Sadhbh strikes in extra time to win the Rumley Cup
Manulla celebrate winning the Tommy Rumley Cup at Umbro Park Photo: Aaron Gallagher
An epic battle between two of Mayo football's top football teams ended with Manulla claiming the Rumley cup after extra time. The large crowd gathered in Umbro Park, were treated to an end-to-end game of football across the 110 minutes of football.
It was always going to be a tough ask for Manulla. The side who currently sit top of the Premier Division, after only losing one game this season, were without several players, the most notable being captain, Aoife Freyne, who injured her ACL in April.
The teams could not be separated in the opening period. It was cautious football from both teams, neither wanting to give up a goal. Both teams were stringing good passages of play together, but unable to make any breakthroughs. The young Amy Cunningham was superb in defence for Manulla, while Ellis Conway put in a superb shift for S&F.
The best chance of the opening half fell to Manulla in the 20th minute. Sadhbh Larkin used her strength to get past several players within the Straide and Foxford box, before getting her shot away, however, the ball clipped the outside of the post and went out over the sideline for a goal kick.
Straide and Foxford marked Manulla’s star, Tracey Hall, very tightly, limiting Hall's usual major influence. The former Mayo GAA stars' first real impact came on the game just before the halftime whistle. Lauren McLellan intercepted the S&F kickout, before sending a perfectly weighted pass in Hall's direction. Hall’s shot was just wide of the left post.
As the halftime whistle sounded, the teams could not be separated at 0-0.
The second half was not much different. The game grew cagey for a while, before it seemed to come to life for a short time after the 65th minute. Both teams were creating chances but thanks to some excellent goalkeeping from Lisa Nally, and the S&F defence remaining solid, the deadlock was not broken.
Player-of-the-match, Hannah Prendergast worked extremely hard in the middle of the pitch, spurring her team on to search for a winner.
The best chance of the second period came from Tracey Hall who connected with a Hannah Prendergast cross, however Hall was unable to keep the ball down, and sent it over the crossbar.
Despite some late pressure from S&F United, there was no real opportunity to score a winner, sending the game to extra time.
The first period of extra time followed the same trend as the previous 90. Apart from an early chance from substitute, Anna Mae Clarke, to score a winner, neither team created any solid chances.
It was not until the second period, in the 102nd minute, that the game was won. Manulla applied a severe amount of pressure in the S&F box, and with several players scrambling for the ball, it was Manulla’s Sadhbh Larkin who got her foot to it, firing it past Emma Galligan to break the deadlock, much to the delight of the large Manulla crowd.
S&F did search for a late equaliser, but it was not to be as Manulla claimed the Rumley Cup, in honour of their club president, Tommy Rumley, for the second year in a row.
Manulla; Lisa Nally, Natalie Lundy, Amy Cunningham, Emma Cosgrave, Stacey Freyne, Vivienne Ward, Tracey Hall, Hannah Prendergast, Sadhbh Larkin, Lauren McLellan, Mary Reilly. Subs; Katie Gibbons (for McLellan 73), Anna Mae Clarke (for Reilly 88).
Straide & Foxford United; Emma Galligan, Kailey O’Haegan, Rebecca Conlon, Michelle Ruane, Emily Roache, Orla McHale, Natasha Gaughan, Stephanie Loughney, Ellis Conway, Fiona Doherty, Fiona Roache. Subs; Avadh Gaughan (for O’Haegan HT), Erin Mulroy (for F Roache 76), Carla Ruane (for N Gaughan 83) Lisa Doherty (for Conlon 105).
Referee; John Barry
