Rejuvenated Tullamore earn cup honours

Tullamore Town 2 Bealnamulla, Athlone 1 (aet) Tullamore Town"s womens team achieved their greatest victory to date when they defeated the all-conquering Bealnamulla in the Midlands Cup final in Clara last Sunday. The Athlone side had dominated ladies soccer over the last number of years and the reason was self evident as they quickly got into their stride playing some wonderful incisive football as they went in search of an early goal which duly arrived on five minutes when Tullamore failed to clear a corner and Geraldine Griffith stole in at the far post to nod her side into the lead. As they looked to hit back Sylvia Ghee played a great ball through to Sarah Spollen but she was crowded out while at the other end Aishling Egan nearly put her team further ahead when she flashed her header inches wide. With twenty minutes on the clock Louise Molloy picked out Ghee but her long-range effort was well saved by Yvonne Dolan and then Patrice Stapleton had to be at her best as she headed clear a dangerous cross as the Athlone side returned to the attack. With Emma Traynor, Claire Grehan and Gina Dowling raining in quality crosses on the beleaguered Tullamore defence and the ever dangerous Geraldine Griffith raiding through the middle it seemed only a matter of time before they would increase their lead but with the Town back four of Regina Healion, Anna Connolly, Joan Lennon and Hilary Healion performing heroics they held firm and nearly scored with five minutes of the first half remaining when a free kick from Sylvia Ghee was fumbled by Dolan with the loose ball being scrambled out for a corner. The second half saw the emergence of a rejuvenated Tullamore team with Jenna Cornally coming on up front and her tireless chasing and harrying suddenly began to unhinge the heretofore imperious Bealnamulla defence. But it was the Athlone side who threatened first when Emma Traynor fired in a great left wing cross and Geraldine Griffith"s header just cleared the crossbar. With fifty five minutes on the clock Tullamore gave notice of intent when from fully forty yards dead ball expert Sylvia Ghee crashed a rocket off the face of the crossbar while at the other end Claire Grehan won the ball in midfield and her low shot flew just outside the post. The games defining moment came on sixty five minutes when Bealnamulla conceded a free thirty yards out on the left and when Louise Molloy rolled the ball to Sylvia Ghee she sent a magnificent swerving shot into the top right hand corner for a superb equalising goal. As the Athlone side hit back Geraldine Griffith cut through the middle but just as she seemed certain to score Anna Connolly came from nowhere to knock the ball out for a corner and from the resultant kick Regina Healion headed the ball to safety. Thirty minutes into the half Griffith again threatened when she latched onto a loose ball but her delicate lob landed on top of the crossbar and then a dangerous cross from Ruth Finlass was fired inches wide by Gina Dowling. Bealnamulla now went all out for a winner but with Claire Cantwell, Niamh Flaherty and Ghee contesting every ball in midfield and the defence refusing to give an inch Tullamore held out to take this pulsating tie into extra time. The crucial score came five minutes into the first period of extra time when Sylvia Ghee floated a free kick into the area and Anna Connolly rose above the defence to send a glancing header into the path of Jenna Cornally and the young striker brilliantly hooked the ball into the net from the acutest of angles. Tullamore held firm and nearly increased their lead when the speedy Cornally raced through only to be denied by a great relieving tackle from Aishling Egan. As referee Paddy Nolan blew the full time whistle there were scenes of great jubilation as Town captain Patrice Stapleton proudly lifted the Midlands Cup for the first time in the clubs history. This was a wonderful victory against a superb Athlone side who never gave up on the game but it was the magnificent never say die qualities of the Tullamore women that eventually won the day. Tullamore : Emma Martin, Regina Healion, Anna Connolly, Joan Lennon, Hilary Healion, Claire Cantwell, Sylvia Ghee, Patrice Stapleton, Niamh Flaherty, Sarah Spollen and Louise Molloy. Subs : Jenna Cornally, Camilla Dunne, Majella Casey, Vanessa Browne and Rebecca Molloy.