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SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 8, 2001
LIFFEY CHAMPION League Champions 2001Newtownmountkennedy 0
Leixlip United 2 Dublin
Womens
Soccer
League INTERMEDIATE 4 SOUTH LEIXLIP UNITED'S ladies are this
week celebrating the winning of the Dublin Women's Soccer League Inter - 4 South
League title. The ladies travelled to Newtownmountkennedy on Monday
evening (3rd September) for the last round of the competition and secured
the title by collecting all three points available. With nearest challengers Lakeside from Blessington just
one point behind them going into Monday night's game, the Leixlip ladies had to
win. Anything less for Leixlip United and a victory for
Lakesiders would have seen the title going down to Wicklow. And while the victory was achieved in splendid fashion,
the Leixlip women did not have it easy however! This was a victory that manager Ben Morgan's players
had to truly earn over the mid-table Wicklow side that was determined to do
Lakeside a big favour. Vicky Lennon and Kathy Nolan scored the goals, but the
defenders played an equally important role in winning the match, which was
played at a hectic pace. Indeed the Leixlip United women, who had won eight and
drawn one of their previous 11 games, were under pressure from the kick-off. The hosts pushed hard to score early but good
defending by Yvonne Nolan, Mary Buggle, Tara Burke and Mary Grant kept them at
bay. Kathy Nolan and Grainne Heduan working hard out on the
left also helped to keep United's heads up despite the Newtownmountkennedy
pressure. Mary Corscadden made a great break from the half way
line cutting through the defence only to shoot the ball narrowly wide. With about ten minutes left to play in the first half
Grainne Heduan got the ball in the midfield and passed to Karen O'Hara. O'Hara chipped in towards goal, and the ball broke to
Vicky Lennon on the edge of the box. Vicky smashed in a shot which the goalkeeper could only
finger tip into her own net. After this Newtown piled on the pressure but good
goalkeeping by Joy Hally kept the hosts scoreless. The pressure on United's
defence continued in the second half, but Mary Corscadden and Debbie Molloy
helped out the defence and Newtownmountkennedy remained scoreless. With about two minutes remaining, Mary Corscadden made
a great run from midfield, and she passed to Vicky Lennon out near the corner
flag. Vicky's cross to the far post was met by Kathy Nolan
and her Jason McAteer like half volley soared into the net. It was the score that crowned a glorious night, one
that followed the previous week's 2-2 draw with Lakeside in Leixlip. Vicky Lennon and Laura Donegan scored the goals in that
one. And while holiday arrangements intervened to rob United
of Donegan's services this week, her team-mates made up the difference with a
wholehearted performance - the performance of worthy champions. The league trophy was not presented to team captain,
Yvonne Nolan at the end of the match - that is likely to take place at a DWSL
function in October. LEIXLIP UNITED: Joy Hally, Yvonne
Nolan (Capt), Mary Buggle, Tara Burke, Mary Grant, Debbie Molloy, Mary
Corscadden, Gralnne Heduan, Kathy Nolan, Vicky Lennon, Karen O'Hara. Subs: Louisa Lennon for K O'Hara;
Gillian Brooks for M Grant.
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