NIWFA Division 3 Cup Final
Ballynahinch Olympic Ladies 2 – Belfast Swifts 1
By Jonathan Brown
Ballynahinch Olympic Ladies completed a league and cup double on Sunday afternoon, defeating Belfast Swifts 2-1 to add the NIWFA Division 3 Cup to the league title they won on 13 August.
Olympic went 1-0 down to the Swifts on the stroke of half-time but bounced back in the second half, first through a volleyed strike from captain Courtney Anderson in the 56th minute. A brilliant Cora Swail solo effort then turned the game on its head with 69 minutes gone, and the Olympic girls held out to secure the win.
Commenting on the first half, joint-manager Anthony Russell said: “It was very much a game of two halves. Belfast Swifts were much stronger in the first half and deservedly went into half-time in front, and they possibly should have been further in front. They deserved their lead, they looked hungrier and they were better than us.”
Russell, who manages the team alongside Aidan Walsh, explained that a stern half-time team talk was required, adding that there was little between the sides after 90 minutes.
“We had a firm chat with the girls, a few home truths were handed out, and they came out a different team. We were much the better side in the second half, and we were delighted to win it, but there was nothing between the two teams, it was a very close game.”
The result came just a few days after Olympic recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Swifts in their final league game of the season, with Orlaith Cassidy’s solitary strike ensuring they finished their league campaign unbeaten.
“The girls have been really solid at the back and have scored plenty of goals. It’s been a brilliant season from start to finish – 15 wins and two draws in 17 games is a great record,” Russell said.
According to joint-manager Russell, the Olympic players and management team are already looking ahead to next season, and they’re aiming for another promotion.
“We want to hit the ground running in Division Two and get off to a good start, because I know that we’re capable of playing at that level. The aim is always promotion – we want to continue to strengthen where we can and bring through the youth. We’ll hopefully get a few new faces in, because it’s always good to recruit from outside the club, and we’re looking forward to the younger girls that are coming through from the youth team getting a run out in the senior ladies’ side too.”
“We’re really looking forward to next season, the girls were already talking about it during the celebrations on Sunday night, saying that they can’t wait for next season to start already.”
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