Glenanne shock Pegasus in the Irish Senior Cup

Determined display ensures a victory on penalty shoot-out


There has been no shortage of surprise results in the Irish Senior Cup in recent seasons, but Glenanne's victory on penalty strokes over Pegasus in Belfast on Saturday will take some topping.

Three weeks ago the Dublin side led by a goal when the tie was abandoned midway through the first half due to a flooded pitch and a broken floodlight, and their chance might have appeared to be gone. Not so.

Pegasus have a pedigree like few others in the competition, reaching four of the last seven finals, winning three of them. They will have expected to beat a youthful Glenanne side that is still finding its feet this season, currently seventh in the Leinster first division.

Glenanne restricted their rivals to a single second half goal by Vanessa Surgeoner. By then, though, they had taken the lead, cricket international and Belfast native Clare Shillington firing home the rebound from her initial shot 15 minutes before the break.

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There were no more goals in normal and extra time, Glenanne goalkeeper Rachel Lambe making the two saves in the penalty shoot-out that gave her side a 3-2 triumph. They face Ballymoney at home in the second round.

Back in the Leinster league, after the top four played each other, UCD moved four points clear at the top of the table, Hermes rising to srecond and both Railway Union and Loreto losing their unbeaten records.

First-half goals from Anna O'Flanagan and Deirdre Duke sealed the points for UCD against Loreto, while Hermes came back from a goal down to beat Railway, Audrey O'Flynn equalising Kate Lloyd's opener before Fiona Bradish got the winner.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times