Bonagee United and Illies Celtic are the leaders in the North West Women’s Super League as both sides picked up their second wins ahead of a big top-of-the-table clash at Dry Arch Park next Thursday.
Swilly Rovers 1 Bonagee United 5
Deborah Kerrigan netted her second hat-trick in as many games as Bonagee United made it two wins from two in the North West Women’s Super League.
Kerrigan’s treble steered Louise Gordon’s Bonagee to a come-from-behind win at Swilly Park after Laura Dunworth had fired Swilly in front.
Bonagee came into the game on the back of a big win over Rasheney, while Swilly were looking to pick up their first points having lost at Moville.
Bonagee United
It was the home side who took the lead in the 17th minute as Dunworth saw a long-range free loop over the head of Aisling Grieve in the Bonagee goal.
Bonagee had to reshuffle their pack after just five minutes as injury forced Saorla McGarrigle off with Ramelton woman Julie McCloy coming into the action.
Bonagee drew level in the 23rd minute as Kerrigan raced away after Doherty superbly won possession for the Dry Arch side and played her in. Kerrigan’s low shot crept past Allanah McFadden.
On the half-hour, Bonagee took the lead. Doherty was the provider with a brilliant cross from the right and Kerrigan magnificently stole a march to the front post to hook a clever effort beyond the reach of McFadden.
Swilly substitute Danielle Hynd, who was a constant threat throughout, created a good opening for the home side when she jinked her way through, but Noelle Toye’s shot was saved by Grieve.
Bonagee extended their lead five minutes into the second half. Denise McElhinney, playing in an outfield role in this one, floated in a dangerous free-kick and Doherty powered home.
Swilly Rovers
Kerrigan bagged a hat-trick in a 7-1 win over Rasheney last week and the Convoy woman continued her flying start to the campaign with her hat-trick goal in the 61st minute.
Alice Diver threaded through the eye of a needle and Kerrigan showed the Swilly rearguard a clean pair of heels and prodded past McFadden.
Bonagee added a fitting coup de grâce when former Swilly player McCloy saw a corner deceive McFadden for number 5.
Swilly Rovers: Allanah McFadden, Kerrieanne Coyle, Claire Orr, Amy Thompson, Laura Dunworth, Sinead McCahill, Danielle McNamee, Gemma Boyle (Chloe Kerr), Heather Doherty, Noelle Toye, Martina Gallagher (Danielle Hynd).
Bonagee United: Aisling Grieve, Saorla McGarrigle (Julie McCloy), Siobhan Sweeney, Grainne Gallagher, Olivia McGinley, Denise McElhinney, Anna Doherty (Shannon Doherty), Alice Diver, Deborah Kerrigan, Michaela Carolan.
Referee: James Malseed.
Player of the Match: Deborah Kerrigan (Bonagee United)
Lagan Harps 4 Greencastle FC 2
Lagan Harps bounced back from their defeat to Illies to earn three points in a pulsating contest.
Greencastle started well but we took the lead on ten minutes when Bronagh Gallagher dispossessed a defender and set up Zoe Green who fired past the goalkeeper.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Zoe Green scored with a superb shot from 30 yards out, wide on the right.
Greencastle pressed but our defence held firm. Lagan were always dangerous on the counter attack with Paula Valles and Zoe Green combining well down the right. Amanda Callaghan and Holly Canning also did well down the left.
Danielle McDevitt was putting in a huge effort blocking out the Greencastle central midfield. Greencastle weren’t to be denied and Sarah Jane Mc Donald scored a fine individual goal right on half-time.
The second-half was much the same with Greencastle pressing but Lagan ever dangerous on the counter.
Zoe Green dropped in to the backline and Amy Boyd moved in to midfield. Despite Greencastle pressure Aine Deasley, Chantelle Kelly and Casey Barrett continued to defend well. Greencastle’s main threat came from corners where Kathy McLaughlin and Sarah Faulkner were a threat, Sarah Faulkner shooting just over from one.
Lagan continued to hold on, and then hit Greencastle with a terrific counter attack. Amy Boyd put Paula Valles away. She sent over a great cross which was headed home at the back post by Bronagh Gallagher.
Greencastle through everything at Lagan defence but with Neve Scanlon dealing with anything that came through, the Orchard Park side held on.
Lagan scored a decisive fourth when Paul Valles put Bronagh Gallagher through and she finished well.
Neve Scanlon then did superbly to push another Greencastle effort, from a corner, away off the crossbar. Greencastle earned some reward for their pressure when Aisling McDermott fired home a free kick but all in all, it was a brilliant team effort by the Lagan girls against the title favourites.
Illies Celtic 6 Moville Celtic 0
Illies Celtic continued their excellent start to the new North West Women’s Super League season with an emphatic win over Moville Celtic.
After Moville took centre, the ball made it up to Caraigh McGuinness who got it close to the net but Illies gained possession, leaving the ball back in the Moville half.
Moville’s defence stayed strong and Moville keeper Aoibh Faulkner saved some outstanding shots.
But Illies broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Caroline Gallagher – back in the Illies colours this year after a spell at Lagan Harps – fired home to set them on their way.
Illies were 4-0 up at the break. Alana Doherty, Gallagher again and Kirsty Granr were all on target before the break.
Bronagh McGuinness went close for battling Moville, but Illies made safe a comfortable win as the in-form Michelle McDaid grabbed a brace of goals in the second half.
Clonmany Shamrocks 2 Carndonagh FC 0
After a very even first 20 minutes Clonmany had a spell of pressure forcing several corners in a row.
In the 25th minute Yvonne McElhinney had a shot from 18 yards out which hit the base of the post and Carn’s keeper Breege McDaid was relieved to see it rebounding to safety.
She was called into action again in the 29th minute when Clonmany’s Niamh Grant was played through the middle but the Carn’ keeper came off her line swiftly to gather the ball.
But there was little she could do about Clonmany’s opening goal in the 31st minute when Katelyn McDaid received a pass 25 yards out before drifting past a Carn defender and driving her shot to the top left hand corner.
Just on the stroke of half-time Clonmany doubled their lead after they won a corner on the right hand side.
Colleen Kearney floated in a cross which came out to the edge of the box to Yvonne McElinney and she sent her shot to the bottom right hand corner of the net.
The second half was an edgy affair with Carn battling to get back into the game with Niamh Callaghan and Louise O’Connor to the forefront of their best moves but Clonmany’s defence was being well marshalled by Orla Sweeney and Colleen Kearney and were able to rebuff the Carn attacks.
Clonmany almost scored a third goal in the 81st minute when Colleen Kearney pushed forward from her defensive role to pounce on a short kick-out and send a right foot drive from 20 yards out which crashed back off the crossbar before being hacked to safety.
Clonmany seen out the game to record a 2-0 victory.
Player of the Match: Katelyn McDaid
RESULTS
Thursday, 4 May
Clonmany Shamrocks 2 Carndonagh FC 0
Illies Celtic 6 Moville Celtic 0
Lagan Harps 4 Greencastle FC 2
Swilly Rovers 1 Bonagee United 5
Thursday, 11 May, 7.30pm
Bonagee United v Illies Celtic
Carndonagh FC v Lagan Harps
Greencastle FC v Moville Celtic
Rasheney FC v Swilly Rovers
Clonmany Shamrocks – Bye
| NW Women’s Super League | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Bonagee United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 6 |
| Illies Celtic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| Greencastle FC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Moville Celtic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
| Lagan Harps | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
| Clonmany Shamrocks | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 3 |
| Carndonagh FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Rasheney FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 |
| Swilly Rovers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 0 |
Top Goalscorers
Deborah Kerrigan (Bonagee United) 6
Michelle McDaid (Illies) 5
Shannon McDonald (Greencastle FC) 3
Sarah Jane McDonald (Greencastle FC) 3
zoe Green (Lagan Harps) 2
Bronagh Gallagher (Lagan Harps) 2
Anna Doherty (Bonagee United) 2
Natalie McFadden (Bonagee United) 2
Sarah Faulkner (Greencastle FC) 2
Caroline Gallagher (Illies Celtic) 2
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