The new Donegal Women’s League season is firmly up and running with games and goals galore.
Games at Under-16, Under-14 and Under-12 levels are already coming thick and fast.
Picture above: Milford United Under-12s.
UNDER-16s
Swilly Rovers 1 Lagan Harps 5
Lagan started very strong, a quick goal from Maria Bonner setting the tone for the first half.
Lucy Canning was very strong in midfield and the lively Gaby O’Donnell up front also added to the score.
Lagan ended the first half five-nil up. Swilly Rovers came back much stronger in the second half. Great team work in defence set Kelsey McAteer and AnnaMcFadden on a run with Kelsey scoring a cracker from just outside the box.
Both swilly and Lagan had more chances, Gaby O’Donnell’s shot saved by Ellie Duffy, and Catelyn Doherty for Swilly hitting the crossbar.
Finn Valley 1 Mulroy Academy 11
An inexperienced Finn Valley team had no answer to the attacking threat of an excellent Mulroy team at the Valley on Sunday evening.
Both teams were missing influential players on the day, but Mulroy’s greater squad depth told as they strolled to an easy victory.
Valley struggled to contain Caoimhe Heron in the early stages of the game, as she helped herself to three early goals. Lisa Dugera, Aoife Gibbons and Marie Kerr also got on the scoresheet to leave Mulroy 6-0 up by half time.
Valley improved in the second half, with Rachel Lawne and Rhianna Doherty working hard in midfield, and Emma Conaghan making some good saves to keep the score down.
However, Mulroy continued to carry a great attacking threat, as Clodagh and Caoimhe Heron got a couple of goals each. Jessica Coll rounded things off for Mulroy with a good finish at the back post.
Finn Valley continued to battle hard until the final whistle.
They were eventually rewarded for their efforts as Aimee Lafferty was fouled for a last minute penalty and she dusted herself off to score past Leah McLoughlin in the Mulroy goal.
Illistrin 10 Bonagee United 0
This game was played on a lovely evening in Illistrin on Monday and despite a gallant effort from a very youthful Bonagee team the home ran out comfortable winners.
Illistrin created a lot of the early pressure but Bonagee were well organised and defended very well in the first half.
Erika Gallagher came close hitting the bar and the post in the first 10 minutes but it was the away team who nearly broke the deadlock.
Hannah Hopkins hit Illistrin on the break in the 20th minute and her excellent run and powerful shot was tipped over the bar by Illistrin FC keeper Orla Corry, an early contender for save of the season.
It was a pivotal moment in the match as soon after Illistrin took the lead when a neat pass from Aislinn Coll found Alisha Tobin and her excellent drive from 30 yards flew into the net.
Despite some great saves from Bonagee’s Emma Doherty in the first half she could do nothing as Aislinn Coll finished neatly and Erika Gallagher finished smartly to make the halftime score 3-0.
Rebekah McGlinchey, Ciara Doherty, and Emily Irwin were defending very well for Illistrin and Bonagee’s Ella Black, Eva Harvey, and Caitlin Hume worked tirelessly in defence.
Illistrin increased their lead at the start of the second half with two goals from Erika Gallagher to complete her hat-trick and a corner from Aislinn Coll that curled straight in.
Orla Corry, Aibhe McDaid, Aobha Gallagher, and Sophie Curran all got in on the act as a very young but spirited Bonagee team tired in the second half.
Heather McLaughlin and Amy Callaghan put in a great shift in midfield for them. Megan McDaid, Jade Stewart, and Jodie McFadden played well throughout.
Referee: Zach McLaughlin
UNDER-14s
Raphoe Town 2 Kilmacrennan 0
Goals from Aine O’Flanagan and Ella McHugh proved the difference on Friday night as Raphoe Town’s U14 team got their season off to a good start with a hard fought win against Kilmacrennan.
The visitors almost broke the deadlock with a chance inside the opening seconds, but once Raphoe settled they were well in control and it took a number of top class saves from goalkeeper Eilish Russel to keep the home team at bay.
She saved brilliantly to deny Aine o’Flanagan and Ella McHugh on a number of occasions, while at the other end Emma Price was having a terrific battle with Raphoe defender Shania McMonagle as she attempted to carve out chances for Kilmacrennan.
Raphoe eventually broke the deadlock when Abigail Temple Asokuh played a superb pass through to Aine O’Flanagan and even though Emma Price got a hand to the shot, it flew into the top corner and Raphoe led 1-0 at the break.
The second half was also a hard-fought affair but Raphoe added to their tally when Alicia McCullagh and Abigail Temple Asokuh combined with some neat football before sending Ella McHugh and she raced free to steer home a great shot to the bottom corner.
The visitors pressed and pressed, but Raphoe well-marshalled by Rocha McCullagh and Shania McMonagle were too strong on the night.
Illistrin 4 Finn Valley 0
The home team got their league campaign of to a great start with a convincing win over a very young and spirited Finn Valley team. It was one way traffic for much of the first half but the Finn Valley team was well set up and defended very well.
Leanne McGettigan, Ciara Molloy, and Nicole McDaid came closed to opening the scoring but Finn Valley keeper McMenamin produced great saves. Sarah Conaghan was working tirelessly to keep the home team out.
The breakthrough finally came in the 20th minute when Emily Irwin found Katelyn Doherty on the wing and her cross fell to McGettigan who finished well. Erika Gallagher and Sarah McGinley were excellent in midfield and Katelyn Lenihan almost scored after a great run and shot.
Early in the second half Darcey Kelly and Aobha Hartigan combined well to release Lenihan and her cross come shot finished in the net. Lenihan continued to impress on the wing and Nicole McDaid made it 3-0 In the 45th minute. Good work from Grace Nugent and Claire Gallagher found McDaid again and she finished neatly to wrap up the scoring.
Sarah Robinson, Ella Rose McDermott, Rionna McFadden, and Eimear Gallagher all contributed well when introduced. Aoibhin Randles did well out the field and in nets.
Credit to Finn Valley who played very well and defended excellently.
Referee: Paul Murphy
Lagan Harps 4 Bonagee United 2
Both sides didn’t disappoint with the girls playing excellent football and the lead changed three times throughout the game.
Despite having loads of possession in the first half and some excellent defending by Bonagee Lagan found themselves down when Grace Murphy was fouled in the box and she converted the penalty.
Within minutes, Orlaith Doherty equalised for Lagan after a great through ball from Niamh Sweeney.
Sonia Gallagher nearly put Lagan ahead but her shot went wide of post.
Aalya Mustapha and Sophie Canning were starting to cause Bonagee problems in wide areas. Just on stroke of half time, Lagan had pushed numbers forward and the ball broke forward to Grace Murphy who finished Into bottom corner.
From the restart, Emma Gribben sent Orlaith Doherty through to level things again.
Shauna O’Donnell was introduced for Lagan at half time and from onset started to link up with Niamh Sweeney despite picking up a knock in first half was able to go on one of the amazing runs only to see her shot come of the post.
Erin Doherty presence in centre mid control the flow of game, stringing passes for the free players. It was Doherty who herself broke through from midfield on 46 minutes to put Lagan ahead for the first time.
Emma Gribben and Abigail Quigley were solid in centre defence, as Emma organised the younger defenders and was also able to join the attack to set up Orlaith Doherty for the hat-trick.
With minutes remaining Amy Doherty pulled off a great save from Sienna Doherty.
UNDER-12s
Lagan Harps 6-0 Raphoe Rapids
Goals from Orlaith Doherty (4), Sophie Canning and Rosie O’Donnell secured the three points for Lagan.
Raphoe Rapids battled hard with Cara Eton, Niamh Toye and Alisha McCullagh working hard defensively.
Ashling Mugan and Niamh Ryan pulled the strings for Lagan in midfield and with excellent passing were able to create goal scoring opportunities the opportunities.
Cliodhna Kelly and Tianna Hannigan linked up well for Raphoe however solid defending from Aileen Sweeney and Scarlet Keys blocked their efforts.
Gweedore United 1 Illistrin 0
The in-form Maryanne Ward bagged the only goal of the game on Monday evening as Gweedore United edged out Illistrin in a closely-contested affair.
Bonagee United 0 Finn Valley 1
The game had just started when Bonagee created the first attack which had Chloe Creevy break through the defence only to be denied by a superb save from the visiting keeper.
For most of the first half the play took place in the middle third of the pitch with both teams having equal possession but creating little goal scoring opportunities.
It wasn’t until the 23rd minute when Finn Valley broke down the left and India Falls Doherty went on a short run and tucked the ball inside of an advancing Bonagee keeper to make it 1-0.
From the start of the second half you could see the determination in the young Bonagee faces that they were seeking to get something from this game with Tara Gildea going close in the 33rd minute but a resilient Finn Valley bunch made it extremely difficult for them.
There were more goal opportunities in this half but without reward for either side.
Both teams battled it out to the final whistle but it was the visiting team that secured all three points.
Best for Bonagee on the night were Sophie Doherty, Latifa Ben Salem and Eva Kelly, A good team performance from the Finn Valley Girls.
Raphoe Town Rockets 2 Kilmacrennan Celtic 2
A late penalty from Maeve Brady gave Kilmacrennan a well-deserved share of the spoils in this entertaining game at Deele College on Monday night.
Brady was the stand out player on the night and orchestrated attack after attack for the visitors, but the home defence well marshalled by Caitlin Clarke and Enya McBride held firm and anything that did go past was saved by Mollie McGroarty who was excellent in goal.
Samara McBrearty and Libby Sachs both had chances to give Raphoe a lead, but it took a fine break and goal from Enya McBride to give them a slender advantage at the interval.
Kilmacrennan played some lovely football on the night and were on level terms when Brady set up Aoife Cameron and May Hastings then made a couple of great stops before Enya McBride burst through again to score.
The visitors never gave up and were rewarded for their efforts when they were awarded a penalty for handball in the last minute.
Maeve Brady stepped up to hit the spot-kick and made no mistake to give both teams a share of the spoils.
Milford United 2 Ballyraine 1
This was a very close game with both sides missing chances. It was 0-0 at half time.
In the second half Milford came out the strongest with Erin Neilis and Amy Patton just hitting it wide.
The first goal came from Chloe McConigley Blaney in the 42nd minute after a olo run down the right wing.
Milford’s second goal came from Erin Neilis.
But Ballyraine never gave up and they got one back ten minutes before the end, Emear Cassidy the scorer.
