Shel's start fast to win Cup

Shelbourne FC today claimed the 2012 Women’s FAI Umbro U14 Challenge Cup Final after they enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Donegal’s Lagan Harps at Frank Cooke Park. All of Shelbourne’s goals came in the first half as they enjoyed a blistering start scoring within 30 seconds of kick off thanks to Courtney Higgins first goal of the match. Jamie Finn then added a second after 31 minutes and Higgins earned her second from the penalty spot to complete the scoring.

Shelbourne captain, Courtney Higgins, got her side off to a flyer as she took the ball from the tip off and raced down the Harp’s left wing before drilling her shot in from an acute angle to give the Dublin girls a perfect start. Lagan Harps could have earned a quick equalizer after great play by Lianne Boyce released Zoe McGlynn whose cross found Orla Friel with space in the box but her close range effort was brilliantly saved by Chloe Downes in the Shelbourne goal. The Donegal girls dominated possession for the first half with Lianne Boyce continuing to test Downes with several efforts from distance.

The last 4 minutes of the half proved decisive as Shelbourne broke quickly with Jamie Finn showing a clean pair of heals to the Lagan Harp’s defense as she showed her composure to finish well past Emma Toye. Minutes later Finn again found herself in space in the Lagan Harp’s box but went down under Erin Coll’s despairing challenge. The resulting penalty was neatly finished to the keeper’s right by player of the match, Courtney Higgins.

Lagan Harps again dominated the second half possession stakes but were unable to create any clear cut chances from play and found Shelbourne keeper, Chloe Downes, in impressive form as she saved free kicks from Erin Coll and Lianne Boyce. Indeed the second half’s best chances fell to Shelbourne who should have made it 4 as Finn played in Nicole Plunkett but Emma Toye pulled off a great reflex save to keep the Donegal girls in the match. However, Shelbourne were not to be denied after a clinical first half display along with a watertight defense gave them the 3-0 victory.

Shelbourne FC 3 - Lagan Harps

Higgins (2) 28s & 36'

Finn 31'

Shelbourne: Downes, Daly, Darby, Flynn, Fennell (for Robinson), Donnelly (for Hand), Higgins (for Ewing), Plunkett (for Kavanagh), County, Alex Kavanagh, Finn.

Substitutes: O'Donoghue, Hand, Kavanagh, Robinson, Ewing, O'Connell, Lennon

Lagan Harps: Toye, Deasley, Green, McElhinney (for Duffy), Gibbons, McGlynn, Brogan, Boyce, Duncan, Coll, Friel.

Substitutes: Duffy, Boyle (for Duffy), McElwaine

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