historic treble for the amateurs’ ladies

Ten years after forming, Dromore Amateurs Ladies won a historic treble last week.
Dromore Ladies with all three of the cups they have won this season.Dromore Ladies with all three of the cups they have won this season.
Dromore Ladies with all three of the cups they have won this season.

The team has won the NIWFA Championship, promoting them to the Concentrix Premier League. In addition this season, they won both the Championship League Cup and the inaugural Mid Ulster Womens FA Cup.

Throughout the season, it was a close battle at the top of the Championship table, between St Matthews LFC and Dromore Amateurs. The two teams met at the Harwood Centre in Belfast with Dromore needing at least a draw to secure the top spot. It was a wet night and a tricky pitch to play on. Twice, the Dromore team came from a goal behind. They dug deep and kept their composure, to win the game 4-2 courtesy of a hat-trick by Kerry Taggart and a converted penalty kick by captain Tracy Orr.

Said Tracy, “This has been a lifetime ambition come true for me. I have dreamed of playing in the Premier League since I was 13 and I just can’t believe that it is finally going to happen. We know the quality of the teams in the Premier League but we will be working hard over the winter to make sure that we can compete with them.”

The excitement continued the following Monday, when Dromore met Valley Rangers in the final of the Mid Ulster FA Cup. Dromore had overcome Loughgall Lakers in the first round, and then narrowly beaten Premiership side Mid Ulster LFC in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. The final proved no less exciting, with countless missed chances and great saves by the Valley keeper, until a last minute goal by Tamsin Strain secured victory.

Later that week, the NIWFA Championship Cup final took place at Loughgall against Armagh City. A headed goal by Brooke Jordan and a well-taken penalty by Tracy Orr put the favourites 2-0 up, but Armagh scored early in the second half. In the end, though, in front of a crowd of over 100 spectators, Dromore lifted their third trophy of the season.

Secretary Colette Young said, ”Managers Stephen Hatfield and Graeme Steenson joined the club in January and strengthened the squad with some new players. This brought some challenges for the club, but we have now seen the rewards, with three trophies and a very proud team.”