Double joy for Mill Celtic ladies
Mill Celtic celebrate after defeating Vale Wanderer’s in the Carlow Women's Cup Final in Killeshin Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
Mill completed a league and cup double on Saturday night as they added the Carlow Cup to the league title they won against Vale a few weeks ago, warming up for their Leinster Junior Cup final this coming Sunday in Newbridge against Terenure. However, unlike the league game in Mill, the Kildare side didn’t have things all their own way. Having gone behind early, Vale did their best to get back into the game and try to win it, but just had no luck. Whatever they tried just didn’t come off at all. The Mill ‘keeper, Geraldine Norton was a thorn in their side, pulling off several top class saves for her side.
Mill took an early lead, going ahead through Mags Nolan after ten minutes. Three minutes later, Aoife Roche had an effort from the right, saved. With 17 minutes gone, a Fia Murphy free from the left was hit over the bar. Midway through the half, a a Deirbhile Byrne effort from the right was hit off the crossbar. Maria O’Callaghan went close with an effort from the right but she put it over the bar. With 26 minutes gone, Vale had an effort saved. A minute later, Sarah Devine had a corner from the right cleared. Wictoria Gorczyka had an effort save but Norton was off her line and Gorczyka tried again but her effort was cleared off the line by Catherine Dempsey. The resulting corner from the right by Devine was cleared. Dempsey put an effort over the bar from the right whilst Clodagh Lawlor hit an effort from the right wide and over. With ten minutes to go until half-time, a Vale free from the left was cleared before the resulting corner from Devine from the left was cleared. Just before half-time, a Tamara Agar free was cleared. On the verge of half-time, Rachael Whelan added a second goal for Mill. In stoppage time, a Dempsey free from the left was hit into the ‘keeper.
Just after half-time, a Chloe Lawlor free from the right was hit into the ‘keeper. Seven minutes later, a Devine corner from the right was hit into the ‘keeper. With ten minutes gone in the second half, Vale had a glorious chance to get back into the game from the penalty spot. Lawlor’s effort to the right of Norton was saved. The rebound from the right was hit off the post. On the hour mark, a Lawlor free from the edge of the box on the right was cleared. Ten minutes later, a Lawlor corner from the right saw Noeleen Maher at the back post hit across the box. With 18 minutes to go, Clodagh Lawlor hit an effort across the box. Two minutes later, a corner from the right was headed wide on the right by Clodagh Lawlor. A Murphy free for Mill with ten minutes to go was hit into the ‘keeper. Clodagh Lawlor had an effort saved four minutes later. Rachael O’Neill Doherty’s effort from the left was saved for Mill. In stoppage time, Mil put an effort wide on the near side from the left but the celebrations started at the final whistle and there will be multiples of those if this excellent Mill side can go and complete a remarkable treble next weekend.
