Last-gasp goal seals Camanachd Cup for Aberdour
Published 13 Sep 2012 15:00
An injury time goal helped Aberdour defeat pre-match favourites Glengarry to lift the women's Camanachd Cup Final and avenge last year's loss.
Glengarry were looking to continue their three-year winning streak in the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup, with Aberdour equally determined to avenge their 4-0 loss in the 2011 competition.
Underdogs Aberdour started well, putting the Glengarry defence under constant pressure from corners and free hits.
The West Fife team's Niamh Donnelly opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a powerful shot that gave the keeper no chance to save. Glengarry fought back to level the game before the end of the first half after a well-taken shy was picked up by Laura Gallagher and bundled into the goal (along with herself, the Aberdour keeper and fullback).
After a rousing half-time team talk Aberdour were quick to take the lead when Bernie Elliott-Bowman rounded her player and slipped the ball past the 'garry keeper.
Minutes later, Donnelly extended the lead to 3-1 with a well placed ball into the bottom corner of the goal. Aberdour were gaining momentum at this point and it looked like they could run away with it.
However, Glengarry didn't give up easily and managed to pull a goal back through a superbly taken shot by Annie Butterworth.
With the clock in the first minute of injury time it looked like the cup was heading to West Fife until a break from Glengarry and another snapshot from Butterworth levelled the game.
With the threat of extra time looming Aberdour knew that they had to make every move count. Donnelly won the ball from the restart, playing it upfield to Katy Smith who outpaced her marker to knock the ball forward to Katie Booth.
Booth kept her composure and sealed the match with a superb strike to take the trophy home to Aberdour for the first time.
Post-match, Jenny Durkin proudly received the winning captain's black caman and lifted the Valerie Fraser Cup in front of an ecstatic crowd of travelling supporters. Aberdour's Katy Smith was selected as player of the match after an impressive midfield performance.
Three of Aberdour's cup champions have been picked to play for Scotland against Ireland in Ennis Co. Clare next month(Niamh Donnelly, Jenny Durkin and Katy Smith).
These internationalists are currently looking for sponsorship, so if you or your company would be interested in offering support please contact faberdour@gmail.com.
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 13 Sep 12
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