Mullan seals it for Seaview
Sweet volley wins the cup
A SWEET Kelly Mullan volley ten minutes into the second-half was enough to clinch the Wexford Women’s Cup for Seaview United as they edged out Ferns in an extremely tight encounter in New Ross on Sunday.
After an even first 45 minutes, it was Seaview’s strong start to the second-half which got them over the line as the top two in the Premier Division clashed for cup glory.
With nerves almost certainly a factor, it was extremely cagey as the sides battled to draw first blood, so cagey that the entire first-half only really produced one clear cut chance.
That fell at the feet of Ferns United’s Aoife Devereux. She latched onto Rachel Collier’s pass at the back post before placing her shot across the Seaview goal and forcing Sally Kelly into an impressive save from close range.
Aside from that obvious opening, all other efforts were speculative and neither ‘keeper was too troubled.
Lisa Dower in particular had an array of long-range efforts for Seaview, the majority of which were steered comfortably wide.
Leona Breen’s set-pieces also posed some threat for Ferns. While her delivery was impeccable, none of her team-mates could latch onto her crosses.
This was most notable in the 36th minute when her cross beat Kelly in goal but could not be poked home at the back post.
It took for half-time to come and go for one of the sides to step up and take command of the tie. Seaview burst out of the blocks in the second-half and for the opening 20 minutes they spent the vast majority of the time attacking in the Ferns’ half.
Sonja Murphy had headed wide before Mullan got the winning goal when her initial effort was blocked, only to get a second bite at the cherry and volleying powerfully into the bottom left corner with her right foot.
They could have added a second in the following minutes. Méabh Kehoe combined with Catherine Doyle before drilling over the crossbar and Mullan almost bagged herself a second, only for her effort to be blocked on the line after Murphy’s cross to the back post.
Ultimately when the second goal didn’t come, nerves were likely to resurface for Seaview as the full-time whistle approached.
They dropped deeper to limit Ferns in their attacking play but came under a significant amount of pressure because of it. That said, Ferns failed to create any big chances as the game petered out.
Breen drilled a strike well over the bar with ten minutes of normal time remaining, and afterwards Liz Evered, Johanne Barcoe and Katie Nolan all saw shots on goal comfortably saved by Kelly.
Seaview United closed out the final few minutes with eleven defenders but got over the line to lift the Wexford Women’s Cup.
Seaview United: Sally Kelly; Aisling Mullan, Sonja Murphy, Bríd Doyle, Stephanie Foley, Kelly Mullan; Lisa Dower, Méabh Kehoe, Eimear Mullan; Catherine Doyle, Bríd Kehoe. Subs. - Jane Ryan for Kehoe (63), also Ali Staats, Katelyn Whelan.
Ferns United: Gráinne McCabe; Hayley Nolan, Sarah Figgis, Lauren Barcoe, Ali Evered; Mary O’Neill, Aoife Devereux, Rachel Collier, Johanne Barcoe; Liz Evered, Leona Breen. Subs. - Katie Nolan for L. Evered (79), also Eimear O’Leary, Ciara Corrigan.
Referee: Pat Sinnott.