Riverstown F.C.

Senior Women’s Munster Junior Cup Final

Riverstown FC 1 Tramore AFC (Waterford) 0 after extra time

There surely won’t be too many better games played at picturesque Ardrath Park in Youghal than this exciting Munster Junior Cup final.
Tramore came into this game as favourites due to the scalps they took on the way while Riverstown were in unchartered waters, a first Provincial final for them.

Both sides started nervously and the match swung to and fro for the first 15 minutes. Tramore expected a lot from their international centre midfielder Lynn Marie Grant, and it was obvious from an early stage why she is so highly rated but she probably never came across a more able opponent in domestic football than Michelle Hourihan from Riverstown and this battle was the highlight all day with the Riverstown player shading the challenge as the game came to it’s conclusion.

Tramore did look the more dangerous side in the first half with Rachel Wall and Eileen Guiry causing a few problems but the Riverstown back four of Megan Spillane and Catherine Halpin in the centre and Emma Coughlan and captain Jenny White at full back, were more than able for anything that came their way. Amanda Daly was doing a great holding role for Riverstown at centre mid and despite not getting too many chances, Laura Mullins and Laura Davis were working their socks off up front.
With the game scoreless at the break, a lot of neutrals expected Tramore to forge on in the second half but Rivestown had other ideas and they certainly stepped up their game. Louise O’Dowd and Ann Marie O’ Callaghan were now getting more on the ball on the wings which meant that the front two were getting service and this put Tramore on the back foot a lot more.
But chances were hard to come by from both sides and the keepers dealt with anything that came their way, with Imelda Kelly in the Rivestown goal the busier of the two but her handling was magnificent and certainly instilled confidence into the rearguard.. Riverstown sent on Avril Fahy and Emer Feerick and their fresh legs made a huge difference as Tramore were visibly tiring.
So it finished 0 – 0 and on to extra time. Riverstown certainly seemed more relaxed in this period and as a result were playing the better football. Laura Davis and Megan Spillane both went close, with a Spillane header coming off the the crossbar.
Catherine Power and Rebecca Looney were still solid at the centre of the Tramore defence as Riverstown pushed on but then with 3 minutes remaining in the game, a Megan Spillane free kick was expertly met by the head of Laura Mullins and the ball nestled in the right corner of the net. It was frantic stuff for the last 3 minutes as Tramore pushed on but the Riverstown defence were excellent and held out for an historic victory. Captain Jennifer White accepted the Cup for the winners and she paid tribute to the effort that her team put in all year. She also thanked the Management team of Peter Mullins and Eamon Breen for all their hard work and sacrafice during the year. The celebrations continued back to Glanmire………..and further afield.