Midlands Gaynor Cup (Offaly)

 Midlands Gaynor Cup 2025

A solitary goal was the all that separated the Midlands from finishing top in their group in this competition.

Midlands 4

Clare 0

On Monday evening this young side produced some scintillating football from start to finish in tough conditions to grab their first three points of the tournament.

Once this Midlands side got a grasp of the tough conditions  they managed to take the lead inside ten minutes when Laurie Finnegan found the back of the net. As the half went on chances were few and far between with the swirling breeze. A penalty shout was waved away as they led by one at the interval.

After the break the side in black doubled their advantage when Ciara Hilliard ran away and finished past the onrushing keeper.

The confidence was now flowing as they netted two more goals through Isobel Mooney before Ellie Buckley finished the scoring in this tie.

Midlands 2

Roscommon District 1

A strong second half showing was enough to gain all three points on Tuesday morning.

The Midlands side carried on their great football as they created a number of chances early on in this tie with two of them coming inside the first fifteen minutes. Once the first quarter ended the heavens opened and conditions worsened but chances were still appearing for the girls but they couldn't break through before the half time whistle.

The deadlock was eventually broken four minutes into the second half when Laurie Finngean fired in from the edge of the box. It was then against the run of play the tie was leveled with a penalty which most people in the crowd couldn't understand.

This setback didn't deter the Midland side as with ten minutes to go they headed in the winner from a corner through Moya Kilmartin.

Thursday 

Bowl Semi Finals

Kerry 1  Penalties 4

Midlands. 1 Penalties 5

After a tight sixty minute encounter this semi final like many more on the day was decided by the dreaded penalty shootout. 

After a nervy opening couple of minutes the Midlands side settled well into this semi final and managed to take the lead early on when Holly Greenan broke away before slotting past the onrushing keeper. Within ten minutes the tie was level through a header from the edge of the box. It was all the Midlands after the leveller up until the break as they made the Kerry goalie pull off to outrageous saves to keep her side in the tie.

After the interval both sides found it much harder to break through as legs began to tire; it was the centre backs on both teams that were to the fore. Both sides had half chances and even a penalty claim or two waved away by the referee. This meant the semi final would be decided by penalties.

All five of the Midlands penalties were expertly  put into the corner meaning they would play in the final on Friday 

Penalties Moya Kilmartin ( Goal)

Anna Phillips ( Goal )

Laurie Finnegan (Goal)

Ciara Hilliard ( Goal)

Isabel Mockler ( Goal)

Friday 

Bowl Final 

Galway 2

Midlands  0

A spirited effort in the second half wasn't enough to overcome the halftime deficit in this Bowl Final Friday afternoon.

It was the Connacht side who took early control of this tie after the Midlands had made a number of changes to their side for this final game. Within five minutes the side in Maroon had taken an early lead before doubling their advantage  five minutes later. After this early flurry  they created a number of other chances but between a mix of great defending and the crossbar the Midlands managed to keep them out until the break.

When the final resumed both sides started to empty the bench  and this ended up being an advantage  to the midland side as they carved out a number of opportunities. The first of these was on the break when the Galway net minder pulled off an excellent save. Within minutes a dangerous ball was whipped across the box but no one could get on the end of it. The final effort of the final came from the boot of Holly Grehan whose effort was well saved.

After the final whistle we got the thoughts of manager Henry Hilliard who spoke about how a goal was the big difference early on in the week. “ We were a bit unlucky in the group stages with a goal the difference between first and second.” 

He then goes on to praise his own side's performance  from Monday through to Friday. “ The girls have put in a massive effort all week and we are super proud of the achievements and they are well deserved after  three to four years of hard work.” 

Midlands Squad: Elsa Bird RFA Swans, Katie Corcoran, Temple Villa, Erin Rattray Temple Villa, Ellie Buckley (C)  Temple Villa, Mai Mahon Banagher United, Caoimhe McHugh RFA Swans, Kelly Lynam Temple Villa, Holly Greenan Clara Fc, Ciara Hillard St Aengus,Moya Kilmartin RFA Swans, Rachel Lambe Tullamore Town, Laurie Finnegan RFA Swans, Rachel Lyons Birr Town, Ruby Kelly Bellanamullia LFC, Isabel Mooney Killeagh Fc, Keela Doran RFA Swans, Isabel Mockler Hodson Bay, Isabelle McDonnell RFA Swans, Mikaela Greene Temple Villa, Anna Phillps Bellanamullia LFC.

Manager: Henry Hillard 

Coaches Ronan Greenan, Martin McHugh, Conor Kelly, 

Physio Brian McMahon, 

Kit Colin Rattray,

League Rep Derek Collins