Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

Match Report

Armagh 2
Limavady Ladies 4

Armagh and Limavady took a break from their league schedules to serve up six goals in the cup on Friday night. Straight from the kick off Limavady made their way towards Armagh’s goal, forcing Armagh’s goalkeeper to an early touch of the ball. Limavady continued to pile on the pressure and it was the away side that eventually took the lead when Limavady striker Rebekah McMullan, received the ball from 20 yards out and twisted her way through the Armagh defence before slotting the ball into the far corner of the goal. The half then fell quiet, until Limavady thought they had scored again except for the goal to be ruled out for hand ball. Towards the end of the half, Armagh pushed forward and their striker found herself through on goal when Limavady goalkeeper, Sarah Lemon, rushed out to deny her a goal by bravely blocking her shot from point-blank range. Half time 1-0 to Limavady.

Armagh began the second half with renewed energy and within ten minutes an Amargh midfielder picked the ball up from twenty yards out and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner to equalise for the home side. Armagh continued to play the long ball through the middle, but could not find a way past Limavady captain Lindsay Hassan who made sure she was first to the ball every time. Louise McAllister put Limavady ahead with a free-kick on the edge of the box. The ball rose over the Armagh wall and although the goalkeeper got a hand to it, could not stop it from going over the line, 2-1. Limavady began to pile on the pressure in search of a third goal, with hard work from their wingers Karen Haslet and Orla Boyle, whose deliveries into the box continued to cause problems all night. It was no surprise then when it was Orla Boyle’s perfectly placed cross from a corner that set up McAllister to power home a header from 6 yards in a crowded penalty box, 3-1. Within minutes of the restart, McAllister thought she had got her hat-trick, but for her goal to be judged off-side. Armagh hit back with ten minutes to go when, from a free kick the ball found an Armagh forward with enough space to turn and put her shot away, to set up a tense finish to the game, 3-2. Limavady sealed the result in the last five minutes when Louise McAllister pounced on a low cross to complete her hat-trick and what was her second hat-trick in successive games, 4-2. Limavady go into the Semi-finals of the cup in what was a great display from both teams representing the high quality of football in their league.

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