Coca Cola Women's Cup
LAST MINUTE McKERR STRIKE WINS CUP FOR GLENTORAN
By Gareth Steen
A last-minute winner by Marie Claire McKerr won the 2007 Coca Cola IFA Cup for Glentoran ladies.
After the last meeting between the two teams ended in a sudden death penalty shoot-out another close game was played out at Taylor's Avenue on Friday September 21.
Chances were few and far between in the first-half, with Glentoran dominating the early stages with some good passing. On 23 minutes United forward Catherine O'Haran hit the first testing shot of the game, picking up the ball on the right and firing just past the post. On the half hour mark, the Strikers had their first real attack of the game when Elaine Roden went close with a long range effort.
Then on 35 minutes the deadlock was broken when O'Hagan again found herself in the opposition box, she turned her defender and shot past the goalkeeper from close range, 1-0. The Strikers then searched for an equalizer in first half injury time but Clare Carson fired her shot over the bar.
The Strikers did all the pressing in the 2nd half and got their rewards on 58 minutes after a goal-line scramble Elaine Roden got the final flick over the line to make it 1-1. Newtonabbey now looked like the stronger of the two sides as they looked to take the lead, whilst Glentoran looked to break on the counter attack.
Then on 70 minutes Strikers goalkeeper Angela Platt made an impressive double-save from Glentoran's Mulholland. But in the latter stages on the half it was Newtonabbey who looked more likely to snatch a winner when substitute McDowell first went close with a free-kick and then another McDowell free-kick was met by the head of Helen McKenna but the keeper flicked it over the bar.
Then on 89 minutes when the game looked to be heading for extra-time a Glentoran free-kick found Marie Claire McKerr who picked up the loose ball and struck the ball sweetly from 20 yards over the keeper Angela Platt.
The Strikers had only one more attack to find an equalizer but they couldn't hit the target and the Cup was Glentoran's.
TEAMS:
Glentoran Belfast United: 1. Emma Higgins; 2. Jacqueline McCutcheon. 3. Marie Claire McKerr. 4. Jenna Richardson. 5. Laura Gillespie; 6. Mairead McLaughlin. 7. Jessica Doran. 8. Makyla Mulholland. 10. Catherine O'Hagan; 11. Kelly Bailie. 12. Eva McCloskey. SUBS USED: 8. Danielle McDowell, 21. Nicole Vance,
Newtonabbey Strikers: 25. Angela Platt; 18. Lisa Armour. 28. Steff Dickinson. 16. Rebecca Corrish. 10. Sara Booth; 27. Lyndsey Patterson. 6. Roisin McFeely. 3 Nadine McCorry. 22. Clare Carson; 7. Elaine Roden. 12. Helen McKenna. SUBS USED: 16. Noelene Douglas.
