The goals continue to fly in across the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 grades in the Donegal Women’s League with a busy schedule of games for teams.
UNDER-12 LEAGUE
Lagan 1 – 2 Illistrin
Sarah Robinson put Illistrin ahead after 10 minutes.
Lagan’s strong defending from Mia Devenney, Shauna O’Donnell and Sophie Canning restricted Illistrin to long range shots.
Leanne McGettigan should have extended the lead for Illistrin only for a good save Amy Doherty.
Shortly after the restart, good combination between Sine Harris Ryan with Orlaith Doherty scoring a excellent goal.
Lagan Harps U12s
Illistrin’s defence of Darcy Kelly and Grace Nugent worked hard again the attacking force of Aileen Sweeney and Amy Moore.
Illistrins Sarah McGinley started controlling mid field and persistence paid off with five minutes remaining when Amy Doherty pulled off another great save only for the ball to be deflected into the goal.
Bonagee 6 Raphoe Town 3
Bonagee gave in another great display with Grace Murphy putting in a five-star performance scoring five of the six goals and Caitlin Moore getting the other.
Bonagee went one down with six minutes on the clock when Samara McBrearty was quick off the block to score her first.
However Bonagee got the heads up started to play some good football with Aimee Cassidy playing a lovely ball thorough to grace Murphy who finished well.
Murphy got her second soon after. Laura Callaghan, working hard throughout the match, was unlucky not to score wen Murphy played a pin point ball into the box however it was just narrowly wide from Callaghan.
Murphy then got her hat-trick and it was a ball up from Ginny Diver who fed it through to Murphy who cooly slotted it into the back of the net.
Caitlin Moore added Bonagee’s fourth of the night when she turned to put a cross into the box and found it’s way past the Raphoe keeper.
Raphoe started to come into play more and with Ella McCarron, Ella McHugh and Samara McBrearty playing some lovely football they got their second of the night through McBrearty.
Bonagee’s back three of Katherine Hopkins, Ginny diver and Aimee Cassidy all played exceptionally well on the night and Raphoe found it hard to get past them at times with captain Hopkins doing a fine job in there.
Bonagee made it five for the home side as Murphy gathered the ball in the midfield area and ran at the Raphoe defence to beat the keeper.
Ella McHugh got Raphoe’s third and Murphy finished proceedings with her firth of the night and Bonagee’s sixth.
Best for Raphoe were Ella McCarron, Samara McBrearty and Ella McHugh. Best for Bonagee Grace Murphy, Katherine Hopkins, Ginny Diver and Laura Callaghan.
Mulroy M 2 Finn Valley 0
A tightly fought contest played out in Rabs Park on Monday when Mulroy M met Finn Valley on a beautiful sunny evening.
Despite Mulroy having countless opportunities in the first half, goalkeeper Claire Diver along with Sheila McElchar at centre back made sure their hosts were held to a nil-all draw at half-time.
A great scoring chance for Finn Valley was scuppered when Meabh Mc Ateer stepped in to avert the danger and clear the ball.
Again in the second half Mulroy M seemed to be all out of luck when their goal chances failed to produce results.
The hardworking Clodagh Herron finally beat the goalkeeper to put the ball into the back of the net. Ten minutes later, a well-placed pass from Megan McLoughlin saw Clodagh Herron score again.
For Mulroy, Leah Mc Loughlin was outstanding in defence, ably assisted by Kate McAdoo and Meabh McAteer.
Emma McGrenaghan had a great game as did Olivia Friel in midfield.
Rachel Friel and Megan McLoughlin as always put in solid performances. Aine Mc Elwaine and Hannah Gibbons contributed well to the game. Four wins in a row from four matches played sees Mulroy M hold their position at the top of the league.
Gweedore United 5 Mulroy S 2
A glorious evening in Carrickboyle was the perfect setting for the match between Gweedore United and Mulroy S.
Gweedore started strongly with wave after wave of attacks but excellent defensive work and quality goalkeeping kept the score level.
A short corner from Gweedore allowed Ainne Ferry to break free and curl a lovely goal into the far post.
Gweedore then took command and two goals From Maryanne Ward ensured the home side went into the interval ahead.
Mulroy started the second half strongly taking control of the midfield and putting Gweedore under pressure.
2 excellent goals from Kaylagh Sweeney came in quick succession and Gweedore realised they had a game on their hands.
A midfield battle ensued when Maryanne Ward raced through and scored her third.
Heavy Gweedore pressure was rewarded in the final 5 minutes when Neasa McPhaidin placed the ball calmly past the Mulroy keeper following fine work from Ainne Ferry.
Swilly Rovers 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic 6
Kilmacrennan were the stronger team and started brightly in first half.
Kilmac were three up at half time. Swilly tried hard in second half but never got to into.
Kilmacrennan got three more in the second half.
Scorers for Kilmacrennan were Maeve Brady with two, Jocylan Diver with two and one each from Aiisha Gallagher and Lauran Doherty.
UNDER-14 LEAGUE
Mulroy Academy 2 Bonagee United 0
Mulroy took on Bonagee in Rabs Park on Friday evening and brought a great display of football by both sides.
Mulroy missed a number of chances in the first half.
Bonagee defence line, held strongly by Ava Doherty and Caitlin Hume, showed great strength. Mulroy kept the pressure on and a well deserved goal came their way by the impressive Iseult Ni Mhathuna.
Bonagee just could not get a break but battled hard.
Mulroy just seemed to have the edge and a goal number two by Aoife Gibbons sealed the result for the Mulroy girls. A great evening of football in perfect playing conditions.
Best for Mulroy was Iseult Ni Mhathuna. Best for Bonagee was Ava Doherty.
Finn Valley 0 Illistrin 5
Finn Valley were hosts to Illistrin on a dry sunny Friday evening. The young Valley team were forced to only field 10 players, however Illistrin sportingly also played with 10.
Illistrin had the better chances in the first half and managed to break the deadlock after 15 minutes. Ciara Molloy broke through the Valley defence and calmly slotted the ball past Emma Connaghan in the Finn Valley nets.
This set the scene for the rest of the first half with two further Illistrin goals before half time. However the Finn Valley girls never gave up.
After half time Finn Valley had a better run of play down each wing. Illistrin continued to press but were kept at bay by great defensive efforts and good saves from Emma in nets.
Illistrin managed to break through and score twice more before the final whistle. A highly entertaining game on display with good spells of play from both teams despite the scoreline.
Maria Kealy (2), Ciara Molloy (2) and Nicole McDaid (1) netted the Valley goals.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 Raphoe 4
After 7 minutes Raphoe took the lead through Rocha Mc McCullough. On 12 minutes Kilmac equalised with a brilliant finish from Emma Price.
Kilmac started strong and a free kick from Sarah McFadden just sailed past the post.
After six minutes of the second half, Raphoe took the lead again through Rebecca McColgan when she got on the end of a cross.
Some excellent saves from Eilish Russell in goal kept Kilmac in the game.
Raphoe were awarded a penalty but was missed, but was followed a few minutes later by a goal from Rocha Mc Cullough. They put another one in the net, this time by Cody Walsh.
A hard fought game from start to finish with Siobhan Cameron awarded player of the match by the referee.
UNDER-16 LEAGUE
Raphoe Town 1 Illistrin 5
Two goals apiece from from Aislinn Coll and Aobha Harrigan helped Illistrin on their way to a comfortable win against a battling Raphoe side at Deele College last Wednesday evening.
Both teams had players missing, but the visitors were in command for most of the game, despite some great hard-working displays from the Raphoe girls and a much-improved second half performance from them.
Illistrin took the lead when Aislinn Coll’s fierce drive from distance flew into the top corner, but Raphoe battled back and captain Alannah Kee – who worked so hard in midfield alongside Julie Wilson and Caitlyn McNulty – had the teams back on level terms in the 22nd minute when she turned in from close range following a fine corner from Ellie McBride.
It was short-lived though because almost from the re-start Aobha Harrigan nipped past the Raphoe defence to restore Illistrin’s lead and a few minutes later she found the net again to give the visitors some breathing space.
A fine run from midfield saw Rebekah McGlinchey steal in to make it 4-1 before the break and the home side must have feared a landslide in the second half.
However they come out for the second half in a much more determined fashion and even had chances to reduce the deficit, Ciara O’Brien firing just wide and Valissa O’Donnell forcing a save from the Illistrin keeper.
At the other end Raphoe defended gamely and behind them goalkeeper Abbie McKnight again made some terrific saves to prevent Illistrin adding to their tally.
They did manage that a few minutes from the final whistle when they were awarded a penalty for handball and Aislinn Coll made no mistake from the spot to complete the scoring in a well-contested game.
KIlmacrennan Celtic 4 Mulroy Academy 2
Ciara McGarvey’s hat-trick saw Kilmacrennan roar to victory against Mulroy Academy last Wednesday evening.
McGarvey was on fire to sink battling Mulroy.
Coilín Hume was also on target for Kilmac while Hume had another goal disallowed.
Eimear Sweeney netted twice for Mulroy.
RESULTS
Under-16 League – Wednesday, May 2
Raphoe Town 1 Illistrin FC 5
Kilmacrennan Celtic 4 Mulroy Academy 2
Under-14 League – Wednesday, May 4
Gweedore Celtic 0 Swilly Rovers 3
Mulroy Academy 2 Bonagee United 2
Finn Valley 0 Illistrin FC 5
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 Raphoe Town 4
Under-12 League – Monday, May 7
Swilly Rovers 0 Kilmacrennan Celtic 6
Mulroy M 2 Finn Valley 0
Bonagee United 6 Raphoe Town 3
Lagan Harps 1 Illistrin FC 2
Gweedore United 5 Mulroy S 2
FIXTURES
Under-16 League – Wednesday, May 9, 6.30pm
Mulroy Academy v Lagan Harps
Illistrin FC v Kilmacrennan Celtic
Finn Valley v Raphoe Town
Under-14 League – Friday, May 11, 6.30pm
Raphoe Town v Gweedore Celtic
Gweedore United v Bonagee United
Swilly Rovers v Mulroy Academy
Under-12 League – Monday, May 14, 6.30pm
Bonagee United v Illistrin FC
Raphoe Town v Mulroy M
Finn Valley v Swilly Rovers
Kilmacrennan Celtic v Gweedore United
Mulroy S v Lagan Harps
