Cork City will meet Peamount United in the 2020 FAI Women's Senior Cup Final on December 12th after they each advanced from their respective semi-finals.
Two goals from Saoirse Noonan led Cork to victory over Treaty United in Bishopstown Stadium, while a single strike from Dearbhaile Beirne earned Peamount United a win against holders Wexford Youths.
Both Cork and Peamount have each lifted the trophy once in their respective histories and this will be a first match-up of the two teams in the showpiece event.
Did somebody say FAI Cup Finalists?! ?
WHAT A WIN!#CCFC84 pic.twitter.com/8hGOcZpPdm— Cork City FC Women (@CorkCityFCWomen) November 8, 2020
Cork City 2-0 Treaty United
When Saoirse Noonan is in form, Cork usually prevail. That was certainly the case in this semi-final duel as she proved to be the difference maker once again.
Two first-half goals were enough for Ronan Collins' team to book a place in this year’s FAI Cup final but they were made to work hard for their victory as Treaty United fought valiantly until the final whistle.
It was Saoirse Noonan who got City off to a flying star. The former senior Cork ladies football star demonstrated her impressive leap as she rose highest to power her header into the back of the net. Treaty United opted to mark zonally, giving Noonan a running start, and that proved costly as she met O’Mahony’s corner with a commanding header to give her side the lead.
Cork then doubled their advantage three minutes later and once again it came from a set-piece. After failing to deal with the first ball into the box, the ball fell kindly to McNamara who had her shot smartly saved by United’s keeper, Ryan but her parry fell straight into the path of the clinical Noonan who made no mistake, tucking the ball into the net.
After those two body blows in quick succession, Treaty reacted well and began to settle into the game. The young side will take great experience from the match but ultimately fell short. They created some half-chances in the game and on another day had they been more clinical they could have found that final pass to really take the game to Cork. Gillian Keenan and Aoife Cronin went close to pulling a goal back for United however Cork will have always felt they were in control of the game and never allowed United to sustain any sort of pressure.
Here's Saoirse Noonan's fantastic header that put us 1-0 up!#CCFC84 pic.twitter.com/pOqQlf0wHp
— Cork City FC Women (@CorkCityFCWomen) November 8, 2020
Cork then doubled their advantage three minutes later and once again it came from a set-piece. After failing to deal with the first ball into the box, the ball fell kindly to McNamara who had her shot smartly saved by United’s keeper, Ryan but her parry fell straight into the path of the clinical Noonan who made no mistake, tucking the ball into the net.
After those two body blows in quick succession, Treaty reacted well and began to settle into the game. The young side will take great experience from the match but ultimately fell short. They created some half-chances in the game and on another day had they been more clinical they could have found that final pass to really take the game to Cork. Gillian Keenan and Aoife Cronin went close to pulling a goal back for United however Cork will have always felt they were in control of the game and never allowed United to sustain any sort of pressure.
Wexford Youths 0-1 Peamount United
It was a game that no one dared call beforehand. Coming into the match, Wexford Youths were unbeaten in three games against the Peas but the champions have proved that they are a force to be reckoned with on countless occasions this season.
Just four days after their hard-fought extra-time and penalties defeat in the UEFA Women's Champions League, Peamount were back in the thick of the action and they went in unchanged.
It was a cagey first-half with little chances for either side. Peamount pressed Wexford high forcing Youths to go long and play balls in behind for the ever-willing runner, Blessing Kingsley. It was Peamount who created the first opening from their high intensity as they forced Wexford keeper, Kiev Gray, into a crucial save on 15 minutes.
There was little between the sides as they went in at the break scoreless with Wexford dominating the ball and Ellen Molloy looking sharp as ever but the Peamount defence held firm with Niamh Farrelly patrolling things in her newly found centre-back position.
After a whirlwind start to the second-half, Peamount broke the deadlock through Dearbhaile Beirne’s strike. Megan Smyth-Lynch superbly swivelled in midfield and found a brilliant switch to the on-running Beirne in acres of space doown the left flank. Beirne superbly cut in from the left hand side creating enough space to bend the ball around the defender and curl peach into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Youths responded well to going a goal behind and can count themselves unfortunate not to find an equaliser. Lauren Kelly created their clearest opening in the second half as her deep cross found Ellen Molloy’s late run and she superbly guided a looping header goal-bound but unfortunately it had a bit too much on it as it rattled the crossbar before being cleared away by the Peamount defence.
A hugely contentious decision came soon after as the referee waved away Youth’s appeal for a penalty after Sinead Taylor was taken out in the penalty box. A harsh decision on the Wexford outfit.
Wexford pushed and pushed and had Peamount on the ropes for the final quarter of the game but the Peas used their experience and held firm to book their place in the FAI Cup Final on Saturday December 12 in Tallaght Stadium.
? MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | Action from this afternoon’s FAI Cup Semi-Final defeat to @peamountutd at Ferrycarrig Park, Dearbháile Beirne with the only goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/QmLI6cEz6g
— Wexford Youths Women (@YouthsWomen) November 8, 2020
