This was a hard fought victory as Arrow Harps pushed Strand all the way and the final score flattered the youthful Strand outfit. Arrow Harps, playing into the stiff wind, got off to a perfect start by scoring in the opening 5 minutes. Strand levelled the game after 20 minutes with a well taken goal by Niamh Kelly. Strand took the lead a few minutes later when Emma Hansberry finished off a great move. Celtic went further ahead just before half time when Orla O'Halloran latched onto a clearance by the Harps defence and lobbed the keeper from 30 meters. Celtic went into half time with a 3 - 1 lead.
The second half saw the Arrow Harps girls pushing forward to reduce the deficit and had Strand defending for much of the second half. The Strand defence of Clare Horan, Orla O'Halloran, Sarah Keating and Lauren Taheny did an excellent job to keep the Harps team from scoring. The siege was finally lifted with 10 minutes to go when Emma Hansbury put Niamh Kelly through and Kelly finished with a low shot to the bottom corner. From the restart Hansberry broke up a Harps move and finished well from the edge of the box.
Credit must go to both teams for serving up an excellent game played with great sportmanship and skill. Strand play the winners of Yeats V Glenview in the final. |