Ferns clinch title
Women’s Premier Division
Ferns United 3, Seaview United 0: This top of the table clash was much closer than the scoreline would suggest and while Ferns picked up the three points that clinched their fourth Premier title in five years, their closest challengers Seaview did not roll over easy.
The first-half was evenly contested with both sides effectively cancelling each other out and clear-cut chances were kept to a minimum.
Ferns got the break in the firsthalf when Seaview failed to clear and Georgina Moore sent the ball to the net but Seaview were almost back on level terms minutes later but saw their shot come back off the post.
Seaview continued to press for the equaliser but Ferns showed all their guile and experience and with ten minutes remaining Lauren Barcoe and Georgina Moore both scored to wrap up the match and the Premier title.
League Vice-Chairman Barry Dempsey was on hand to present the winning team with the trophy, their sixth as Ferns United.
Seaview finished runners-up and are edging closer and closer to a serious title challenge each year.
Women’s Division 2B
Bunclody AFC 2, Courtown Hibs 2: A hard-fought encounter eventually saw Bunclody come from a two goal half-time deficit to pick up the point they needed to win the league.
Courtown have been in hot pursuit of the league leaders all season and when they led 2-0 at the break, they looked to be heading to snatch the title from an unbeaten Bunclody side. Marian Cardiff and Aoife Gleeson were the scorers for Hibs.
Bunclody came more into the game in the second-half and pulled one back through top scorer Britney Conroy and the same player was on hand with 15 minutes to go to score again and put Bunclody back in pole position.
Both sides could have won the match in the dying minutes but it was Bunclody who held on to take the point they needed to wrap up the title while Courtown finish runners-up.
League Secretary Martin Cahill was on hand to present the trophy to the winning team and we look forward to these two sides meeting again in three weeks time in the Nolan Health and Fitness Cup final.
Boland Carpets Cup
Camolin Celtic 1, Cloughbawn AFC 4: Cloughbawn are still in with a shout of a treble as they booked their place in the Boland Carpets Cup final after this 4-1 win away to Camolin Celtic.
Both these sides have produced some top class games this season, including the Divisional Shield final which Cloughbawn won on penalties, but in this match the visitors were in control and will now play St. Joseph’s in next Sunday’s final.
Caroline Murphy was on target for Camolin but goals from Nessa Wickham, Jessica Martin and two from Gina Foley saw Cloughbawn progress to the final.
Division 3 Cup semi-final
Tombrack United 4, Bridge Rovers 0: Divisional champions Tombrack booked their place in the final of the Division 3 Cup when they overcame a hard-working Bridge Rovers side with two goals in each half. A well taken goal from Sharon Walsh opened the scoring and a delicate lob from Shannon McGovern made it 2-0 just before half-time.
A long-range effort from Marie Allen and a calm finish from Shannon McGovern gave the home side a 4-0 victory and will now meet Stoney in the final on April 30.