If Carlsberg could do ladies football teams, they probably would be the best team in the world….. well….. in fact they are the best in the County as they were crowned double champions last night adding the League Cup to their trophy cabinet alongside the premier league trophy after a highly entertaining cracking tie in Eamon Deacy Park last night. In the end it took extra time to separate the teams as one thing is for sure: these girls were not going to let anyone stand in the way of their dream double finish even though they survived a few late Rangers chances to set up a close and nervy finish. It was 0-0 at the break as the first half was a bit of a cat and mouse affair. Colemanstown had a number of chances to take the lead through the Mullins sisters Kara & Tessa & Anna Grant but were denied by some super goalkeeping by the Corrib Rangers custodian and also some poor one-on-one finishing (sorry girls!) Colemanstown had another early chance after the resumption when Catherine Burke raced down the new stand side of the field and squared the ball across to Kara Mullins who blasted over the crossbar. At this stage Chloe Roche was introduced for Ruth Dempsey but it was Corrib Rangers who hit the front 9mins into the 2nd half with a ball sent across the field which evaded our defence and the Rangers striker lobbed the keeper from the edge of the 18’ box. But Colemanstown became the dominant force after going a goal down and really began to play. Immediately after the kick off Kara Mullins sent in a beauty for Natasha Finn to latch on to but the keeper was quick to spring off her line. Kara Mullins then missed a sitter when she found herself one-on-one again with the keeper after getting on the end of a long clearance from Grainne Barrett in defence but she hit straight at the keeper. Catherine Burke was the assist for Kara’s next effort as Colemanstown piled on the pressure. Mary Mellody was introduced at this stage for the tiring Natasha Finn, who was still recovering after her hen party at the weekend but Mary’s fan club in the stand, the little Mellodys & Quirkes, were roaring her on with great excitement as she made an immediate impact whilst also carrying a hamstring injury. Centre back Grainne Barrett, who particularly lorded our defence for the entire game, drew parity midway through the second half after a short corner to Tess Mullins, back to Barrett who finished exquisitely with a top class finish from a tight enough angle much to the vocal soundings of the sizeable Colemanstown contingent packed tightly in the new stand. Mary Mellody then had a chance to extend the lead as she showed her usual tigerish demeanour when she took on 6 orange shirts and won herself a corner which was swung in by Grainne Barrett which again Mellody got a head to. Kara Mullins was then adjudged to be offside when she was clear cut in on goal and Mary Mellody was caught offside again moments later when Catherine Burke had put her through after some stylish play. With 2 mins left Shauna Ward squared a ball across into the box and somehow it didn’t fall too kindly between the combined feet of Mary Mellody, Anna Grant & Catherine Burke resulting in a weak shot which the keeper saved with ease. And so to extra time…. the Colemanstown crowd felt we slightly had the upper hand, it just needed to show on the scoreboard. Anna Grant had the first effort of extra time 2mins in but booted over the cross bar after great work from the Mullins sisters on the old stand side of the field. 3 mins later Kara Mullins made certain after she got on the end of an Anna Grant cross but still with some donkey work to do, turned sweetly and burrowed her way impossibly through a solid Rangers defence, then steadied herself to squeeze the ball into the net taking a deflection off the keeper on its way. It mattered little as the celebrations had already begun. Corrib Rangers had a gifted chance to draw level minutes into the second period of extra time but the striker momentarily hesitated as Rachel King was off her line and moments later a long high ball deceived King which deflected off the post and was further parried out by a vigilant King. Then Catherine Burke, who it could be said ran the Ring of Kerry yesterday in Eamon Deacy Park, having cycled it for the annual cycle on Saturday, had a good chance but she shot straight at the keeper after a huge clearance from Alisha Flannery at the back. Corrib Rangers did their best to undo our defence but it has to be said our ladies battled hard and absorbed some great pressure as Orla McCaffrey & Shauna Ward put in a dogged performance while centre backs Alisha Flannery & Grainne Barrett were solid and strong all through and bossed proceedings in the engine room. Right at the death, Rangers No. 10 slid a shot right across the face of goal with just the keeper to beat, much to the relief of some thumping hearts and missed heart beats. We had just held out for a win…. a memorable win….. a rewarding win. Wednesday 5th July turned out to be a fantastic memorable evening for this talented ladies squad who completed the league and cup double, lifting 2 trophies and conceding only 2 goals all season. Colemanstown were strong in all sectors of the field but the strongest weapon in this squads ammunition has to be the Mullins sisters; passing, tackling, shooting : the Mullins’ have the lot (well maybe not quite the shooting last night as both were culprits when you’d almost have put your house on them both to score) but nevertheless both were key driving forces behind this latest win and indeed all their games this season. Catherine Burke, full of energy, on the right, just glides past opponents as if they were not there while Ruth Dempsey in the first half and Anna Grant & Chloe Roche in the second half knit midfield together. Up front Natasha Finn & Anna Grant in the first half & Kara Mullins & Mary Mellody in the second were a joy to watch with Kara in particular a cut above the rest while they say you have to be a bit crazy to stand in goal but Rachel king showed no signs of that last night. There was certainly a tremendous team spirit evident from start to finish which was shown in abundance last night. In her captains speech, Tess Mullins paid tribute to the entire squad for their hard work & entertainment provided all year and thanked sponsors Frank and Bernie Burke for their generosity. She also paid tribute to loyal supporters Gerry and Marian Flannery in particular who hadn’t missed a match all year and to her sister Kara for making it all happen (maybe there was some pay in that from Kara). So by 10pm the day was done, the match was won and it might not be til the weekend when the celebrations will start in earnest. Who knows what next season will bring but for now it’s time to sit down and relax and enjoy this double success. There’s only 1 more game to report on until a little sojourn is due for the summer from this match reporting ……. and that’s the U11 Kevin Power blitz in EDP at the weekend. So it’s good to be almost signing off from the summit…. and dizzy heights indeed. Well done ladies……