It’s anyone’s guess as to the destination of the North West Women’s Super League but, heading into the final three rounds of games.
Illies Celtic, the champions, remain in pole position after a narrow derby win at Greencastle, while Bonagee United defeated Fanad by the odd goal in seven and Carndonagh scored seven to record a big win over Moville.
Bonagee United 4 Fanad United 3
Bonagee United squeezed past Fanad United in a seven-goal thriller at Dry Arch Park to stay firmly in the hunt for the honours in the North West Women’s Super League.
A brace each from Shannon McBride and Alice Diver helped keep Bonagee right on Illies Celtic’s coat tails at the top.
But Fanad will feel they left something behind them as Zoe Green’s magic made a real game of it and Packie McElwaine’s team had Bonagee holding on for dear life.
Bonagee, stung by a 2-0 loss at Illies a week earlier, roared from the traps and were two up inside the opening ten minutes.
First, McBride riffled high into the net after latching onto Anna Doherty’s cross from the right.
It got even better for Bonagee when Diver rose to head home from a Chantelle Grant corner.
Bonagee were rampant in the early exchanged and Siobhan Sweeney was unfortunate not to add to the lead, clipping the crossbar with a neat attempt.
Grant and Diver were off target from outside the box, but Fanad began to come back into the game.
Amanda Callaghan saw one effort turned over off the crossbar by Bonagee ‘keeper Clare Friel, but they got their goal on 42 minutes when Green raced in behind and a delicious effort found the car corner.
Bonagee’s response was instant as McBride restored the two-goal cushion.
Green was beginning to purr by now and she reduced the margin further with a wonderful second goal seven minutes into the second half. Weaving her way into position, Green jinked through before cracking a magnificent effort beyond Friel to stun Bonagee and give Fanad a real shot in the arm.
Bonagee managed to hit back and Diver delightfully struck to the bottom corner eight minutes from the end.
McBride was denied by the goalkeeper and Doherty hit the side netting from the left channel, but it was backs-to-the-wall stuff in the concluding chapter for Bonagee.
Lisa Friel rose to head home from a Callaghan corner and Fanad sensed the door was ajar.
Try as they might, though, they couldn’t find a way through again as Bonagee, led by a commanding Amy Thompson, clung on for dear life and a precious three points.
Greencastle 2 Illies Celtic 3
Paula McGrory’s hat-trick kept Illies Celtic on course for title retention in the North West Women’s Super League. John Doherty’s Illies bagged a third win in a row since the break in the League to stay at the summit of the table. And, once more, McGrory was the match winner.
McGrory’s deadly treble was enough for Illies to eke out a derby win over hard-working Greencastle at Chapel Lane.
Carndonagh 7 Moville Celtic 1
Carndonagh dominated throughout on Thursday night. Carn opened the scoring on the 10th minute with a great strike from Louise O’Connor to the top of the net.
Carn got their second goal of the night on the 30th minute with a great run from Tara O’Connor to get her first of the night. Two minutes later she got her second with a great cross from Tegan McDaid to see Tara hit the back of the net again.
The second half started with Moville gaining an extra player, but still Carn dominated throughout and got their fourth goal five minutes into the half with a great goal again from Louise O’Connor.
Seven minutes later Tara got her third. The next goal came in the 66th minute with a through ball from Bethany Moore to pass to Cliona Gibbons to score outside 18-yard box.
Tara got her fourth one minute later with a well taken goal.
Moville managed to pull one back with a goal from Emma Doherty to leave the final score Carn 7-1 Moville.
