Salthill Devon do the Women’s Premier league and cup double
Fogarty’s first-half brace sets Drom side on their way to clean sweep of trophies
Two opening-half goals laid the foundation for Salthill Devon winning the Women's Premier Division Cup final in Eamonn Deacy Park on Tuesday evening, the Drom side running out 2-1 winners over local rivals, Knocknacarra FC.
They completed a league and cup double in impressive fashion in the process as Ciara Fogarty applied the finishes on both occasions in the opening half with efforts from outside the box.
However, despite the advantage, they were never in the comfort zone as Knocknacarra dominated proceedings on the resumption, but just a Colette Collins goal offered them any solace as they fought to the bitter end to try and rescue matters.
The opening-half saw Salthill Devon enjoy the greater opportunities and they broke the deadlock on 18 minutes with a Fogarty shot that got the better of Louise Creaven for a 1-0 lead. Their second on the half-hour mark was a creative effort with a neat passing movement from the back culminating in Fogarty smashing a cracking effort from outside the box into the roof of the net.
With Fogarty, Sophie Gannon, and Maria Ní Choisdealbha to the fore, Devon generally maintained a control of proceedings, and both Fogarty and Eabha Ní Choisdealbha went close to adding to their tally.
At the other end of the park, two long-serving patrons of the game were involved as Devon goalkeeper Karen Connolly made a smart save to deny Susie Cunningham. Sophie Keane also had an effort that went close, but at the break it was Devon who enjoyed a 2-0 advantage.
The second-half was somewhat of a role reversal as Knocknacarra did most of the pressing and it was the turn of the Devon back four of Isabel Fahy, Holly Gallagher, Leah Brady, and Kaeladh Tobin to stand firm and keep a threatening Knocknacarra at bay.
Connolly was twice off her line in impressive fashion in the early stages to thwart Katie McPhilbin, before Chloe Carroll tested the custodian with a shot.
By now Devon were only offering the occasional threat as Melissa Fleming and Rowan Edwards marshalled matters well at the back for Knocknacarra, but Ní Choisdealbha saw a shot drift wide, while a long-range free-kick from Tobin was deflected away from goal by the legs of Creaven.
The impressive Collins, Abi Gilligan, Anna Gonzales, and Chloe Carroll were central to Knocknacarra's second-half recovery and they pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when a Gonzales pass set up Collins in space and she directed a low effort past the advancing Connolly to reduce matters to 2-1.
However, despite Cunningham trying to bring the best out of her willing colleagues, later efforts from Gilligan and McPhilbin were just off target as Salthill Devon held on for the win, and the double.
Salthill Devon: Connolly, Fahey, Gallagher, Brady, Tobin, M Ní Choisdealbha, McNeil, Gannon, Gilis, Fogarty, E Ní Choisdealbha.
Rolling substitutions: R McPhilbin, Lyanuoluwa, Stone, Daly, Kavanagh, O'Connell, Ryan, Hardy.
Knocknacarra: Creaven, M Staunton, Carolan, Fleming, Edwards, Carroll, Gonzales, Gilligan, Steward, Cunningham, Keane.
Rolling substitutions: Kenny, K McPhilbin, Coffey, Collins, C. Staunton, Langsdale, Aspel, Ní Chiunigh, C. McPhilbin.
Referee: Martin Kenny.