Burren United Take First Clare Women’s Soccer Prize

Photo (c) Derek Dormer

Treacys Oakwood Hotel Women’s League Shield Final
Bridge Utd 2-3 Burren Utd WFC

by Derek Dormer

In the inaugural CDSL Women’s League Shield final, it was Burren Utd who emerged victorious after a pulsating encounter with Bridge Utd. At the end of a highly competitive and entertaining tie it was the Burren ladies under the guidance of Frank Burke who lifted the silverware.

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It was in fact the Bridge who started the better of the two and were unlucky not to score such was their early stranglehold. Burren can be thankful to Player of the Match Sarah Gillan for producing two wonderful saves in this period. The first was a shot from Rachel O’Halloran that she managed to get down low and tip around the post.

The second was a remarkable point blank save from Ciara Whelan. This performance between the posts seemed to ignite the rest of the Burren ladies as for the remainder of the half they were on the front foot. Burren then opened the scoring when Sally Keane ran onto a through ball from Aimee Burke and buried low past keeper Laura Griffey.

One nil at the interval and all those in attendance were enjoying the splendid fare on offer. Bridge regrouped at half time and emerged with a steely determination for the second period. This increased effort led to the equaliser on 49 minutes when Rachel O’Halloran finished superbly from an indirect free kick inside the box to spark joyous scenes.

This joy was short-lived though as straight room the kick off Burren went back in front when Sally Keane pounced for her second after some indecision amongst the Bridge defence.

On 53 minutes the game seemed over when a Lisa Shannon effort was deflected to the net but in a day of high drama Bridge pulled one back from the impressive Diane Slattery on 55 minutes to set up a thrilling last 5 minutes.

Try as they could however Bridge could not find that equaliser even during a frantic spell where they had 5 corners in a row only to see a Burren defence stand firm. Moments later referee Sean Kenneally blew the final whistle on what was a truly memorable final. Player of the Match Sarah Gillan.

Bridge Utd: Tina Fitzgerald, Sinead Perez, Leti Valle Keane, Ali Quinlan, Anne Donovan, Rachel O’Halloran, Diane Slattery, Jean Chaplin, Ciara Whelan, Saoirse Young, Valerie Chaplin

Subs: Jessica Finnin, Aine McNamara

Burren Utd: Sarah Gillan, Sarah Nagle, Katie Thomas, Aoife Dowling, Eva Harrington, Aimee Burke, Kate Considine, Saoirse O’Brien, Sally King, Lisa Shannon, Orlaith Petty

Subs: Laura Griffey, Aisling O’Brien, Lucy King, Caoimhe Burke, Caitlin Burke, Sadhbh Blood

Referee: Sean Kenneally