Delighted Divas add to league honours

Donacarney must have been wondering how they would break down the Ardee defence, but on the halfhour mark Brianna Martin scored a cracker to break the deadlock.

The second goal came shortly after when Eimear Brennan made a run from midfield and linked with Brianna Martin whose pass released Ailbhe Horan to score.

As the teams heard the half-time whistle it was still all to play for, and on the restart Donacarney applied more pressure from the off and Brianna Martin fired two shots wide.

Ardee then went on the attack and a super surge from Melissa Crosby nearly resulted in a goal which would have put her side right back in contention. However, great defensive work from Áine Clarke and Phoenix Quinn ensured that Ardee’s chances were limited.

Kaitlin Carroll was steady throughout the game, but from a free kick on 44 minutes Brianna Martin put the Divas 3-0 ahead and almost out of sight.

Sophie Beenham, who dominated the midfield, then linked up with Leah Sanders and the latter set up Brianna Martin to make it 4-0. And on the hour mark another excellent ball from Sanders to Martin resulted in the fifth goal.

Ardee never gave up and Melissa Crosby was unlucky again when she broke through the Donacarney defence, only to be denied by some fine goalkeeping from Ella McCabe.

However, it was Donacarney who continued to dominate, with Ailbhe Horan’s offside in the 68th minute followed by a save to deny the excellent Eva Jean Quinn.

It was not to be Ardee’s day and Donacarney duly made club history by becoming the first girls team to secure the double.