Goals either side of interval sink battling Dunmore Town in Junior Cup women's final

Dunmore Town 2St Joseph’s Girls FC 4

Mike Rafferty in Newbridge

THE cruel concession of a brace of goals each side of the interval was the killer blow as Dunmore Town’s dreams of National success ended in what seemed slow motion at Shiven Rovers Grounds in Newbridge on Sunday.

The journey to the final of the Women’s FAI Junior Cup brought much joy to a bunch of girls who, for the majority of the opening half, were very much in contention against their Dublin visitors.

After a shaky opening, Dunmore gradually found their feet before a huge home support and despite the concession of a soft early goal, they fought back and led in the seconds coming up to the break.

However, there were definitely shades of offside about Michelle O’Reilly as she broke away from just inside the Dunmore half and while Helena Cummins did very well to save her initial close range effort, the rebound fell kindly for the Dubliner as she side-footed home to tie up matters at 2-2.

It was a cruel blow to the home side, who were by far the superior team in that opening half, but a lapse in concentration was to cost them dearly as the goal gave the visitors a huge incentive at the start of the second half. 

On just 48 minutes, a Lauren Cavanagh corner was met at the near post by Gemma Matthews and her close range finish was to drive another nail in the Dunmore confidence as they struggled to deal with a St Joseph’s side whose ability to play really flourished in the second half.

The reality is that they were the two crucial blows that turned the game in the visitors’ favour and despite a willing Dunmore side putting their hearts and souls into it, the game was slipping away and facing a breeze, they struggled to maintain the standards set earlier in the game.

It was the St. Joseph’s who made the initial breakthrough on just three minutes when the excellent Sam Faulkner cut in from the flank and somehow fired in an effort that got the better of Cummins at the near post.

The lead was short lived, however, as Dunmore responded in perfect fashion with Nicky Kilgariff cracking home a free kick from outside the box on seven minutes to tie up matters at 1-1.

With Breda Meehan having subdued the dangerous Faulkner, the Joseph’s supply line was diminished and for the remainder of the half, it was the home team who were the more threatening.

They were presented with a great opportunity to take the lead on 26 minutes, when awarded a penalty for handball, but Kilgariff’s spot kick was always on the rise as it flew high and wide of the target.

The compensation arrived quickly though when just three minutes later Michelle Corley cracked home a stunning effort from outside the right side of the box for a 2-1 advantage.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.