All-Cavan affair in ladies soccer decider

Preview

Kevin Óg Carney

All roads lead to the Meath and District League HQ Navan this coming Saturday (August 31) for an all-Cavan affair in the UHY Farrelly Dawe White Ladies Premier Shield soccer final (3.30pm).

Holders Cootehill Harps will put their title on the line against keen rivals Kingscourt Harps after both teams impressed in winning out in their respective semi-finals.

Cootehill beat a highly-rated Bellurgan United side 4-3 in Dundalk in their penultimate round match while Kingscourt swept aside top Meath side Kentstown Rovers by 4-0 to advance to this weekend’s decider.

It’s been a meteoric rise for the Cootehill side, having made their first ever appearance in a competitive game in the NEFL just four years ago against. . . . . Kingscourt Harps!

“In fairness to Kingscourt, they’ve risen the bar over the years for ladies football in Cavan but we’ve worked hard to make that bar and Sunday’s final will give us another chance to show that we’re at least their equal,” says Johnny Sherlock who shares the managerial role at Cootehill with Hugh Birt.

It’s clear that Sherlock is a fully paid-up member of the Kingscourt Harps admiration society. And it’s no faux admiration and he sincerely believes that the men from the far east of the county are justifiably being made favourites for this weekend’s decider:

“They’re a very experienced group of footballers and they’d have to be favourites, especially considering they’re not long after winning the Leinster Shield, their second successive year to do that and they’ve won our league for the last five years.”

But what can the Sherlock/Birt axis expect from their charges?

“Ah, we’ve a serious hunger to win this competition. There’s a good mix of youth and experience in the squad and the attitude of the girls is first class and they’ve a hell of a will-to-win and they will give it everything.

“We’re hoping that we can win our individual battles and win our own fair share of the ball. We beat Kingscourt one-nil a few weeks ago in the league but there’s bound to be very little between us in the final.”

Sherlock is more than optimistic that Cootehill will have enough tools in their armoury to work the oracle in this Saturday’s final and he is buoyed by the fact that the team’s form this season to date has seen them race to the top of the table on the back of lifting the Premier Shield last year.

However, the approachable Cootehill joint-manager knows that the Kingscourt crew are used to winning but “if we can win the midfield battle, I think we can do it.”

For his part, Kingscourt boss Paul Brennan believes that Sunday’s decider will prove to be an excellent advertisement for the quality of Cavan’s finest lady footballers:

“Both Cootehill and ourselves are very proud to be flying the flag for Cavan but we both want to win badly next Sunday and at the end of the day, it’ll probably come down to which team wants it’s the most.

“Our games against Cootehill are normally the hardest of all, especially in the last couple of seasons. At first, they had a bit of catching up to do but they’re reached our level and the final could end up being a very low scoring affair that might even go to extra-time. One things’ sure, it’ll not be a one-sided game. No team is going to run away with it.”

And what might make the difference on the day?

“It could be a simple mistake or a well-worked set piece,” Brennan opines.

“Both defences are very strong with some really quality footballers. I have nothing but respect for the Cootehill girls. I know a lot of them from being involved with the representative team, as does Johnny (Sherlock). It should be a great occasion and hopefully there’ll be a good turnout of supporters on the day and may the best team win!”