Leeside close in on double after Kevin Barry Cup victory over Ballincollig

Leeside 3 Ballincollig 0

Joy for Leeside in the Cork Women’s Senior Kevin Barry Cup final on Saturday afternoon in St Colman's Park.

This was a superb final between two sides that played some fantastic football, but Leeside edged this encounter, and they now go into Wednesday’s final league game against Passage hoping to secure the double.

Leeside had some wonderful performances all over the pitch with Lidia Pasiecznik and Ava Lotty superb at the back. The midfield trio of Carissa Sheehan, Claire Cooney and Laura Finn combined brilliantly. 

Ellen Boyle was superb up front netting a brace and deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award.

Ballincollig will be disappointed with the result but they are after a really superb season. They gave it absolutely everything and they had some excellent performances from Susan Kelliher, Aisling Kenny, Chloe O’Reilly and Sarah McCarthy.

Leeside got off to the perfect start when they took the lead after only four minutes when Ellen Boyle cut in from the left wing and buried the ball to the bottom corner. 

Ballincollig centre-back Lizzy Duncliffe’s free was superbly saved by Leeside keeper Sara Kluckhuhm to preserve their lead.

Leeside doubled their lead when Beth Coomey threaded a great ball through to Ellen Boyle who showed great pace, and the talented striker slotted the ball past the keeper to give her side a 2-0 advantage at the break.

Ballincollig had a great chance in the 59th minute to pull a goal back when Chloe O’Reilly got on the end of a superb ball by Sarah Mc Carthy, but her shot was saved by Sara Klukhuhm.

Chloe O’Reilly was denied again when her shot from eight yards was again saved by the Leeside keeper.

Leeside wrapped up this cup final when Julia White laid off a ball to Lisa Hartnett who hit an absolute rocket form 25 yards that crashed off the crossbar and over the line.

Both sides had chances in the final few minutes, but it was Leeside ‘s day as they were crowned Kevin Barry cup champions.

LEESIDE: Sara Kluckhuhn, Maria Hartnett, Ava Lotty, Lidia Pasiecznik, Emma O’Neil, Julia White, Laura Finn, Carissa Sheehan Claire Cooney, Beth Coomey, Ellen Boyle, Caithlin Mulcahy, Rosaleen Callaghan, Muireann Aherne, Lisa Hartnett, Fatima Yaakoubi.

BALLINCOLLIG: Jennifer Cronin, Susan Kelliher, Aisling Kenny, Linda Montgomery, Sarah Walsh, Katie Foley, Lisa O’Mahony, Chloe O’Reilly, Lizzy Duncliffe, Sarah McCarthy, Danielle Campion, Rianna Kelleher Murphy, Melissa Manning, Claire Hassett, Sinead Keenan, Rachel Wright, Sinead Dundon, Marie Keating.

Referee: Tim Kelleher.

Assistants: Pat Cronin and Mark O’Connell.