Castlebar Celtic women left heartbroken

Celtic left heartbroken


Final
Raheny Utd 3
C Grant 37, C Thorpe 84 (pen),
K Flood 95 (OG)

Castlebar Celtic 2
E Mullin 66, D Doherty 88
(AET)

Daniel Carey
Dublin

CONCEDING an own goal in extra time is among the cruellest possible ways to lose a game, but Castlebar Celtic certainly made their mark in a rip-roaring FAI Women’s Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.
Coming two weeks after Raheny United put nine past the Hoops in a league match, some feared Celtic might be in for a hiding. But twice, Adrian Carberry’s side came from behind to draw level. Both of their goals were crackers. Throw in a controversial penalty, and the first televised women’s decider provided no shortage of talking points.
The pessimists feared the worst as Raheny’s Noelle Murray had the opening shot on goal inside the first ten seconds. The Dubliners had most of the possession throughout, and Caoimhe O’Reilly was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers before United made the breakthrough. Celtic looked solid at the back and were holding their own. But with Sara McGeough up front on her own, they were restricted to half-chances, the best of which fell to Emma Hansberry.
The opening goal came after 37 minutes, a delightful up-and-over effort from Irish international Ciara Grant which one observer to Aaron Ramsey’s goal for Arsenal against Liverpool on Saturday. Celtic captain Katie Walsh shot narrowly wide from a free kick on the stroke of half time, and it was still 1-0 to Terry Eviston’s side at the break.
The skilful Noelle Murray went close on the restart, but Celtic gradually began to get forward, and they carved out a splendid equaliser after 66 minutes. Sarah Rowe’s persistence on the right paved the way for Emma Hansberry, who did superbly inside the box before squaring the ball for substitute Emma Mullin, who fired home from close range.
The Kilmaine woman continued to threaten, narrowly failing to connect with Sarah Rowe’s cross, and drawing a good save from Niamh Reid-Burke after intercepting a bad pass. At the other end, Raheny sub Clare Shine twice went close, but when the favourites regained the lead, it was in fortuitous circumstances.
There were six minutes remaining when Celtic goalkeeper Caoimhe O’Reilly was deemed to have fouled Raheny’s Caroline Thorpe in the box. The collision was clearly accidental, and referee Marie Ward’s decision to award a penalty seemed harsh. Player of the match Thorpe buried the spot-kick in the net, and Celtic’s chance seemed to have gone.
But the women from the west weren’t done yet, and they replied in spectacular fashion. Sarah Rowe played the ball back to substitute Deirdre Doherty, who curled the ball left-footed over the goalkeeper from outside the ‘D’. Twitter exploded with expressions of wonder, and extra time was required to separate the sides.
Unfortunately, there would be a cruel twist in the tale for Celtic, as defender Kim Flood headed SiobhΡn Killeen’s cross into her own net five minutes into the first additional period. There would be no third equaliser, although Katie Walsh had a pop from distance and Celtic continued to probe for an opening.
It may be scant consolation, but the underdogs played their part in the first of two five-goal thrillers at the home of Irish football. A day to remember, and much to be proud of.

Raheny United
N Reid-Burke, P Slattery, S O’Farrelly, C Thorpe, K Ryan, R Graham, R Creagh, C Grant, K McCabe, N Murray, S Killeen.
Subs used: C Shine for K McCabe (68 mins); S Newman for S O’Farrelly (92 mins).

Castlebar Celtic
C O’Reilly, K Walsh, N Fowley, K Flood, A Egan, R King, S Rowe, Y Heddington, S McGeough, E Hansberry, A Gilroy.
Subs used: E Mullin for S McGeough (46 mins); D Doherty for Y Hedigan (75 mins); R Kearns for K Flood (109 mins).

Referee: M Ward