Eimear Hunt was the hero for St Attracta’s because the Tubbercurry college claimed the Connacht title with a 1-0 victory over Claregalway Faculty at Lecarrow on Thursday afternoon within the FAI Faculties Senior Women Connacht Cup Last.
unt was available to fireside the Tubbercurry facet into the lead within the 81st minute, because it regarded like this recreation was headed for extra-time.
St Attracta’s will now tackle Midleton within the All Eire semi-final subsequent Tuesday, particulars might be confirmed at a later date.
It’s a second Connacht title in two years for the South Sligo college, having gained the junior title final yr earlier than dropping out on the semi-final stage of the All Eire competitors to a gifted Buncrana facet.
These two sides met in final yr’s Connacht junior remaining, with St Attracta’s rising victorious with a 3-1 victory.
And this tie would additionally go to the South Sligo facet, though they have been made to work for this one, grinding out a victory in a tough recreation.
Attracta’s got here out of the blocks firing, with Cara King’s highly effective drive from the best hitting the crossbar early on, with the observe up additionally hitting the upright, leaving Leah O’Halloran within the Claregalway objectives respiration a sigh of aid.
The duo of Michaele McGough and Elisha Bohan have been inflicting issues early on for Attracta’s, though Macayla Burke was hardly ever troubled in objectives.
The netminder got here off her line to say the ball with McGough chasing it down, with the Galway college having fun with a spell of stress with out getting near the goal.
Chloe Flaherty’s shot from distance was effectively astray, whereas a wonderful effort on the half volley from Bohan got here straight into the arms of Burke.
A slight deflection took the sting out of Bohan’s shot from shut vary after good work from McGough, with Attracta’s dealing with every thing thrown their path with ease, though the identical might be stated for the Claregalway defence which was additionally holding up effectively.
Burke caught Bohan’s flying shot on 24 minutes, earlier than Leah Walsh’s free-kick simply wanted a contact to beat the keeper, who was effectively positioned to make the save.
Ciara Brennan picked out Kerri O’Hara with a high-quality cross, though the ball carried an excessive amount of weight and in the long run was too near the ‘keeper.
A beautiful ball excessive from Rebecca Doddy discovered Ciara Brennan who turned impressively earlier than unleashing an effort that was simply large.
Ciara Brennan was compelled off simply earlier than half-time after she sustained what gave the impression to be a nasty knee damage, with Amy McCarthy approaching in her place.
It was all Attracta’s after the re-start, with Lauren Normanly’s shot whistling large of the publish on 52 minutes, earlier than O’Hara nudged the ball completely into the trail of Doddy.
Doddy was dealing with a difficult angle from the best hand facet, however did handle to pressure a save from Leah O’Halloran within the Claregalway objectives.
The Claregalway defence was underneath stress as St Attracta’s continued to probe. The Tubbercurry facet thought they’d the lead on 77 mintues when Amy McCarthy’s ball in was nearly toe-poked over the road by Normanly, though O’Halloran scrambled to maintain it out and did so, nearly.
It felt as if tie was headed for extra-time, however St Attracta’s needed it carried out lengthy earlier than that.
A free from O’Hara was pushed away by O’Halloran on 81 minutes, however her clearance fell properly to the ft of Eimear Hunt who blasted into the online to offer her facet the lead late on.
All St Attracta’s wanted to do now was maintain on for pricey life, and that they definitely did.
Claregalway desperately tried every thing to discover a manner again into the sport, however St Attracta’s weren’t letting this one slip away like that.
And they also held out to say the Connacht title, nevertheless it’s not over simply but.
Subsequent Tuesday they transfer onto the All Eire semi-final, the place they may tackle Midleton. Venue and time of that tie might be introduced in the end.
St Attracta’s: Macayla Burke, Eimear Hunt, Leah Walsh, Ciara Walsh, Cara King, Ellen Kelleher, Jessica Casey, Ciara Brennan (Amy McCarthy, 45+1), Kerri O’Hara, Rebecca Doddy, Lauren Normanly.
Claregalway Faculty: Leah O’Halloran, Chloe Flaherty, Isobel Claffey, Sara Cogley, Éabha O’Riordan, Caoimhe O’Neill, Niamh Donovan, Elisha Bohan, Ruby Duggan (Clodagh Crowley, 46), Ciara Hegarty (Ava Sweeney, 73), Michaela McGough.
Referee: Eugene Collins.
