Monasterevin lift KDFL Womens Cup after power packed second half
So Fresh Entertainment Women’s Cup final winners, Monasterevin AFC
Monasterevin retained the cup after a rematch of last year’s final that saw Derry Rovers push them for the guts of 70 minutes before the winning side’s extra quality told. Monastervin played the better football in the first half and went a goal up but the pragmatic Offaly women stayed in the game. At half-time it was 1-1 before the victors took control in the second-half to take the trophy south-west from Clane down to the Kildare/Laois border.
Monasterevin probed early on but faced a stubborn Rovers defence, with centre backs Alicia Kavanagh and Caroline O’Neill looking sharp. They looked solid from open play but conceded the first goal in the 13th minute. An outswinging corner from the left caused chaos and Rovers keeper Farrell fumbled the ball into the path of Nicole Moran, who prodded the ball into an empty net.
Monastervin kept up the pressure, and were on top for most of the half but struggled to create clear cut chances. They were punished in the first minute of injury time at the end of the half, when Rovers captain fantastic Chelsie O’Driscoll found the net with a spectacular free kick. When she lined the ball up from about 40 yards out in a central position, it seemed like the sensible thing to do was to work the ball short and create a favourable crossing position, but O’Driscoll had other ideas. She whipped her effort over the wall before seeing the ball dip far enough to the right of Oglesby for it to nestle in the back of the net. The team in pink left the pitch at the half-time whistle buoyed by an equaliser that came from nowhere.
The second half didn’t have much of a rhythm initially, but the side from Edenderry were more assertive and imposed themselves on the game a bit more. The first bit of real danger came in the 60th minute. A long free kick from Kavanagh into the Monasterevin box caused havoc, and captain Bernie Hyland had to clear off the line. The game livened up from there, with Abby Kemmy of Monasterevin flashing a dangerous effort just wide down the other end not long afterward. Kemmy caused more danger in the 68th minute, and this time Rovers were made to pay. She raced down the right wing before whipping a ball across goal for Roisin Keogh to tap home.
Derry created only one more bit of danger - a Kayla Ennis half-chance on the counter - before the winning side dominated the final twenty minutes. Moran nearly scored her second with a fantastic half-volley from outside the box that hit the crossbar, before Colleen Rickard made it 3-1 in the 80th minute. Good play from substitute Devoy and Brianne Kaye led to a Rovers clearance, which found Rickard in space well outside the box. The forward took a touch before whipping a fine effort from about 25 yards out that was too high and too powerful for the ‘keeper and found the back of the net. The job was finished completely when Kaye ran onto a through ball down the outside right channel before smashing an effort into the net off the inside of the post, from a tight angle just inside the box.
Derry Rovers can be proud of their effort, with Alicia Kavanagh, Caroline O’Neill, Sophiat Omoyayi, Orlaith O’Sullivan and Chelsie O’Driscoll all showing their quality on the day. On the winning side, Bernie Hyland and Nicole Moran provided their side with a solid foundation, whilst the attack produced the goods when it counted. Brianne Kaye, Abby Kemmy and Colleen Rickard all stepped up to the plate, whilst substitute Roisin Keogh showcased her team’s depth in attack with a goal and an assist off the bench. The win was an emphatic one for Monasterevin in the end after a hard-fought affair. They were the better side in the first half, and although Rovers pushed up a bit in the second half and were less passive, the winning side had more quality in the final third.
Ava Farrell; Karen Higgins, Alicia Kavanagh, Caroline O’Neill, Jemma Farrell; Aoife Tyrell, Sophiat Omoyayi (Aimee Dunne 81), Orlaith Sullivan, Kayla Ennis (Faridat Omoyayi 77); Chelsie O’Driscoll; Ally Gallagher (Georgia O’Brien 59).
Alex Oglesby; Mairead Scully, Jennifer O’Keefe (Eimear Devoy 60), Bernie Hyland, Coughlan Morissey; Brianne Kaye, Emma Phillips, Nicole Moran, Rebecca Broughan (Roisin Keogh 20); Abby Kemmy (Julia Broughan 81); Colleen Rickard.
Grainne Hannigan
