our top scorer but started the game on the bench. They are brilliant girls, they never complain if they don’t start a game or that. They are just great people, I'm so proud of them.”
As well as the reaching the semi-finals of the FAI Amateur Cup, the result also means that Newbridge Town qualify for the Womens FAI Senior Cup for the first time, where they will mix with the very best teams in the country and Kaye is hoping for a home draw against one of the big guns.
“As a result of this win we have qualified for the FAI Senior Cup which is huge. That was my aim at the start of the year. We’re in bonus territory now, whatever we achieve in the FAI Amateur Cup is a bonus if I'm being honest. We would love to get a big League of Ireland team in the draw, it would be great to have Shamrock Rovers, Athlone or someone like that. In the Amateur Cup we obviously want a home draw also. That draw is on Wednesday.”
