Clones with remarkable comeback to lift Shield

Clones Town FC 5

Trim Celtic AFC 4

Clones Town FC Ladies produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Trim 5-4 in the Division 2 Shield Final, with Shannon Doherty scoring an extraordinary winning goal deep into injury time.

The Clones side had trailed for much of the contest and found themselves 4-3 down with just seven minutes remaining. They refused to surrender, however, drawing level before producing a sensational finale.

With the game entering the second minute of injury time, Clones won a header from a Trim throw-in just inside the halfway line. The ball fell to Doherty, who took a quick look up before unleashing a spectacular effort from around 40 yards. The ball bounced close to the goal line before flying into the roof of the net for the winning goal. "It’s just crazy stuff," head coach Eddie Masterson said. "It’s one of them that you’d expect from Messi or Ronaldo or somebody like that. She’s seriously talented.”

The timing made the strike even more remarkable. Eddie said the referee confirmed afterwards that his watch had buzzed for full time at almost exactly the moment the ball hit the net.

The victory was all the more impressive given the physical challenge posed by Trim. "We knew what we were up against and we prepared," said Eddie. They faced a bigger and stronger side, but the young squad displayed outstanding commitment and unity throughout. They left everything on the pitch - admitting later that there would not have been anything left in the tank had it come to extra-time.

Doherty had already scored in the first half to reduce the deficit to 2-1 at the interval, giving Clones renewed belief. Despite repeatedly falling behind, the team continued to fight until the final whistle. In particular captain Michaela Newell had driven the players on: "She keeps saying to the girls every game it doesn't matter if it's 90 minutes, there's always this one opportunity that might pop up."

The achievement is significant because the senior ladies team was only formed in January. The squad grew from the club’s underage girls programme, with several younger players stepping up alongside more experienced footballers from the wider area.

The club is determined that the development will continue. With under-12, under-14, under-16, under-18 and senior girls’ teams now in place, Clones Town FC wants to provide a clear pathway for players to progress into senior football rather than losing them when they reach the end of underage competition.

The Shield triumph represents a spectacular first chapter for the new senior team that according to Eddie "nobody expected" - and, judging by their never-say-die spirit, there could be plenty more memorable moments ahead.