No stopping Kilmore as they turn the tables on Courtown
KILMORE UNITED COURTOWN HIBS 4 2
KILMORE United ran out deserving winners in a thoroughly entertaining Michelle Coleman Cup final on Sunday Afternoon.
Courtown had previously pipped Kilmore to the Division 1 title by seven points but there was to be no stopping Kilmore on this occasion.
After a quiet opening quarter the game burst into life when Sophie Boxwell beat the offside trap and finished past Emma Lynch from close range.
Kilmore had the ball in the net again six minutes later.
After Amy Banville had thumped her free-kick over the bar, Roisin Furlong picked up on the resulting goal kick and fired her effort into the right hand side of the net from 20 yards.
Two quick-fire goals had given Kilmore a real belief and they could have made it three before the break – Lisa Power was off target with two more decent opportunites as Kilmore looked in control of the tie.
That control continued for some time after the restart. Power’s lob had beaten Holly Tobin who was now in the Hibs’ goal only for it to drop down on the wrong side of the post.
Furlong was off target again before Courtown got one back against the run of play – Leoni Gleeson’s effort appeared to be blocked by a Kilmore hand but Lauren Ramsey reacted quickest to the deflection and turned the ball into the net, making referee Martin Armstrong’s job a lot easier in the process.
Crucially for Kilmore, they did not have to deal with the pressure of a one-goal lead for too long. Power’s ball over the top created confusion between defender Eabha Cahill and ‘keeper Holly Tobin and winger Cora Miller was on hand to poke the ball into the empty net, restoring United’s twogoal advantage.
There was still time for more drama.
Power was involved again in the 80th minute – her corner was turned into the net at the near post by a Courtown defender and that acted as the killer blow for United.
That said, Courtown did not give up. They kept pushing for a way back into the game and shortly after Maria Cardiff shot over the bar, they were awarded a penalty when Amy Banville was judged to have handled the ball.
Cardiff’s initial penalty was saved however Armstrong ordered for the penalty be taken again for encroachment. Substitute goalkeeper Tobin made no mistake on this occasion but it was all too little too late as Kilmore ran out deserving winners.
KILMORE UNITED: Gemma Lacey; Megan Benson, Chloe Bates, Nicole Kelly, Katie Bates; Amy Banville, Sophie Boxwell, Chloe Troy, Cora Miller; Roisin Furlong, Lisa Power. Subs: Megan Doyle for Millar (66), Pamela Power for Troy (76), Amber Rafferty for Furlong (89), Gemma Rafferty for Lisa Power (89), Johanna Cousins for Boxwell (89). Also, Jenny Murphy.
COURTOWN HIBS: Emma Lynch; Eabha Cahill, Marie Nolan, Leoni Gleeson, Gina Kavanagh; Aoife Gleeson, Sonia Redmond, Lauren Ramsey, Erin Carroll; Alice Harte, Maria Cardiff. Subs: Holly Tobin for Lynch (46), Sarah Lynch for Ramsey (66), Lousie Kavanagh for Redmond (76). Also, Ava Carroll, Lynn Dunne.
REFEREE: Martin Armstrong.