The action in the various Leagues in the Donegal Women’s Leagues is really hotting now after another busy week of games before the Foyle Cup break.
DONEGAL WOMEN’S LEAGUE UNDER-12 LEAGUE
Illistrin 4 Finn Valley 0
A good crowd ascended to Illistrin to observe a great game on Monday evening. The first half in particular was very close.
The home team started brightly and put a lot of pressure on the Finn Valley defence but it was well marshalled by central defender Tara Kate Geoghegan.
Nicole McDaid and Ciara Molly were combining in midfield and drove the home team on. They were well supported on the flanks by Myah McBride and Claire Gallagher.
The opening goal arrived in the 15th minute when a good through ball from Aoife Toye released McBride and she finished well with a low drive to the bottom corner.
The away team reacted positively after this set back and got more into the game as the half developed.
Abagail Temple-Asokuh, Sarah Conaghan, and Ciara Lawne were becoming more instrumental but Erika Gallagher and Darcey Kelly defended very well.
A good strike from Nicole McDaid almost extended Illistrin’s lead but young McMenamin in the Finn Valley goal saved well at her near post.
On the stroke of halftime Erika Gallagher had a great effort that sailed narrowly over the bar.
The first ten minutes of the second half was end-to-end stuff and Finn valley almost drew level when Abigail Temple-Asokuh broke through the Illistrin rearguard but good defending by Darcey Kelly and Aoibhin Randles kept the away side out.
Meabh Devenney, Sarah Robinson, and Orla McCrossan were doing well for Illistrin and they went two up shortly after this when Ciara Molloy curled a great shot to the net.
Emma Neeson and Kaitlyn Houston were playing well for the away team but it was three shortly after when Leanne McGettigan finished well for Illistrin from close range after a corner.
Erika Gallagher went close again but Nicole McDaid wrapped up the win in the final few minutes when she broke through and rounded the keeper to leave the final score 4-0.
Bonagee United 3 Swilly Rovers 4
Bonagee welcomed Swilly Rovers to Dry Arch Park on Monday night and, in what was a great game of football, Swilly came out victorious.
Bonagee opened the scoring when Hannah Hopkins put in a well-timed ball that was met by Grace Murphy, who has just returned from holiday. Murphy neatly rounded Aine Connolly in the Swilly goals and made no mistake.
Natalie McFadden’s Bonagee have been in good form of late and were well on top early on.
Hopkins, who gathered the ball in midfield, stroked the ball with her right foot and went in to the top corner of the net; a great individual goal.
Swilly were coming more into the game in the second half and Kirsten Stewart scored their first. Shortly after Tamara Blaney added Swilly’s secnd of the night.
Bonagee, without the centre figure of Amy Callaghan in the midfield, were starting to tire.
Swilly added two quick goals from Emily Irwin and Tamara Blaney, her second of the night.
Bonagee got a bit of a boost in the last ten minutes and an in-swinging corner from Hopkins was met on the volley from Grace Murphy, a cracking wee goal.
Best for Swilly were Katie O’Gorman, Heather McLaughlin, Tamara Blaney and Emily Irwin.
Best for Bonagee were Eva Harvey, Grace Murphy and Player of the Game went to Hannah Hopkins
Lagan Harps 5 Gweedore Celtic 0
Lagan U12 girls continue to impress in the U12 league with a 5-0 win over Gweedore Celtic on Monday. Goals for Harriet McCrossan, Erin Doherty and Niamh Sweeney saw the Lagan girls go in three up at half time
Aoife Sweeney had to be altert when Meabh Boyle race through for Gweedore, but Aoife pulled off a great save.
Lagan Harps Under-12s
Lagan defenders Emma Gribben, Iesha Kelly and Chantel Peoples were solid throughout.
Kelsey Coll was in fine form in first half sending 5 or 6 excellent crosses into the box. The young Lagan girls then impressed in the second half with Shauna O’Donnell and Mia Devenney playing well in defence. Mia Devenney got across to make a vital tackle when Grace Maher broke into the box.
Sophie Cannon made great runs down the right and was unlucky not to score. Amy Doherty came close twice, but her shot was just short.
There was a big roar when A’alya Mustafa scored her first goal of the season and the scoring was wrapped up by Harriet McCrossan.
Gweedore Celtic U12s
Gweedore United 6 Raphoe Town 3
Gweedore United hosted Raphoe Town on a perfect night for football and the teams served up a nine-goal thriller.
The match started at a high pace and Gweedore ran into an early three-nil lead. However Raphoe fought back well with two well taken goals.
Gweedore United then had to weather intense Raphoe pressure but hit back with two goals before half-time.
The second half was a well-fought affair with both teams giving their all. After the first half goal fest the second half was a sparse affair with only a goal apiece resulting in a 6-3 victory for Gweedore.
Orla Doyle and Mary Anne Ward netted two apiece for Gweedore, with Zoe Boyle and Aoife Ferry also scoring.
Ella McHugh bagged a brace for Raphoe with Samara McBrearty in on the act.
Mulory Academy M v Kilmacrennan Celtic
Mulroy Academy M continued their winning form against Kilmacrennan on Monday night in Triagh-A-Locha. Weather conditions were great for this game and both teams were eager for the three points. Mulroy M dominated the game from start to finish with fine passing and proved too strong for Kilmac on the night.
Kilmac were without some key players due to injury.
Rachel Friel led the scoring for Mulroy, while Iseult Ni Mhatuna, Clodagh Heron and Emma McGrenaghan were all on the mark for the Mulroy side.
TERRY LEYDEN UNDER-14 LEAGUE
Lagan Harps 8 Swilly Rovers 1
Lagan U14 girls had a great evening in Orchard Park on Wednesday evening when they overcame Swilly Rovers 8-1.
A long ball from kick off saw Jessica Leese out run the Swilly defender and score. Within minutess Jessica got her second after great work by Lucy Canning and Orla McGrath on the right.
Swilly got right back into the game with Nicole Irwin’s long ball to Orlaith Connolly who fired in past Courtney Gallagher – this is the first goal conceded by Lagan in the Under-14 League this season.
Anna McFadden could have equalised minutes later only for quick reflexes of Courtney Gallagher.
Swilly pressed forward and created another good change with Heather McLaughlin getting on the end of a cross by Kelsey McAteer.
Maria Boner scored a great long range shot with three minutes to go to half time.
In the second half Gaby O’Donnell was unlucky not to get on the score sheet only for great goalkeeping by Ellie Duffy.
Shannon Cunningham set up Jessica Leese for her hat-trick, before Rhianna Devenney got on the score sheet twice.
Emily Irwin and Tamara Blaney linked up well for Swilly but their efforts when wide.
Jessica Lease got her fourth and Lucy Canning wrapped up the scoring for Lagan
Bonagee United 1 Mulroy Academy 4
Iseult Ni Mhatuna was the hat-trick hero for Mulroy Academy on Wednesday night in a 4-1 away win at Bonagee. Ni Mhatuna, who is in good scoring from at both Under-14 and Under-12 level, was the big difference here as Mulroy swept to victory.
Grace Murphy hit the consolation goal for Julie McCloy’s Bonagee.
Illistrin v Raphoe Town
The home team dominated from start to finish on a lovely evening in great conditions in Illistrin.
Sinead McBride opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a typical finish and McBride was on fire throughout the evening. Alisha Tobin (2), Maria Kealy, Jodie McFadden and Aislinn Coll were also on the mark for Paddy McDaid’s side.
The Illistrin team all played very well and Raphoe were well served by Shania McMonagle and Rocha McCullough.
Illistrin Under-14s
ARENA 7 UNDER-16 LEAGUE
Lagan Harps 7 Finn Valley 0
Lagan and Finn Valley played an eight-a-side game in this fixture on Friday night, which left loads of space for the two teams.
Shannon Cunningham opened the scoring, with Savannagh Whoriskey completing the scoring in the first half.
Lagan were afforded the opportunity of making four subs at half time and the fresh legs showed on the score line with Holly Canning, Erin Doherty, Savannagh Whoriskey – getting her second – and two goals for Courtney Gallagher, on her first outing as a outfield player.
Lagan ran out winners 7-0. Neve Scanlan had four great saves to make during the game and in particular a double save in the last five minutes.
Clodagh Sweeney and Emily McDevitt each made two great tracking runs to make vital tackles.
Serena McCrossan, Lucy Canning, Orla McGrath, Brenna Dunn worked tirelessly throughout the game.
Ridhceall Doherty, Anna McCauley, Caoimhe McGlynn and Brenda Carr never gave up for the hard-working Valley.
Mulroy Academy 4 Lagan Harps 0
Mulroy U16 Girls welcomed Lagan to Triagh-A-Loch on Friday-week past. It was Lagan who started the stronger of the two teams putting Mulroy under pressure from the start.
The game was pretty even for most of the first half with Mulroy creating some good chances going forward but the Lagan girls were defending well. The first goal came from a corner for Mulroy when Laura Dugera was very brave in attacking the ball and got her rewards.
The second goal soon followed when Caoimhne Heron latched onto a shot from Lauren Carr and caught the Lagan keeper off guard, 2-0 to Mulroy at half time.
The second half saw Mulroy starting with a better intensity and were starting to create more chances with Keri Sweeney, Lisa Dugera and Laura Dugera playing brilliant going forward. Lauren Carr was breaking down a lot of the play that Lagan were attacking with.
The Mulroy defence done well when called upon with the girls putting in good performances. Mulroy got their third off the game when Lisa Dugera hit a good strike which went over the Lagan keeper.
The fourth goal soon followed with Lauren McBride scoring a great finish which was similar to Lisa Dugera goal.
Neve Scanlon on the night was excellent for Lagan with the rest of the team putting in a good performance overall. Mulroy but in a great performance with Lisa Dugera and Laura Dugera being involved in everything Mulroy done on the night.
Swilly Rovers 8 Finn Valley 1
On Friday-week last, Swilly Rovers had a comfortable win over Finn Valley. Danielle Hynd bagged four of the Swilly goals, while Ellie Lynch, Chloe Moore, Kelsey McAteer and Kellyann Buchanan were also among the goals.
Ridcheall Doherty got the consolation goal for Finn Valley.
FOYLE CUP
Due to the Foyle Cup, there are no games in the Under-12 and Under-14 Leagues this week. The Under-12 League will resume on Monday, July 31, with the Under-14 League starting back on Wednesday, July 26.
There are two games refixed in the Under-16 League for this coming Friday, July 14: Mulroy Academy v Kilmacrennan Celtic and Swilly Rovers v Bonagee United.
