Our ladies team eventually found a way to beat Shiven Rovers even if it was in a penalty shoot out and thereby even up the victory titles tucked neatly under their belts this season …2-2 This game emulated Brazil vs Chile played the same day but this one was even better as no one hit the timber! It was like a magnificent wave of relief when Marian Murray dispatched her pressure kick with ease and so earn Colemanstown the Premier Cup title to add to their roll of honour from last season. Colemanstown found big heros in this game…. Kara Mullins, Catherine Burke, Anna Grant, Emma Roche & Marian Murray all who found the net in the shoot-out. Ruth Dempsey started in goal in lieu of regular keeper Marian Murray and put in a splendid display. Shiven were quickest off the mark and were 1-0 up on 15mins; the goal originating from a set piece; a corner volleyed to the net by No.11 Louise Crehan. 10mins later Anna Grant equalised when she got onto a deflected shot from Catherine Burke to find the net. A re-shuffled Colemanstown team re-commenced the 2nd half as Chloe Roche was introduced; Kara Mullins re-located to the strike force and the ever versatile Marian Murray moved to central midfield. Ashling Kelly was deployed in a man-marking role on their star striker ‘Gerty’ who is also top scorer in the premier league this season. She did a fantastic job keeping the player at bay, not as much as getting a sniff at the ball. Colemanstown were rewarded 20mins in to the 2nd half when a Marian Murray corner kick broke nicely for Kara Mullins and she makes no mistakes in front of goal finding the net from 6yards, in what is unbelievably her first goal this season. 8mins after Shiven levelled matters, again from a set piece; a corner kick played right into the box which appeared to deflect off a player’s shoulder and somehow found the net. Little chances fell to both teams after that as extra time loomed in an attempt to separate these two equally matched teams. Colemanstown had all the possession in extra time conspicuously showing their fitness levels as Shiven appeared spent, worn out, cramping and dearly holding on for penalties. Tough tackles were put in, players barged over, no space conceded…. Anna Grant had a chance to put Colemanstown in the driving seat after great link work with Kara Mullins but her effort was drove over the bar. Catherine Burke also had an opportunity at the back post but it was saved by the keeper and the resultant corner also failed to produce anything spectacular. In the dying seconds Shiven must have thought they had the breakthrough; a rare extra time attempt at goal; the ball was sent across the face of goal and was met by a Shiven striker whose powerful shot was deflected off the crossbar by Ruth Dempsey who showed great athleticism in the process. The whistle sound for full time was sweet music to everyone’s ears after 110mins of entertaining football and so to dreaded penalties…..no one wants to lose a game in this way…..the atmosphere, the surroundings, the pressure – it was all hugely intense. Shiven first up for their spot kick…..scored. Kara Mullins for Colemanstown….. scored; Shiven again…..missed; then the pressure kicks from Catherine Burke, Anna Grant, Emma Roche, & the ultimate pressure kick from Marian Murray was enough to see Colemanstown ladies win 5-4. It was a relentless spectacle and these ladies fought and fought to bag this prize and showed brutal passion in the process. There were plenty of heros (heroines), indeed everyone who put on the Colemanstown jersey. Orla McCaffrey accepted the cup from the Galway FA representative and she sincerely thanked Shiven Rovers for the splendid game and commented on the local rivalry between the two sides. Thanks yet again to Bernie Burke for the fine barbeque as the smell wafted through the air to help whet the appetites.