For the first time since 1992 the Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup final will be an all-Ulster affair after last season's beaten semi-finalists, Pegasus and Ballymoney, got the better of their Leinster opponents, Hermes (3-0) and Pembroke Wanderers (2-0), in Saturday's games.
For Pegasus it was sweet revenge for their defeat by Hermes at the same stage of last year's competition and proof, if it were needed, that they remain the country's leading team. For Ballymoney, it was the latest chapter in an extraordinary success story for a club that didn't even exist 18 years ago and are playing only their third season in Section One. All 16 of their squad on Saturday, including player-coach Lynsey McVicker, were born and bred in the town, and most came through the ranks together at local school Dalriada. Asked whether, on her appointment three seasons ago, she could have imagined the club reaching an Irish Cup final so soon, McVicker replied: "Realistically? Absolutely not. To be honest we're in a daze, we just can't believe it." A goal in each half from Ulster under-21 forward Nicky McCaughern saw Ballymoney through, but they had to withstand intense Pembroke pressure, with sweeper Ruth Forgrave and goalkeeper Angela Platt having to be at their very best to keep the Dubliners out. Playing at centre-midfield for Ballymoney was 16-year-old Jessica Lynch. In next month's final at Belfield her direct opponent will be former Irish captain Jeanette Turner, who produced a typically inspirational midfield performance against Hermes, having been doubtful for the game with illness. "If they'd had Turner in the Alamo they wouldn't have been beaten," said Pegasus coach Graham Quincey. "Awesome," was how he described his team's second-half display, during which Claire McMahon scored twice, the first a superb solo effort, the second a "tap in" after fine work by Nadine Nicholl, to add to Pamela Magill's first-half stroke. Magill converted after Turner's shot on goal was stopped on the line by a Hermes foot just before the end of a tight first half, during which there was little to choose between the teams.
"After that, though, they opened it up and went from strength to strength," said Hermes' Peter Darley. "We have no complaints, the better team won on the day. Jeanette was fantastic and Claire was inspired." "We'll be complete underdogs in the final, but so were Harlequins last year and look what they did," said McVicker, who already has a winner's medal from the 1993 final when Portadown beat Loreto. "Whatever happens, though, it's an incredible boost for the club and reward for all the work everyone has put in to taking us to this level. We're on cloud nine."
