Goals from Clare Shine and Rebekah Grant help Douglas Hall to famous win over Dundalk in FAI Cup tie

Douglas Hall 2 

Dundalk 0

DOUGLAS HALL had a superb 2-0 victory over Dundalk in the Club Orange Women’s FAI Cup on Sunday afternoon in Moneygurney.

This was a superb performance by Douglas Hall who got the better of League of Ireland side Dundalk to advance into the third round. 

The Hall manager Michael O’Sullivan will be delighted with his side’s performance and they will fear nobody when the draw is made for the next round.

Douglas Hall had some excellent performances from Lauren Murphy and Tiff Taylor at the back while Claire Shine, Rebekah Grant, and Nathalie O’Brien put in some fantastic displays. 

But player of the match was centre back Emma McCarthy, who put in another masterclass performance at the heart of the defence.

Dundalk put up a good fight but they just didn’t create enough of chances to trouble the Hall defence. 

They did however have some notable displays from Ernesta Marut, Nan Michelle Koudjou and Shauna Smyth.

Douglas Hall dominated the early exchanges with Clare Shine pulling the strings in midfield. 

In the eight minute she dinked a superb ball into Kara Lacey who was unlucky to see her shot fly just inches over the crossbar.

In the 22nd minute Dundalk registered their first attempt on target when Liadh Tobin superb shot from outside the box was tipped dover the crossbar by Hall keeper Hollie Bruton.

Two minutes later Hall winger Kara Lacey whipped in a great ball from the right wing into Mary O’Sullivan but her shot was inches off target to leave the side scoreless at the break.

Douglas Hall finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when ex Republic of Ireland star Clare Shine hit an absolute beauty from thirty-five yards that flew into the top corner to give her side a 1-0 lead.

In the 57th minute, Douglas Hall doubled their lead when Rebekah Grant saw the keeper off her line and the talented midfielder chipped the ball over the keeper’s head into the top corner to make it 2-0.

In the 87th minute Dundalk had a great chance to pull a goal back when Jennifer Freeman was through on goal but Hall keeper Hollie Bruton was quick off her line to deny the striker.

Both side sides had chances in the final few minutes but it was Douglas Hall who went into the hat for the next round after another superb performance.

Douglas Hall: Hollie Bruton, Nathalie O’Brien, Lauren Murphy, Emma McCarthy, Tiffany Taylor, Maeve O’Leary, Rebekah Grant, Clare Shine, Mary O’Sullivan, Lily O’Keeffe, Kara Lacey.

Subs: Chloe O’Callaghan, Ciara Desmond, Amber Kearney, Amy McCarthy, Emma Davis, Lorna O’Duibhir, Sarah O’Keeffe, Orlaith Harrington.

Dundalk: Eden Laughton, Naomi Dowd, Abigail Martin, Megan O’Connor, Ciara Brady, Macy Treanor, Siun Kirby, Shaina Smyth, Ernesta Marut, Nana Michelle Koudjou, Liadh Tobin.

Subs: Grace McCabe, Jessica Cox, Sarah Byrne, Jennifer Freeman, Chloe Callaghan, Rebekah Clavin, Caoimhe Carolan, Zara Farnan.

Referee: Lucy O’Sullivan.

Assistants: Darren O’Sullivan and Finn O’Sullivan.

Fourth Official: Mark O’Connell.