No final flourishes for Belvedere

It was a weekend of heartbreak for Belvedere’s ladies as three Munster finals failed to fall their way last Saturday, losing by the narrowest of margins in each.

The Division 2 Cup final against Cork C of I, moved from Garryduff to Harlequin Park at the Ballincollig outfit’s request, failed to yield dividens for them despite a sterling defensive performance.

The back four of Jordana Dolan, Clare Crowley, Miria Twomey and Liz Clifford all held firm for the most part, but conceded a short corner strike to Edel Coyne five minutes before the break.

C of I battened down the hatches in the second half, with goalkeeper Emma White repelling two Clifford bullets to ensure the trophy found its way to Rochestown.

Belvedere also contested the Division Three decider, but Dungarvan won a tense encounter 1-0.

Despite probes by Cliona McCarthy O’Callaghan and Davina Fenton, Belvedere couldn’t find a way through, but with Elaine Murphy giving a towering performance in defence, seemed relatively secure.

Allyson Moore and Deirdre Cronin both short wide before Dungarvan struck a killer blow, a short corner strike finding its way through a slew of bodies for what turned out to be the winner, as the Co Waterford side survived a late onslaught.

And so to the Division Six Plate, which was won for the first time by Limerick 3-2 thanks to an Emma Roberts golden goal three minutes into extra time.

Belvedere’s Aoife Barrett intercepted a pass deep inside her own half before racing 60 metres and unleashing a thundering effort for a fine solo goal to open the scoring.

Deirdre Cremin’s powerful straight hit saw Limerick equalise, and they hit the front against the run of play when Alex Brislane released Aileen Carroll, whose pile driver shot from the edge of the circle beat Donna Noonan in the Belvedere goal.

There the score stood, and Belvedere looked to be tiring first, and were unlucky not to go two behind when Limerick came close with two short corners, but Noonan held firm.

Then with five minutes left came the goal of the game. Belvedere’s Chloe O’Sullivan grafted hard to win the ball in midfield, and went on a mazy run that forced the Limerick right back to come into the centre, leaving space for Alice Nolan to dart down the left wing where she picked up O’Sullivan’s pass.

Nolan cut into the circle and made as if to shoot on the reverse but instead laid off an exquisite square ball to Mary Kane, who found the net, sending the Belvedere bench into ecstasy.

But three minutes into the first period of extra time, Limerick won a short corner. Belvedere broke down the shot and with the ball heading over the goal line it looked as if a long corner would follow.

However, Roberts saw things differently, retrieving the ball near the edge of the circle and shooting from an impossible angle, the ball deflected in to secure a famous win.

Meanwhile, a number of other issues were also decided over the weekend. C of I claimed the women’s Division Five Cup on stroke against Lmierick, following an end-to-end 3-3 draw in which the Cork side’s Elma Groves netted twice.

Bruff’s domination of all things Division Six continued as they added the cup to their league title, Catriona Casey and Deirdre Fitzgerald on target to help them see off Quins 2-1.

Elsewhere, Limerick B made up for the disappointment of their A side’s Irish Challenge final defeat 24 hours earlier by claiming a 3-2 win at C of I E to ensure they walked off with the Division 3B crown.

A brace from Andrew Smith and one from Frenchman Mathieu Pienart – with Luke O’Halloran and Dermot Judge responding for the hosts – proved enough for the Villier-based outfit.

They are still on for a treble, as they take on UCC C in the upcoming Barber Cup final, and face down Belvedere in the McLean Cup decider.

Pienart was again to the fore in the Barber Cup semis, scoring the golden goal winner in a 2-1, extra-time win over a lively Ashton B side.

For their part, College came from a goal down to lead Quins E 2-1 in the other semi thanks to strikes from Phil Brennan and Mark Horgan, only for Joe O’Mahony to bag an equaliser for Quins.

Extra-time couldn’t separate the sides, but College held their nerve to dispatch all five of their strokes, with Aiman Asyraf saving Quins’ final effort, to see them into the decider for the second year in succession.

Elsewhere, Catholic Institute B’s perfect record – they have won nine from nine with the concession of just four goals – has confirmed them as Division Three champions, despite a 5-2 win by nearest rivals Quins D over Belvedere in awful conditions at Farmer’s Cross last Friday night.

Thanks to David McCarthy, Paul Desmond and Gerard Desmond for supplying information