Roy Cathcart (Chairman of the Women’s Coca Cup) and Katie Hutchinson (Coca – Cola Events Team Manager)
At a glance it would be reasonable to believe that Newry City’s interest in the Cup was about to end. Paired against one of the two most feared teams in the League, their hopes of journeying to the semi-finals seem to have been bayoneted by the ill-luck of the draw. It’s one of those fairytale Cup games but don’t expect a happy ever after ending for Newry.
Crusaders Strikers will travel down the motorway to the Newry Showgrounds in full expectation to return with a place booked in the last four. Who can blame them? Sprinkled with Northern Ireland internationals, current Premier League champions, they are a seasoned, experienced team; their mission to seize a trophy that has eluded them over the past five years; the property of fierce rivals Glentoran Belfast United.
Newry City swept into the League this summer with breathtaking confidence and are surely bound for Division Three. However their tender line-up, despite home comfort and support, and even with their massive enthusiasm and passion that has been wonderfully nurtured by manager Ryan McConville and Coach Jimmy Feehan, they face an Everest. When you consider that three of their players – Moya Feehan, Clara Mulvenna and Aimee Mackin – were members of the N.I. U-15 Schoolgirls side that won the recent Bob Docherty Cup in Cardiff, Wales, winning their three games against Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, the physical side of the game will have an enormous effect.
Crusaders are about to enter the business end of the season. They lost out to Glentoran in the Irish Cup and Premier Cup last season and are in danger of surrendering their League crown to the Glens this year. Next month they travel to Osijek, Croatia, to compete in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Huge games are building. They will not be in a charitable mood.
Linfield are weaving through ‘the rest’ in the Premier Division, in a determined effort to finish in third place behind Crues and Glens. Valley Rangers boast a 100% record in Division Two, concentrating totally on promotion, but challenging hard for anything else in the offing. The Blues travel to Binian Park, Kilkeel, aware of the menace within, knowing that a tricky match awaits them. The Rangers have already booted out teams from higher divisions from the competition – Downpatrick, Larne and Loughgall Lakers – and will be unafraid of facing a top three side from the Premier.
Can Valley punch above their weight? Yes. Nicole Graham, Elaine Orr and Amy Burden are a high-scoring trio, all into double figures, who will undoubtedly keep the Blues defence on red alert. But do they possess an all-round strength to keep Linfield at bay over the duration of the match?
There is a weakness about the Blues. They do rely heavily on the scoring feats of Kirsty McGuinness who has collected 19 so far. If she’s not scoring, they simply don’t tick. You can’t help feeling that should the Blues come away from the Mournes still in the Cup they will be a much relieved side.
Mid Ulster have already suffered two defeats by Glentoran and it would be hard to visualise them pulling off a major shock against the Cup holders. They will probably have cursed their luck in the draw; it doesn’t come harder than this. The Glens have conceded just one League goal and two to Newbridge Predators in the previous round of the Cup, so if the Orange and Blacks hope to do well they will have to conjure up something special to beat a side that is arguably the very best in the League at the moment. It won’t happen.
If ever there was an intriguing clash, then it’s the meeting between Division Three’s Sion Swifts and Division Two’s 1st Bangor. The Swifts zipped through Division Four in their inaugural season, picking up the title and the divisional cup. They are challenging hard for both awards in the higher section this year. Lauren Brennan hit 43 goals last year. She continues to shred defences, scoring 32 goals to date this time around, including ten goals (3-3-4) in the previous three rounds of the Cup.
1st Bangor currently occupy third place in their division and when they are on their game, they play very good football. But, they, too, are another side that depends on the scoring ability of one player, Hannah Sheffield (12 goals) and if Swifts, who have home advantage in Strabane, can shackle her, the Ards side’s threat will diminish. Don’t be surprised if Sion squeeze through.
Report – Sammy Martin
