Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

Salthill Devon 2

Corrib Celtic 1

Salthill Devon captured the Women’s Premier Cup last Saturday to deny Corrib Celtic the treble, after the Annaghdown side had already won the league title and the Connacht Cup.

Devon were just the better outfit on the day, and goals either side of the break gave them a cushion that Celtic were unable to overcome.

It was the finishing of Anna Fahey and Alannah McNeill who bagged the goals, and while Ciara Coen pulled one back for Celtic in the closing quarter, they struggled to make a real impact in the last third of the pitch, and where the loss through injury of striker Joy Erugo was a big loss.

They also came up against the impressive Anesi Igunma in the Devon goal, whose handing and assurance around her area was a confidence boost to all around her. Devon also included two former Galway United U-19 players as Fahey and central defender Leah Brady displayed all the qualities seen previously at the national stage in that grade of football.

The Drom outfit were the better side in the opening half and had an early Mollie Walsh goal ruled out for offside, while Daisy O’Connell was off target after gathering an Abby Kavanagh pass.

Through the efforts of skipper Ria McPhilbin, Rebecca Fahy, Meabh White, Mollie Walsh, and Abby Kavanagh, the city side kept the pressure on, but both goalmouths were unchallenged for a spell before Devon made the breakthrough on 42 minutes when Eabha Costello set up Fahey on the edge of the box and her low effort got the better of Marion Murray for a 1-0 advantage.

Fahey had an opportunity to double her tally just before the break, but a smart save by Murray was to deny her. They made it 2-0 on 50 minutes when McNeill cut in from the right wing as she ran unchallenged from half-way before firing a powerful shot past Murray.

The goal stirred Corrib Celtic into a reaction, and they were the better side for the rest of the half, but they found goalkeeper Igunma a difficult obstacle. Jack Barrett’s charges had a great chance to pull one back on 59 minutes, but Micheala Kavanagh got under a Rachel King free-kick and headed over the bar.

Pictured: The Salthill Devon squad that won the Women’s Premier Cup in Eamonn Deacy Park last Saturday with a 2-1 win over Corrib Celtic.  Back row, from left: Karen Connolly, Anna Fahey, Mollie Walsh, Anesi Ingunma, Mia O’Donnell, Anna Daly, Brooke Madden, Abby Kavanagh, Maria Costello, Alanna McNeil, and Natasha Madden. Front: Leah Brady, Kaelah Tobin, Ria McPhilibin, Eabha Ní Coisdealbha, Daisy O’Connell, Aoife Molloy, Aoife Lynagh, and Isobel Fahey. Photos: Joe O’Shaughnessy.