Cup glory for Birdhill Ladies

Birdhill FC's Junior Women's team claimed the Tipperary Cup title with a 2-0 win over Tipperary Town in a competitive final on Sunday in Templemore.

Birdhill were on the attack from the first whistle and after five minutes had the ball in the net, however it was disallowed for an infringement on the keeper.

Fifteen minutes in, Birdhill went ahead after Emma Coleman played a great ball through to Emma Flanagan and she made no mistake, flicking the ball past the keeper.

Five minutes later Birdhill had another goal disallowed after the ball had been deemed wide on route to goal.

Tipperary Town pushed hard for an equaliser but the Birdhill defense of Marie O'Brien, Edel O'Brien, Grace Floyd and Isobel Farnan stood firm and Sara Carroll in goal commanded her area very well.

The Birdhill midfield of Jessica McCarthy Gilligan, Nadine Stokes, Emma Coleman and captain Eimer O'Brien controlled the middle for much of the game. Saoirse McGrath came on in the second half for some added freshness into the back line and from there Birdhill kept pressing for that all important second goal. They came close on a number of occasions and with two minutes to go, Grace O'Toole made a great run down the right wing and crossed to where player of the match Emma Flanagan was waiting to score her second of the game.

Birdhill were presented the Cup to great cheers and were also presented with the League Plate which they won three weeks previous.