Bronx Irish Soccer Roundup: Harps win women’s finalHarps 1Lansdowne 0

Harps completed a historic league and cup double with a 1-0 win over Lansdowne. Despite the sweltering heat, both teams produced a very entertaining game.

The sides were at full strength and began the game trying to work out each other’s strategy. Midfield was the key to the game. Harps, playing five in that area, started to create more opportunities in early minutes with Hilary Potkewitz and Maureen Ennis very prominent. Lansdowne held on with Melissa Mann outstanding at sweeper, her prompting from the back began to bring her team more and more into it.

Lansdowne had the first shot of any consequence half way through the first half but Chris Gallagher, the Harps keeper, dealt with it easily.

Norma McCarthy was gradually getting into the game and tested the Lansdowne keeper with a blistering shot just before halftime.

The second half was a lot more open as both teams began to tire in the heat and make adjustments with substitutions.

Lansdowne midfielders Bernadette Boyle and Karen Arcadia began to find more space and started to create more chances for their forwards. The Harps defense with Teresa Brink and Una Cronin outstanding showed why they only conceded three goals all season. The Lansdowne did have a chance to take the lead, a corner by Melissa Mann was hit toward the net by Loretta Duffy but Harps defender Katie McNeill kicked the ball off the line.

The breakthrough finally came for the Harps when a pass by Alyson Kaye looked as it was going out of play but Karen Shalvey kept the ball in with a brilliant cross which fell to Hilary Potkewitz who calmly hit the ball into the bottom corner of the Lansdowne net.

This knocked the stuffing out of the Lansdowne and despite some late pressure could not find the equalizer. So this was a historic season for the Harps not only winning both trophies but maintaining a 100 percent record in 11 games.