February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Harps 3, Lansdowne 0
Harps completed the league part of their campaign with another solid performance against Lansdowne. Now the Harps advance to the semifinals as the top team.
Lansdowne needing the points to qualify for the final four, started the better of the two teams. Lansdowne midfielder Bernadette Boyle played an excellent game and created numerous chances for her forwards. Lansdowne were unlucky not to take the lead when a corner by Boyle was brilliantly cleared off the line by Harps full back Katie McNeil.
The Harps, who had only conceded one goal all season, were having trouble getting their midfield involved in the game. However, the long ball was working and on one such occasion a pass from Nancy Manfredonia to Marie Flood put her through on goal, and she duly obliged with a well-taken shot that hit the corner of the net to give the Harps the lead.
Harps forwards Flood and Sandra Swinborne were unlucky not to add to the lead when both were denied by the Lansdowne keeper.
In the second half, Lansdowne kept plugging away but could not create any clear chances. Harps keeper Chris Gallagher was solid for her sixth clean sheet of the season.
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As the game entered the last quarter, Harps made two changes up front. Substitute Nora McFadden, with 15 minutes left, moved on to a through ball and calmly chipped the ball over the Lansdowne keeper. Then with five minutes left, Miriam O’Brien scored her first ever goal for the Harps after a great cross from Beatrice Alvarez. Harps play Fionas in the semifinal.
Fionas 1, Fagans 0
Fionas advanced to the semifinals with a hard-fought victory over bottom of the table Fagans.
Parlour 3, Velocity 0
Parlour convincingly beat Velocity 3-0. Goals were scored by Karen Rice (2) and Melanie Schmitt. Parlour will now play Beal Bocht in the semifinal.