Bonagee have no answer to Terenure Rangers in FAI Women's Amateur Cup final

Bonagee United’s dream of a first-ever FAI Women's Amateur Cup final crown will have to wait for at least another year following a heavy defeat against a strong Terenure Rangers team, who were of a different class in Galway.

Bonagee United 1-6 Terenure Rangers

Terenure had standout performers, like hat-trick hero Ruth Comerford and also Leeann Payne, who have lined out in the Champion’s League for Peamount United and Raheny United and earned international caps in their time. Sarah Ryan also had a day to remember, as she got in on the act with two goals of her own.

Comerford, who also had spells with Chelsea and Arsenal, struck the first couple of goals, while Bronagh Gallagher pulled one back from the spot for Bonagee. However, it was 4-1 to Terenure Rangers at half-time, with Payne and Ryan having netted in the third quarter. Ryan would add her second after the break to make it five before Comerford got her third. As well as their half-a-dozen goals, Terenure on three occasions struck the woodwork.

For Chris McNulty's Bonagee, it was a sobering afternoon, although, for a team who hadn’t so much as made a semi-final until 2019, they have proven themselves to be taking a positive path and know the type of levels this competition possesses. They’d have no complaints.

It was Terenure’s maiden success in the competition, continuing their ascension following on from the FAI Women's Intermediate Shield against Corrib Celtic FC at Leah Victoria Park in Tullamore last year.

Neither side had ever won the competition before and although that might’ve meant there were some nerves in the early stages, it wasn’t too apparent.

Caroline Kelly’s Terenure created a great chance as early as the third minute. Comerford played the ball wide to Payne, who put a tantalising delivery across the front of the Bonagee goal, which Ryan couldn’t get a decisive touch on.

Bonagee’s first sight of goal came when Siobhan Sweeney slipped in Caoimhne Herron to shoot and see her effort just over the angle of post and crossbar, clipping Ciara Smith on its way.

Down the right, Payne was the first half’s standout player. When she fizzed a shot from the flank just wide of Catherine Fletcher’s goal, Bonagee breathed a sigh of relief, with the whispers being whether it was deliberate or not.

Seventeen minutes in, the south Dublin team hit the front, with Comerford’s precise finish, which clipped the base of the post on its way in following a fine threaded pass from the impressive Payne.

Gallagher, for Bonagee, just four minutes later, got on a gallop and finished well from a pass from Natalie McFadden, although the assistant referee Katie Hall had flagged for offside before the shot was struck.

Payne from another optimistic plant from the right, struck the Bonagee post and the rebound hopped wide off the unaware Jenny Claffey. With that, the assumption was made that Payne’s first effort was certainly deliberate as her first.

Terenure doubled their advantage from the penalty spot when Comerford stroked home when Catherine Grier was penalised for a foul on Ryan when Bonagee had dallied on clearing a throw-in from Claffey. Twenty-four minutes had been played.

Although Terenure had the wind in their sails two goals in front, Bonagee, literally, had the breeze at their backs and right from tip-off, Grier, from her own half, struck a searching ball forward. It had plenty behind it and bounced over Niamh Geraghty, the Terenure goalkeeper who had come off the goalline, and went inches wide of the post with considerable throttle.

It was a severe let-off for Terenure, although all those of a Bonagee persuasion would’ve certainly have had had to agree it would’ve been a complete freak.

Their way of getting back into it was more conventional, with Gallagher scoring a penalty on 29 minutes to pull one back to 2-1, which she won herself having been upended by Smith. Goalkeeper Geraghty got good hands on Gallagher’s powerful penalty but couldn’t prevent it going home.

Terenure weren’t daunted by the concession and within two minutes had their two-goal cushion restored when Payne, this time on the left, cut inside and curled a beautiful third goal with the right foot.

And by half-time it was 4-1, with Ryan drilling a shot from the edge of the penalty area into the postage stamp top-corner late in the half. The same player had struck the Bonagee post moments beforehand. Bonagee were glad to see the half-time break.

Bonagee opened the second half bright enough, although with the scoreboard and breeze against them, they needed snookers. Eleven minutes into part two, Terenure made it 5-1 when goalkeeper Geraghty - who had just got down to save from substitute Caitlin Fletcher - played a long ball, which, wind-assisted, got Ryan and she knocked home.

On the hour, it was six and it was a hat-trick for Comerford. Once more, a Geraghty clearance wasn’t dealt with by Bonagee’s high defensive line and in came Comerford for a one-on-one with Catherine Fletcher. The Terenure captain had time to pick her spot, driving high from close in, with all the time in the world.

Bonagee kept at it, although knew there was little hope of a way back, while Terenure Rangers rung the changes and were unlucky not to add another when substitute Chelsea Rigley clipped the crossbar in the 83rd minute. With no subs left, Terenure saw it out with 10 players after Comerford hobbled off late on, although by then she had played more than a part and was the one who was left to lift the cup.

Bonagee United: Catherine Fletcher: Eva Harvey, Catherine Grier, Eimear Sweeney, Zara Shortt (Caitlin Fletcher 54); Ciana Brogan; Siobhan Sweeney, Natalie McFadden, Amanda Callaghan (Deborah Kerrigan 65); Caoimhne Herron (Julie McCloy 80), Bronagh Gallagher.

Terenure Rangers FC: Niamh Geraghty; Leanne Dicker Melissa Haughton, Ciara Smith, Jess Hunt (Louise Gleeson 80); Leeann Payne (Chelsea Rigley 77), Paula Doran (Rebecca Dowling 77), Niamh Carroll (Carrie Pedley 69), Jenny Claffey (Jess Turner 69); Sarah Ryan, Ruth Comerford.

Referee: Eddie Darcy.