Raheny United 2
Peamount United 1
A 90TH-MINUTE goal from Noelle Murray earned Raheny United the FAI Women’s Senior Cup for the first time in their history this afternoon.
The North Dublin club met Peamount United at Dalymount Park and, having finished runners-up behind their biggest rivals in the Women’s National League and also losing out when the sides met at the semi-final stage last season, Raheny manager Ger McDermott was eager come out on top this time around.
They didn’t get the start they had hope for, however.
Despite creating two early chances, Raheny found themselves behind after just seven minutes when Peas winger Julie-Ann Russell did excellently to create a goalscoring opportunity for Sara Lawlor with a low cross and the Irish international drilled home.
2010 winners Peamount should have added to her tally just seconds later but, after being put through by strike partner Stephanie Roche, Lawlor shot straight at opposing goalkeeper Emma Merrigan.
Eileen Gleeson’s side were then denied by the crossbar in the 35th-minute when full-back Grace Murray’s cross was inches away from beating Merrigan.
Right before the interval, the game was level again – Linda Meehan denied Murray, then Rachel Graham, but couldn’t keep out Mary Waldron, who pounced on the loose ball and found the back of the net.
The second half saw Lawlor find the sidenetting, while it was Raheny’s turn to hit the woodwork.
And with extra-time looming, they grabbed a dramatic winner. Kate Flood unleashed Graham down the right and her delivery found its way to Murray, who had the task of rolling the ball into an empty net.
Raheny United: Emma Merrigan, Shauna Newman, Kate Flood, Seana Cooke, Megan Campbell, Siobhan Killeen, Ciara Grant, Rachael Graham, Rebecca Creagh, Mary Waldron, Noelle Murray. Subs: Caroline Thorpe, Kate McKeever, Katie McCabe, Catherine Cronin.
Peamount United: Linda Meehan, Grace Murray, Amy McLoughlin, Karen Duggan, Susan Byrne, Julie-Ann Russell, Louise Quinn, Sara Lawlor, Ruth Comerford, Stephanie Roche. Subs: Monica McGuirk, Claire Kinsella, Caroline Healy, Emma Donohue, Louise Corrigan, Emily Cahill, Solene Barbance.
