Queen’s University lifted the Denman Shield for the first time since 2018 with a 3-0 win over Portadown on Tuesday evening.
Goals from Jenna McCarlie, Megan Cochrane and Eva Gaston sealed the win for their side as Queen’s were crowned champions for a sixth time.
After a quiet opening 15 minutes defences looked to be coming out on top with neither side having created a significant chance.
Then, with just 90 seconds remaining at the end of the first quarter, it was last years beaten finalists who broke the deadlock.
Portadown were caught playing out the playing out the back by Katie Kimber before her reverse strike was blocked only for the loose ball to fall to Jenna McCarlie who tapped in the rebound.
Five minutes into the second quarter Portadown had a brilliant chance to draw level.
Rebekah Lennon drove out of the backline beating three Queen’s players before playing Katie Herron through on goal.
The young forward rounded the goalkeeper only put her effort wide of the post as it remained 1-0.
Just moments later, Portadown thought they had drawn level when Leah Galbraith’s ball into a crowded penalty area went all the way in and the goal was originally given.
However, after deliberation, Umpire Julie Fisher reversed the decision and Queen’s remained in front and soon doubled their advantage.
Having won their first penalty corner of the tie, McCarlie injected to Eva Gaston at the top of the circle before her straight strike flew in at the near post to double their advantage before half-time.
In the third quarter, it was Queen’s University who continued to push forward and soon went close to adding a third through Ellie Edwards.
The midfielder picked the ball up on the edge of the circle before unleashing a reverse strike, only to see it come back off the far post.
The loose ball then fell for teammate Chrissy Hopkins, but she was denied at point-blank range by Abbie Robinson to keep her side in the tie.
As the final quarter got underway, Portadown had another chance to get back into the tie after good work by Herron.
The young forward picked up the ball just inside the Queen’s half, before driving into the circle and picking out teammate Evie Girvan at the back post, but the forward couldn’t find the target as her strike went wide of the post.
Queen’s win was soon sealed when Eva Gaston found Megan Cochrane at the top of the circle and her upright reverse was fired into the far corner to round off the 3-0 win for her side.