Late wonder strike sends Manulla into Connacht final
Manulla players celebrate with goal scorer and match winner Katie Gibbons (centre), after her team defeated Salthill Devon 2-1 in the Connacht Women’s senior cup semi-final at Manulla this afternoon. Picture: David Farrell Photography
A stunning 89th minute winner by Katie Gibbons saw Manulla beat Salthill Devon 2-1 and march into the Connacht Women’s Cup final.
Daisy O'Connor put Salthill ahead inside three minutes and missed a number of chances to extend their lead. Manulla enjoyed plenty of the ball in the first half but the quality in the final third was lacking.
It was all Manulla in the second half, with Lauren McLellan, Niamh Flannery, Aoife Freyne, Katie Gibbons and Stacey Freyne impeccable for the management duo of Ollie King and Tommy Rumley. Manulla equalised on 71 minutes when Flannery found the net after being picked out Stacey Freyne’s corner and the eventual winner was a strike worthy of winning any game as Katie Gibbons fired her first time strike from outside the penalty area into the roof of the net to send Manulla a third consecutive Connacht Cup final and dump out the defending champions in the process.
Having lost the previous two finals to Castlebar Town and Salthill, Manulla will hope the third time is the charm when they face Corrib Celtic in the decider next month in Headford.
