DCU’s women’s football team was beaten in the Women’s Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland Division 1 final by the University of Limerick on Wednesday, March 16th.
UL saw off the Glasnevin college in a thrilling encounter that ended 6-4 after extra time as UL proved too much in the extra period for their opponents in their home ground to lift the First Division title.
McKenna Davidson opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes for the Limerick side before doubling their lead on 35 minutes with another well taken goal.
An Emma Boyle free kick moments before half-time brought it back to a one-goal game and came at an important time as DCU went in optimistic at the break that they could claw the lead back and go on to win the game.
A goal from Katie Hurley inside the first ten minutes of the second half stretched out the lead yet again before Áine Bennett struck DCU’s second a few minutes later.
In a close fought game McKenna Davidson of UL was the standout performer and on 63 minutes she got her just rewards scoring UL’s fourth and making sure she went home with the match ball as she completed her treble.
The prospect of a comeback looked bleak for DCU at that stage but Grace McAuley Ryan’s team didn’t give up and when Róisín Cafferty pulled a goal back with just over 70 minutes played they were right back in the tie.
DCU continued to push for another goal in the final 15 minutes and with 82 minutes gone Kyla Gillen got her head onto the end of a corner and sent the ball into the net levelling things up with less than ten to play.
Both teams pushed for a winner in those final few moments but neither could find the net as the game ended 4-4 after regulation time and headed for extra time.
Goals from Cassidy Davis and Claire Keating in the extra period gave UL the win in the end as DCU ran out of steam. The North Dublin side did however have plenty of positives to take from the game, a strong performance from the DCU women contributed greatly to a fantastic game of football.
DCU: Shauna O’Brien, Denise Callinan, Joanna Byrne, Fiona Treacy, Kyla Gillen, Kaniesha McKinney, Aoibhinn Webb, Emma Boyle, Sarah Sweeney, Rose McGahan, Áine Bennett.
Subs: Aideen Coyle, Natalie Sweeney, Róisín Cafferty, Hayley Moore, Shauna Kendrick, Maria Byrne.
Manager: Grace McAuley Ryan.
UL: Laura Fitzgerald, Áine O’Connor, Niamh McCormack, Michelle O’Regan, Keara Cormican, Megan Carroll, Katie Hurley, Sarah Ryan, Claire Keating, Cassidy Davis, McKenna Davidson.
Subs: Orla Barry, Jennifer Dimos, Laura Mannion, Caroline Gunning, Julie Kelly, Kristen Delcellier, Megan Foley.
Manager: Derek McCarthy.
Cormac O’Shea
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