Athletic women lose out despite valiant fightback

LFA Women’s Shield final: Mill Celtic 2, Mullingar Athletic 1

Mullingar Athletic’s women’s team came up just short of making history by claiming the inaugural Junior Shield at Paddy Maloney Park in Edenderry last Sunday afternoon.

Mill Celtic from the Carlow League were the opposition, and survived a brave fightback from Athletic to lift the trophy. Celtic looked to have one hand on the title when they 2-0 as the first half headed into stoppage time.

Fiona Keating handed Mullingar a lifeline when scoring from a free kick in the last action of the half. Having been second best for most of the game thus far, Athletic were rejuvenated in the second half and came very close to forcing extra time.

The final was just eight minutes old when the Kildare women opened the scoring. Catherine Dempsey has been in fine scoring form all season, and again found the net after rounding the ‘keeper. Nicole Heaney also takes the credit for picking out the number ten with a precise pass.

It was a bad start and a disappointment for the Athletic defence, who had competed the two previous round without conceding a goal. Mullingar were under pressure for much of the half and there looked to be only one winner as Celtic dominated.

The first chance for Athletic did not arrive until midway through the half, through Megan Brick. Dempsey could have doubled the lead moments later while at the other end, Dayna Muldarry was trying hard, but was too often outnumbered by the Celtic defence.

After 29 minutes the woodwork rescued Athletic when Deirbhle Byrne fired a cross against the bar. Muldarry had the Westmeath team’s best chance after 37 minutes but fired wide from inside the penalty area.

Mill Celtic were, however, creating more chances and were rewarded with a second goal two minutes from the half-time break. Dempsey was again on target and the cause for Athletic looked critical at this stage.

Somehow though, Mullingar were right back in contention in the fourth additional minute. Celtic conceded a free kick, and Keating exacted maximum punishment when sending her strike from the right to the net.

The half-time score line was not a true reflection of what had unfolded, but Athletic were not complaining and now had something to play for in the second half.

The decider turned out to be the proverbial game of two halves, as it was Mullingar’s turn to dominate when play resumed. Having looked dead and buried for long periods earlier, Athletic were now in pursuit of an equaliser.

The first chance fell to Keating, who fired over from the right with Leona Archibold also off target.

All the good work to date could have been undone after 65 minutes as Mill’s Margaret Nolan set up Dempsey. The number ten looked set to claim her hat-trick, but somehow fired over the bar with only the keeper to beat. It was a let off for Mullingar and they then resumed on the attack.

Brick had a shot saved, while Keating was also in action on the double. The first attempt from a free kick was saved with the Celtic ‘keeper also gathering a long range effort.

Keating was proving to be a threat from dead ball situations, and many in the crowd thought she had equalised after 79 minutes. Another free kick delivery from the left just cleared the bar as Celtic lived dangerously.

It was all one way traffic at this stage, as a completely rejuvenated Mullingar outfit piled on the pressure. The midfield battles were now being won and Celtic retreated into defensive mode. The three substitutions made had provided added threat when going forward. Mill Celtic star Dempsey had few further opportunities to try and complete her hat-trick.

Brick had another chance with Archibold off target from long range. The equaliser could not be found however as Celtic managed to hold onto their slender advantage.

The last chance to send the final into extra time came in the penultimate minute. Another free conceded by Celtic afforded Keating a good opportunity to test the keeper. The strike, however, did not seriously trouble Geraldine Norton, who made a comfortable save.

It had been a brave second half performance from Mullingar but they could not force an equaliser. Mill Celtic held out and relieved some of the tension in their ranks by forcing a corner kick on the stroke of full time. Substitute Jean Miley had a further chance for the Kildare women in stoppage time and the final whistle soon sounded much to the relief of the winners.

The season is over for Mullingar Athletic but the women’s team took the club out in style as they narrowly failed to lift the first ever LFA Women’s Shield trophy.

Mullingar Athletic: Karen Walsh, Jackie Glennon, Alex Davis, Naoise O’Donoghue (Andrea Buckley 80), Aoife Kenny, Leona Archibold, Fiona Keating, Karen McDermott, Lauren Power (Michelle Connolly h-t), Megan Brick, Dayna Muldarry (Aoife Byrne 75).

Mill Celtic: Geraldine Norton, Natasha Tannion, Shona Fagan, Muireann Fagan, Pamela Grufferty, Deirbhle Byrne, Margaret Nolan (Lea Beaulieu 66), Megan Grufferty (Sarah Duggan 66), Rachel Whelan (Chloe Foy 84), Catherine Dempsey, Nicole Heaney (Jean Miley 80).

Ref: Cillian Gormley (Meath).