Mayo Women's League divisional finals take centre stage
Castlebar Town captain and player of the match Amy Dowling accepts the Rumley Cup from Tommy Rumley. Picture: Dee Ryan
Castlebar Town, Killala and Achill Rovers are celebrating after winning their respective Eco-Powered Cabinets sponsored divisional cup finals at Umbro Park over the weekend.
The Rumley Cup for the Premier Division teams has a new home after Castlebar Town saw off holders Manulla after extra-time, 3-2.
With a mist coming and going over Milebush, the early stages saw both 'keepers on top of their game, with Town edging matters over the course of the half.
An OG saw the deadlock broken in favour of Town with 22 minutes on the clock. Games between these two are always tight affairs and it was all even heading in at half-time when Cadhla Shaw got on the end of a cross-field ball to equalise for Manulla.
Manulla survived two early goal-mouth scares on the restart while threatening at the other end from two corners in the first 10 minutes of the half.
Approaching 70 minutes, 'keeper Lisa Nally was happy to see a shot from Louise Dowling parried past her goal. And moments later Manulla benefited from an offside call after Town thought they'd broken the deadlock again.
Four minutes later Town survived when Niamh Flannery saw herself through on goal, only to be thwarted.
A free proved costly for Manulla on 78 minutes when Amy Dowling's shot was deflected in off the post. And just when it looked like Town were taking the cup, up popped Manulla via Stacey Freyne with a superb strike from distance to tie matters up again with time ticking down.
There was one last chance for Town before the final whistle blew, but with no goal materialising it was on to extra-time.
The Dowling combo, Louise and Amy, nudged Town in front just before half-time in extra time, Louise heading home from sister Amy's sweetly struck corner.
A last-gasp chance from Tracey Hall was comfortably dealt with by Town custodian Kira Bright, as they went on to celebrate at the end of a terrific final.
Tommy Rumley, president of the Mayo Women's League, was on hand to present the cup to Castlebar Town captain Amy Dowling, who also received the player of the match award.
The Mary Walsh Cup headed north to Killala, who were contesting their fourth final in a row. This time out Castlebar Celtic provided the opposition for the coveted Division One silverware.
Killala's Alison Langdon Long opened the scoring in the 14th minute, weaving through the defence before getting off a lovely shot.
Celtic's equaliser came in the 25th minute through Sarah Jane Kilcawley, her side having also seen a ball come back off the post.
Both sides rued missed opportunities as the half ebbed and flowed, with the game tied at one apiece at half-time.
Killala had a dream start to the second half when Alva Munnelly netted two minutes in, despite a frantic Celtic effort to keep the ball out.
Grace Carrolll saw a good sight of goal 10 minutes later but met a stern Killala defence, while Ella McLoughlin was probing the defence at the opposite end, but with no joy.
From one of those efforts, the ball was sent back up the field where Carroll popped a high ball up and over into the top corner to level the game again and setting up an exciting last 20 minutes.
In a game with two evenly matched teams, Aoibhin Bilbow had the deciding score in the 87th minute as Killala went one better than last year.
Martin Walsh was on hand to present the cup to Killala captain Alva Munnelly, with league and cups sponsor Darren Forde of Eco-Powered Cabinets presenting the player of the match award to Dearbhla McHale of Killala.
Achill Rovers women won their first ever silverware when taking home the Division Two Cup on Saturday evening.
In a cagey affair, a stunning second-half strike by Kiera Corrigan saw the islanders secure a memorable win.
Achill's goalkeeper Mairead Corrigan was the player of the match, with a number of sublime saves in the first half, thwarting goods efforts from Crossmolina's Rachel Bourke, Sarah Mulligan, Suzanne McNulty and Niamh Maughan.
And she stood firm again as Cross' came at them in the second half looking for that elusive opening goal of the game.
Achill, however, took their chance when it appeared in the 68th minute when Corrigan put home a volley inside the box.
Achill grew in stature during the second half, with Corrigan, Realtín McHugh and Muireann McHugh winning some vital possession.
Crossmolina came back at them, but Corrigan was not to be defeated in goal and Rovers held on to secure a famous victory on just their second year in the women's league.
Joint captain Aoife Kilbane was presented with the cup by Diana Hopkins, Mayo Women's League treasurer.
It's back to league action next weekend with the final round of the women's league to be played and some placings to be decided.
Manulla v Conn Rangers, Kilmore v Swinford, Castlebar Town v Straide & Foxford Utd.
Kiltimagh Knock United v Castlebar Celtic, Ballina Town v Ballinrobe Town, Westport United v Killala.
Crossmolina v Glenhest, Ballyvary Blue Bombers v Snugboro Utd.
