Peamount United’s Karen Duggan has been on the losing end of enough cup finals that today’s victory, backed by getting her name on the scoresheet, will taste so much sweeter.
For the Dubliners have completed a domestic double, already with the league title in the bag, they put six past a youthful Cork City side to claim their first FAI Women’s Senior Cup in ten years.
Stephanie Roche hit two just out of the break before Γine Γ’Gorman, Karen Duggan (corner), Becky Watkins and substitute Tiegan Ruddy (with nearly her first touch of the game) all chipped in a goal each.
FINISHING TOUCH π@StephanieRoche9 scores her second for @peamountutd #FAIWomensCupFinal π pic.twitter.com/8S8blIfxCY
— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) December 12, 2020
Slow start
This was game that surprisingly started slowly. Momentum for either side was absent in the opening 45 minutes as concentration levels remained high from the first whistle to the signal that the half was over.
O’Gorman did attempt to shake things up when drifting inside but her drilled shot flew wide. And Eleanor Ryan-Doyle lacked the necessary power with a header from inside the penalty area.
Cork did not create any chances of note – Sophie Liston shooting over from distance – but they would have been happy with their overall play as they matched the League champions stride for stride.
ππ’π¨πππ πͺππ‘π‘ππ₯π¦ π
Congratulations to @peamountutd on winning both #WNL & #FAIWomensCupFinal π
Also well done to @CorkCityFCWomen on a fine season π pic.twitter.com/7ZTdrHNKCH
— Women's National League (@FAI_WNL) December 12, 2020
A much better second half
It was a different scenario just seconds into the second half when Roche raced onto a through pass from Lucy McCartan to neatly past Cork goalkeeper Maria O’Sullivan.
Cork had barely caught their breath after conceding that goal when Roche pounced again. The experienced striker found herself in the right spot to slot in from a pass back from Alannah McEvoy and that was 2-0.
Ronan Collins knew that his team needed to respond so he introduced experienced midfielder Katie McCarthy. But finding a way past the Peamount defensive wall of Niamh Farrelly and Claire Walsh looked like Mission Impossible in this game.
Peamount kept the pressure on and on 68 minutes Cork captain O’Sullivan pulled off a fantastic save to deny McEvoy. However, she was unable to stop O’Gorman from scoring the third goal of the game on 76 minutes.
Duggan then added the fourth goal by heading in from close range after Cork failed to clear a corner kick from Peamount. Substitutes Watkins and Ruddy added their names to the scoresheet with two late goals.
That was it for the 2020 season as Peamount claimed glory and cap off a fantastic year as double winners.
Report via FAI.
