Templemore v Thurles in Premier Cup final
North Tipperary Women's League Review
By Gary Culbert
A sizeable crowd turned up to Michael Fennell Park, Templemore, last Wednesday for the NTWL Cup semi-final between BT Harps and Holycross under the lights on the new artificial pitch, with the experienced home side squeaking through to the final on a 2-1 scoreline against the youthful visitors.
It was Holycross who started the brightest in this derby and could have taken the lead inside the oping five minutes. However, BT quickly asserted their control, restricting Holycross to counterattacks from their quick forward line.
The opening goal came in the eighteenth minute after a period of sustained Harps pressure had Holycross defending deep. Mary Corcoran fizzed the ball into the feet of Ellen Delaney, who was afforded too much time and space on the edge of the box, and duly curled the ball into the top corner.
Head coach Thomas Dwan rang the changes in response to going a goal down; Kaitlyn Loughnane and Lily Ryan came into the game and so did Holycross, but without creating anything really clear-cut. That was the case right up until Elana McGrath was introduced from the bench, the youngster’s pace causing all sorts of problems for the Harps backline.
The away side drew level on 34 minutes when a quick counterattack after winning the ball back resulted in the pacy McGrath getting in behind the Harps defence and tucking her finish neatly into the bottom corner.
The hosts would have restored their lead before halftime only for an exceptional double save from Holycross keeper Roisin Dwan, and so these near neighbours went in at the break deadlocked – which was a fair reflection of the contest.
It was all BT Harps early in the second half; they came out much more physical and were winning their individual battles across the field, which saw the more experienced side control possession and really started to turn the screw on their younger opponents.
This pressure was rewarded in the 52nd minute when Mary Corcoran won the ball 25 yards out and took a couple of touches towards goal before shooting from twenty yards out to deservedly restore Harps lead. Dwan got a hand to the effort but even she could not provide the heroics on this occasion.
BT continued to press with Holycross trying to hit back on the counterattack, but the visitors only chances were faint, coming mostly from the resultant corners or free kicks from distance.
Orlaith Bergin, Leah Feehan and Mary Corcoran all impressed for the finalists; but the player of the match was Ellen Delaney, not only for her great opening goal but she caused Holycross serious problems all night.
It was a fine contest, and with the oldest player on the Holycross squad being just nineteen years old there will be plenty more opportunities for them to reach cup finals in the future.
The final will be a town derby, with Thurles’ top football club, Peake Villa, travelling to Templemore on Saturday. Eagle eyed viewers will note that these teams met in the North Tipp Winter Cup final, so there will be a little bit of an extra edge between these neighbours.
That final was also played in Templemore, where penalties were required as the sides were inseparable at full time, with Peake Villa eventually coming out on top in the shootout.
Their league meeting in July ended 3-3, so another tight affair is expected on Saturday evening. Kick-off is at 6.00pm in Michael Fennell Park.