Derry City ladies clinched the Niwfa Davisons Frudles Divison One Title with a convincing away win to Banbridge ladies their second league title in consecutive years
. With captain Amanda heaney Pulling the strings in midfield and Bronagh McKinley once again showing why she should win the player of the year in the up coming awards ceremony Derry soon got into their stride. Banbridge came close a few times with their counter attacking style and it was down to player of the match Emer Harte Shannon Dunne and Micheala Mullan between the sticks to keep the candy stripes in the game early on. It took the candy stripes ladies 40 minutes to break the deadlock but the goal itself was worth the wait. Once again it was a majestic ball from Heaney which split the Banbridge defence and the on running Caoimhe Logue made no mistake and smashed the ball into the back of the net.
The candy stripes went in at one nil up at half time but the Derry management team demanded more and were not happy with the first half performance. The ladies didnt take long to respond and they scored the second with fitzpatrick making another one of her dazzling runs she broke in front of the Banbridge defence only to be pulled down inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot and Molly McBride converted the resulting penalty with ease. This second goal seemed to take the sting out of the Banbridge team and now the candy stripes were able to play their free flowing posession football. With the ladies confidently passing the ball from Ciara Quigley who had to play at right back across the middle of the defence and through the midfield to Latie Logue on the right wing at ease This then lead to the 3rd goal with Niamh Connolly setting Fitzpatrick away down the wing she whipped in a cross come shot which beat the reach of the diving keeper and nestled in the top corner a goal which was no more than her display desrved. Then the fourth came with Shannon Dunne scoring a bullet header from a corner
The manager and coaches of Derry City Ladies would like to say a special thank you to Banbridge Ladies for their gracious applause to the ladies on winning the title.Also Special mention to the Derry City Board of directors Jeff Ashe and Paul Roddy for their continued support
The Ladies now have a chance to complete an un precedented second double in two years when they take on Blackieville in the Divisonal 1 Cup final on thursday the 1st September at the Danny Blanchflower stadium in Belfast All support gratefully appreciated.
Thursday the 11th of August will see the Ladies play their final league game of the season against Armagh ladies and the League Trophy will be presented on the night Please feel free to come along and support the girls
Report -: Adrian QUigley (Derry City)
