Late Lardner header seals Hermitage victory

CLARE LADIES’ SOCCER CUP FINAL
Hermitage 3 – Tulla United 2

Once more Frank Healy Park witnessed drama at its finest. A forgettable opening forty five minutes gave way to an action packed second 45 that had the large crowd in attendance fully engaged and entertained.
Two sides who possessed character in abundance traded blows like heavyweight boxers. There was a distinct difference in their approach but a resounding similarity in application. It has to be said that Tulla played the more attractive football with incisive passing, intricate interplay and neat one-two’s but they just couldn’t seem to breach a rock solid Hermitage rearguard superbly marshalled by Ciara Duggan and Emma Ikiebey. When in possession the town club opted for a more direct style when trying to release their attackers with long balls over the top but they also met a wall of resistance in the outstanding Caoilfhinn Perill.
The vast majority of the opening half saw Tulla dominate possession but limited to shots from distance, shots that were never going to trouble the hugely impressive Kylah Hickey in the Tage goal. Anytime Hickey was called into action she showed a safe pair of hands and dealt with shots from distance with consummate ease.
Indeed it was the Ennis outfit that created the best opportunity of the half, but Doireann Murphy’s close range effort was magnificently blocked by Emma Deegan.
Just before the break Murphy once more came close to breaking the deadlock when meeting the ball on the half volley from twenty five yards that went inches wide of the left hand post.
The former Munster Senior Camogie player of the year wouldn’t be denied though and it only took six minutes of the second half for the deadlock to be broken when a superb Rachel Considine delivery was coolly slotted home by the Clarecastle girl. In football you are at your most vulnerable they say after you score and true to form Tulla had a superb opportunity to equalise straight from the kick off when Shannon O’Donovan released Eleanor Stafford with a fantastic through ball. Stafford looked odds on to score but for an outstanding last ditch Ciara Duggan block. Just moments later Hermitage punished Tulla for not taking their chance when doubling their lead. There was an element of fortune to it as a teasing Mary Allen ball into the box was deflected by a Tulla defender into her own net.
The tie now looked over as a contest but the girls in blue and white had other ideas. To their credit they kept pressing forward and were denied a lifeline when Hickey produced a magnificent brave save at the feet of O’Donovan. They kept pushing and pushing though and were eventually rewarded when an Emma Deegan corner was bundled over the line by Therese Hartley with just over ten minutes to play. The drama was only beginning as the ground erupted in the 86th minute when Tulla repeated the trick from another superb Deegan corner. This time her delivery was met by a powerful Eleanor Stafford header that took a deflection on its way to the net. Patrons were gearing themselves up for extra time but Mark Moloney’s charges had other ideas when a Doireann Murphy effort was deflected out for a corner with sixty seconds to play.
Up stepped Emma Ikiebey to send a razor like delivery onto the head of Niamh Lardner who dispatched with aplomb with the Tage sideline erupting en masse. There was time for no more as seconds later referee Darius Mostovy blew time on a hugely entertaining ladies final.
Afterwards CDSL executive officer Michael Guilfoyle presented the player of the match award and the trophy to Hermitage Captain Candice Brennan.

Hermitage: Kylah Hickey, Amy Horgan, Aisling Mullins, Emma Ikiebey, Ciara Duggan, Candice Brennan, Niamh Lardner, Brianna Maxwell, Rachel Considine, Doireann Murphy, Mary Allen Subs: Suzanne King, Mary Jordan, Rebecca Blake, Rebecca O’Farrell, Sarah Coote, Michelle Downes, Leanne Tubridy

Tulla United: Marie Keating, Therese Hartley, Emma Deegan, Caoilfhinn Perill, Caoimhe Grace, Stomha Perill, Eleanor Stafford, Karen Galvin, Eryn O’Leary, Shannon O’Donovan, Mary Tierney Subs: Emily Perill, Olivia Meaney, Niamh Stones, Juliette Purcell, Ava Guilfoyle, Amy Nolan

Referee: Darius Mostovy
Assistant referees: Keelin Fitzgerald, Ray Keane