By Sammy Martin
Same the world over
CUP football, whether it is played out in the finest arenas in South Africa or the little grounds scattered around Northern Ireland, enchants, enthrals and captures the imagination by its sheer unpredictability.
There’s the World Cup. What an event it’s turning out to be. Unusual happenings occurring on and off the field continues to make compulsive reading. Some reputations are in tatters, others are in the making.
The Azzurri slunk home in disgrace. Who would have imagined their early exit? The humiliated world champions timidly surrendered their trophy. They couldn’t even make it out of their group, finishing last behind the All-Blacks. Sorry, New Zealand!
And the whingeing, fragile French must be glad that the guillotine no longer exists as a weapon of justice. Their disgrace was total – and how Dublin celebrated!
England weren’t so Fabio as they suffered another German nightmare. Rooney, Gerrard and Terry were only a trio of the lions whose pride was stripped as they incurred their worst ever defeat in the World Cup finals. Some strange decisions by their Italian master didn’t help.
By the way there is no truth in the rumour that a certain Uruguayan linesman should go to Specsavers with all expenses paid for by the English FA!
Various other sprinklings of upsets have generated compelling viewing all over the world. Just who are going to be the new world champions?
What’s this all got to do with the Davison’s Frudles NIWFA? Well the soccer ladies of Northern Ireland were wrapped up in their own various Cup competitions and the passion, agony and joy was just as intense as the one going on in Nelson Mandela’s home country.
Now, Wetherburn isn’t quite Johannesburg’s awe-inspiring Soccer City Stadium and Donegal Celtic and Dromore Amateurs aren’t Argentina or Holland. But the Star Match in the Championship Cup served up a captivating contest that was generous in its wealth of goals and glorious in its romanticism. Such is the global excitement of football.
Dromore were slight favourites by virtue of their recent 3-2 league triumph over Celtic. However, the erratic sting of knock-out football saw the Amateurs gallantly vacate the tournament.
As the tie unfolded Celtic blossomed with a sweetly struck shot by Debbie Douglas giving Celtic the lead. This led to renewed determination by Dromore Amateurs and 10 minutes later they equalised from a goalmouth scramble.
Plenty more goals were yet to come, whilst a lively duel had both sets of supporters twitching and cheering. It soon became clear that to forecast the outcome of this one was tantamount to picking the new World Cup champs. Impossible!
In the second half Dromore literally got the run of the green when a low shot from outside the box hit a divet and went in over the bemused goalkeepers head to give Dromore a slender 2-1 lead.
In the 80th minute Donegal Celtic were reduced to 10 players after a professional foul in the box and JP Coogan was staring cup defeat in the eyes when goalkeeper Alex Stephens produced an outstanding save to keep their hoped alive. This proved to be the stir that DC required and with the last kick of the ball Lauren Moore equalised to leave the game 2-2 and heading to extra time.
Extra time was pretty uneventful and both teams seemed to be playing for penalties. As always, penalties are very exciting yet end in despair for one team and in this case Celtic were jubiliant whilst Dromore were defeated after Celtic won 4-3 on penalties with strikes from Mairead McLaughlin, Alana Livingstone, Jenny Waide and Lauren Moore with keeper Stephens continuing to perform heroics and ensure that DC go through to the semi-final of the NIWFA Davisons Frudles Championship Cup!
MEANWHILE Fermanagh Mallards began the defence of their trophy in impressive fashion, securing a 2-0 win over Coleraine at Ballinamallard. Perhaps this one did go a predictable route. When the teams met in the league, Mallards won 4-2 and are the division’s current pacemakers.
Coleraine tried their best to spring a surprise on the holders, competing with purpose and indeed provided a sterner challenge than the Mallards maybe imagined. However, with a possible double in the making, they grabbed their chances, scoring machine Lynne McFrederick and Rhonda McIlwaine securing their place in the semi-finals.
LOUGHGALL marched into the semis with an emphatic 4-0 thrashing of section strugglers Carrick Rangers. League victims of the Lakers earlier in the season Rangers maybe accepted the mission was beyond them and braced themselves for the inevitable.
Janice Willis helped herself to two goals, with Philippa Dougan-Toal and Rebecca Capper picking up the others in a facile victory for one of the title favourites.
ST. MATTHEW’S and Larne served up an eleven goals thriller before the Saints ran out 7-4 winners. Star of the show was the irrepressible Maria Sykes who shredded the Larne defence, firing in four goals. Megan Mailey scored twice with Aine Flynn notching the other.
But it wasn’t totally one-sided as Larne battled with pride, scoring four through Rachel Millar (2), Laura Noble and Ayeisha McFerran before bowing to a greater power.
DIVISION ONE CUP
THE League and Cup double is not beyond Limavady in Division One. Although Blackieville, Banbridge and Downpatrick are tipped to better their best efforts, the ladies from the North West cannot be discarded cheaply.
They benefit greatly from the shooting skills of Louise McAllister whose haul to date has reached double figures and will certainly increase two-fold. The Limavady predator slammed in a hat-trick and Armagh City’s interest in the competition ended.
Although scoring twice City couldn’t repair the damage of McAllister’s scoring bout, Limavady winning 4-2, Rebekah McMullan their other scorer.
BANBRIDGE sounded a Cup warning with a 7-0 flogging of gutsy, little Portaferry at Cheney Park. It was all too easy. Ports, much too vulnerable in this section couldn’t remain on equal terms with their opponents and it was really a case of keeping the score down.
Jemma Jackson was the Portaferry tormentor, marking up a well-taken hat-trick. Alex Hurst, another scoring wizard, hit two, with Lauren Redpath and Natalie Lennon picking up the others.
TOLLYMORE’S league form suggests they will perform few miracles in the Cup, but they did enjoy a leap beyond the opening round with a 3-2 win over Knockbreda.
The Belfast ladies stuck the ball in the net twice with strikes from Jo Foy and Jenny Thompson but Amy Nicholson, Amy O’Higgins and Laura Byrne ensured a good night for the Newcastle seasiders.
DIVISION TWO CUP
BALLYMONEY United had too much in their armoury for visiting Wellington Rec. Both teams are side by side at the bottom of the Division Two and a much closer contest was anticipated. United though made home advantage pay, cruising to a 5-1 victory.
Carla Dickie and Laura McCurdy scored two apiece with Sammy-Jo Greer tagging on another. Ashlee Houston pencilled in a consolation goal for the travellers.
BANGOR Ladies cleared their first hurdle with a narrow 2-1 win over Dungoyne at Bloomfield. Leanne McGarry provided the foundation for victory with her marvellous opening goal. Although Dungoyne managed to get on the scoresheet, Lauren McAteer swooped on a corner kick to clinch a Bangor victory.
DIVISION THREE CUP
THE Division Three Cup Star Match never reached pre-match expectations as Valley Rangers powered to a 5-1 win over PSNI at Newforge. Kerry McCann’s goal was the home team’s solitary moment of enjoyment as the section’s pacemakers took their first Cup step as they chase a very possible double.
Rangers’ top scorer Nicole Graham was yet again on target, registering twice, with further goals from Elaine Orr, Anna Cunningham and Lyn Johnston sealing an impressive victory.
ROSSGLASS County’s Cup interest evaporated at Dunleath Park where Portadown Integrated inflicted a 4-0 defeat. Aisling McKenna was the pride of the Ports with her hat-trick whilst Jenna McDonnell completed the rout.
IT was a case of the ecstasy and the agony for spirited Killyleagh. They leapt into a staggering 3-0 lead in twenty minutes against Crumlin United at Mallusk.
They nudged ahead via Stacy Morrison’s laser chip over the ‘keeper and further goals by Suzie McCully and Amy Millar within the following ten minutes had YC celebrating. However, Davy Andrews’ charges couldn’t hold on and by half-time it was 3-3.
A disastrous o.g. shortly into the second half saw United seize the lead for the first time. They made it 5-3 and though McCully snapped up a second for Killyleagh to close the gap to 5-4, Crumlin put it beyond the reach of the Down ladies towards the end.
Anna McBride (2), Bronagh Doherty, Chantelle Waite and Cathy Scannell were the Crumlin aces.
VICTORIA Jackson and Laura McGimpsey collected two goals for Abbey Villa but Ballynahinch Olympic enjoyed a 4-2 win at Millisle.
DIVISION FOUR CUP
THE prolific Lauren Brennan sent Sion Swifts soaring into the next round of the Division Four Cup as she bagged four goals against Craigavon City. Louise Coyle scored another two as Swifts won 7-2. Julie Henderson scored City’s two goals.
