Avoca II fight back to oust TRL IV

Women’s Division 9/10 final:
TRL IV 1 (Stephanie Bourke) Avoca II 3 ( Cara Kelehan, Rachel Murphy, Paula Anderton)
Avoca II completed a league and cup double as they added the Division 9/10 cup title to the league crown they claimed in March as they came from a goal deficit at half-time to get the better of Three Rock Ladies IV on a gloriously sunny day at Grange Road.

In an open, flowing game, Avoca took the early battle to Three Rock, creating a string of fraught moments in the hosts defence. But they were stung on the counter-attack as Stephanie Bourke smashed home from eight yards after the ball broke her way on the right side of the circle.

The game ebbed and flowed with chances at both ends, both sides earning short corners no further scores before half time left Three Rock in the ascendancy.

But Avoca seemed to click through the gears in the second period, forcing a couple of short corners before Cara Kelehan snuck in to strike the equaliser.

And she was heavily involved in the second goal, too, following good work in midfield from Angie Staklelum and Tara Browne had propelled Avoca forward. Kelehan squared to Rachel Murphy to tap in the go-ahead goal.

The Rathfarnham side did respond, earning a pair of corners but were unable to break down the Avoca defence and, with just a couple of moments to go, they sealed the title when Emma Meir found Paula Anderton in the circle and she coolly slotted home.

* For more photos from the Avoca II vs TRL IV final from John Keogh and a couple from Stephen Findlater, click here