Match report Fingal Ravens v Thomas Davis
- Aug 26,2024
Go Ahead Ireland Junior F Club Championship Final
Fingal Ravens 2-8 Thomas Davis B 0-10
By Cóilín Duffy
Niamh Mulvany was her sides top-scorer with 2-6, including a crucial injury-time goal, as Fingal Ravens secured the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Junior F Club Championship title, overcoming a spirited second-half comeback from Thomas Davis at the windswept DCU Sports Grounds on Sunday.
Mulvany, the eventual Player of the Match, played a pivotal role, with her 66th-minute goal settling Fingal Ravens in a tense match. Ravens led by seven points at half-time, but Thomas Davis rallied fiercely in the second half, reducing the deficit to just one point by the 55th minute after Nicole Scott's fifth point. However, Thomas Davis couldn't find the equaliser.
Thomas Davis made one enforced change, with Sarah Prendergast replacing Caitriona Payne, who had battled hard to return from a calf injury, but unfortunately this final came too soon for the talented defender. Fingal included Ciara Farrell in place of Nicole Harford in their line-up.
Mulvany and Scott exchanged early points, and although Mulvany blazed a seventh minute penalty over the crossbar, it still saw Ravens take a lead they never relinquished, despite Thomas Davis's strong efforts.
The game was marked by challenging conditions, with strong gusts affecting both teams' accuracy. Thomas Davis had three wides in the first quarter, while Ravens also missed opportunities. Despite these challenges, Ravens scored their first goal in the 20th minute through Mulvany, assisted by Amy McCaffrey.
Defensive efforts from Alex Giglione, Emma Kennedy, Destiny Ogbonna, and Sinead Murray kept Thomas Davis in the game, but Ravens led 1-5 to 0-1 at half-time.
Newman pushed them eight points clear on the restart, Thomas Davis mounted a strong comeback, with Scott adding two frees, but a penalty save by Ravens' keeper Maebh Browne tested their resolve.
Ravens were reduced to 14 players following the sin-binning of Lucy Butler, while Thomas Davis continued to etch into the Ravens lead.
Thomas Davis cut the gap to one point with scores from Karla Plowman, Scott (2) and Katelyn Murray, but Mulvany's late 1-1 during the nine-minutes of injury-time proved decisive. Despite a fine point from Abby Ferns and good work by keeper Abby Whelan, Fingal Ravens held on to register their first women’s championship title win.
After the match, Fingal Ravens captain Blathnaid Ní Scanaill received the cup from Dublin LGFA Secretary Mary O’Connor, capping a hard-fought victory.
FINGAL RAVENS: Maebh Browne; Zoe McKenna, Jessica Manning, Ella Kinsella; Ciara Farrell, Siofra Ni Scanaill, Abbie King; Lucy Butler, Blathnaid Ni Scanaill; Kelly Newman-Shannon, Maria Hoey Waters, Sarah Manning; Amy McCaffrey (0-1), Niamh Mulvany (2-6, 4f, 1pen), Alannah Newman (0-1).
Subs: Nicole Harford for Newman (45); Laura Sammon for King (56); Sarah Deheane for McKenna (61); Beibhin Flatley for Newman-Shannon (63); Shannon Hogan for McCaffrey (69). Panel: Emma Casey, Sophie Kettle, Megan Appleyard, Sarah Jane McGuinness, Moya Bryllert.
THOMAS DAVIS B: Abby Whelan; Alex Giglione, Stacey Byrne, Sarah Prendergast; Destiny Ogbonna, Emma Kennedy, Sinead Murray; Karla Plowman (0-1), Abby Ferns (0-1); Nicola Staunton, Katelyn Murray (0-2), Hollie Byrne; Kelly Mc Kiernan, Nicole Scott (0-6, 5f), Georgia Plowman.
Subs: Emma Ferns for G Plowman (35); Sara Moody for Stacey Byrne (40); Lauren McGovern for Prendergast (45); Natasha O’Neill for McKiernan (47) Panel: Siobhan Byrne, Leah Farrell, Aisling Phillips, Caitriona Payne.
REFEREE: Greg O'Donnell (Clontarf)