Lagan Harps Ladies clinch Foyle Cup Victory
Lagan Harps enjoyed this week Foyle Cup Tournament in Derry.
On Monday they played a very strong Derry City side, come out victorious in the end with a superb free kick by Emma Duffy and Amber Barrett running onto a long ball before lobbing the Derry keeper.
This game set the motions rolling for Tuesday’s game with a massive 5-0 win over Limavady. Nakita Burke scoring twice, and Caroline Gallagher, Lauren Harper and Amber Barrett scoring one goal each.
Lagan Harps had secured first place position in their group even before the third group game which was against Inishowen side Greencastle, both teams met in last years Ulster FA cup final, and know from start it was going to be a tight encounter.
Greencastle scored first with Orlaigh Furlong scoring a long-range shot. With time running out a quick taken free kick by Amber Barrett over the top of the Greencastle defence was slotted past Sarah Faulkner by Nakita Burke. When the announcement of the placing in the other group was produced, Lagan were to face old Donegal Women’s League rivals Kilmacrennan Celtic in the final.
Kilmacrennan Celtic withdrew from the Donegal Women’s League back in 2010, however Trevor Gorman regrouped the core of their previous squad and invited guest players to compete in the Foyle Cup this year.
Everyone knew that this was going to be a great entertaining, exciting final.
Roisin Friel for Kilmacrennan was first to test the keepers, however young Emma Toye pulled off a great one on one save.
With Nakita Burke and Lauren Harper up front for Lagan, both players caused Kilmacrennan defence heartache, however vital and precise tackling from Danielle Fay stopped both girls on a few occasions.
The deadlock was broken on the 22 min when Nakita Burke crossed from the right, and Harper jumped highest to head over the advancing keeping. Lagan were to extend their lead 2 mins later, when a long ball by Nadine Crawford found Harper who shot into the top corner. 5 mins after the restart Lagan’s Nakita Burke crossed from the left to Harper who finished with a hat-trick of goals.
The third goal spurred Kilmacrennan girls into action, with Maureen O’Donnell delivering long balls to Roisin Friel and Marie Gallagher, however Emma Duffy orchestrated the Lagan defence restricted the Kilmacrennan pairing to long range shots, however on one occasion Lagan were lucky not to concede when Marie Gallagher’s shot first hit the crossbar, and the rebound shot by Roisin Friel also hit the crossbar.
Kilmacrennan were rewarded for their hard work with 10 mins remaining, with a corner taken by Maureen O’Donnell was headed into the net by Danielle Fay at the back post. Minutes later a long shot by Marie Gallagher, stopped by Emma Toye, however she dropped it under pressure and Roisin Friel scored from close range.
The final minutes were nail biting, but Lagan left the Cup behind last year were not making the same mistake, after Sion Swifts scored in the last minute of normal time and who went on to win in penalties, Lagan held out. Afterwards Nakita Burke accepted the trophy from Hughes Insurance sponsors of the Foyle Cup.
Lagan Harps would like to thank the Foyle Cup organising committee, with over 600 games played during the week, having 3 officials at each game, the paramedics, and the grounds people, this made the tournament enjoyable for everyone.
Other Donegal Women’s League player’s involved in the competition were Eimear Callaghan from Fanad Utd who played with Derry City. Stephanie Crampsie of Bonagee Utd playing with Kilmacrennan and Eimhear Bradley from Lagan Harps also playing with Kilmacrennan.