Raheny book place in League Cup Final

Raheny booked their place in the Women’s National League Cup final after coming out on top in a five goal thriller. Nicola Sinnott opened the scoring after a reacting quickest to a free kick, only to see her goal cancelled out after good work from Siobhan Killeen before slotting the ball home. Katie McCabe calmly slotted Raheny ahead before Noelle Murray wonder strike put the game to bed, youths pulled a late goal back but was too little too late.

From the first whistle both sides showed their intent to try and play free flowing football and  creating half chances. Katie McCabe created the game’s first opportunity but keeper Mary Rose Kelly was up to the task forcing the ball away for a corner. From the resulting corner Raheny failed to capitalise from a dropped ball by the keeper, allowing Youths to clear the ball.

Wexford were awarded a free kick on the left edge of the box, and the resulting ball into the box by Kylie Murphy clattered the near post and Youths defender Nicola Sinnott pounced quickest to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Both sides continued to exchange chances, Wexford failing with the final pass after a breakaway from inside their own box, while Jamie Finn fired a shot over the bar for the hosts.

Raheny continued to press for an equaliser with efforts from Rebecca Creagh and Katie McCabe but minutes before the break Raheny got their just rewards after Siobhan Killeen cut in from the left and placed a shot past Wexford keeper into the fair corner.

The second half began with Raheny creating several unanswered chances and from a thrown in from the left the ball was given to Shauna Newman whose cross picked out McCabe and the Raheny attacker calmly finished the ball into the net to give the hosts the lead.

Wexford pushed for a way back into the game and after a long ball played forward, Niamh Walsh was shown a yellow card for fouling the attacker after both players missed the ball.

With Wexford pushing forward for an equaliser, Raheny continued to force chances, Noelle Murray with a rifle of a shot from 25 yards out careering off the post, while Pearl Slattery had a header from a McCabe free kick.

Wexford created another chance on goal but Carol Breen fired over the bar. Moments later as Raheny broke again they were awarded a free kick with Youths defender Amy Walsh shown a yellow card by referee Paula Brady.

Noelle Murray’s resulting free kick into the box was headed towards goal by Rebecca Creagh with the ball appearing to cross the line but both the referee and lines women saying no goal.

After continued pressure by the Pandas the fourth goal of the game came after some very good work by Noelle Murray beating two players before firing a rock from 25 yards out looping over Youth’s keeper.

Moments before the final whistle Claire O’Riordan pulled a consolation goal slotting the ball past Niamh Reid Bourke in the Raheny Goal.

Raheny United: Niamh Reid Bourke, Keeva Keenan, Niamh Walsh, Shauna Newman, Pear Slattery, Rebecca Creagh(Sarah Rowe), Katie McCabe(Avril Brierley), Noelle Murray, Siobhan Killeen, Lauren Dwyer, Jamie Finn(Niamh Barnes)

Subs: Clare Shine, Niamh Barnes, Sarah Rowe, Amanda McQuillan, Avril Brierley, Clare Conlon, Joan Daly

Wexford Youths: Mary Rose Kelly, Amy Walsh(Aiobhan Webb), Nicola Sinnott, Jessica Gleeson, Ciara Rossiter, Edel Kennedy, Kylie Murphy, Aoife Cantwell(Tamara Furlong), Aisling Frawley, Carol Breen, Claire O’Riordon

Subs: Meghan Whitty, Tamara Furlong, Shauna Wall, Orla Hickey, Rachel Hutchinson, Aoibhan Webb, Driaith Conlon

Match Referee: Paula Brady