WNL Champions 2012/13 - Raheny United

Black and white ribbons now adorn the Women’s National League trophy after two goals from Katie McCabe and another from Rebecca Creagh ensured Raheny United made it over the line at Morton Stadium.

It was a case of doing what was needed for the Dubliners. They faced Wexford Youths knowing that the league title was theirs if they matched or bettered Peamount United’s result away to Cork — and they did so comfortably.

The visitors made a bright start as Raheny showed signs of jitters but once the home team settled there was only going to be one winner.

Early chances spurned by United, notably a skied effort from six yards by the otherwise majestic Siobhan Killeen, were forgotten once a Katie McCabe worldy gave her team the lead.

McCabe picked up the ball with her back to goal, worked room to turn and curled a stunning effort in off the far post from the edge of the box.

Raheny controlled the pace of the game from that point without creating many opportunities. Nerves in the crowd and among the ladies in black and white manifested themselves in their attacking play, which was tense and without guile in the final third.

It took 70 minutes for the title to be secured and it was another moment of individual magic that saw the net bulge, this time from a set piece.

McCabe had an effort cleared off the line by resolute Youths defender Jessica Gleeson but just a moment later a stunning free kick from 25 yards by Rebecca Creagh hit the top corner.

McCabe calmly notched her second from the spot after she was taken down in the area by Lauren Dwyer, but the numbers in the scoreline were academic by that stage.

The final whistle brought screams of elation from Sean Byrne’s charges, while the Wexford Youths players showed decorum in accepting that they had played their part on a day that was not theirs. Nobody needed to check that Peamount United had won. It didn’t matter.

Raheny United: Niamh Reid Burke, Seana Cooke, Megan Campbell, Caroline Thorpe, Katie McCabe, Siobhan Killeen, Ciara Grant, Rachael Graham, Rebecca Creagh, Pearl Slattery, Mary Waldron              

Subs: Shauna Newman, Noelle Murray, Grace McAuley Ryan, Catherine Cronin, Sinead O'Farrelly, Laura Ryan, Niamh Walsh

Wexford Youths: Mary Rose Kelly, Edel Kennedy, Jessica Gleeson, Linda Douglas, Kylie Murphy, Lauren Dwyer, Maria Delahunty, Ciara Rossiter, Lucy Sherwin, Ashling Frawley, Nikki Dunphy

Subs: Rachel Hutchinson, Laura Heffernan, Tamara Furlong, Krista Minto, Helana Sanchez, Amy Walsh, Aoibheann Webb

Attendance: 250 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Siobhan Killeen