The first round of games in the Donegal Women’s League Under-12 League took place between Saturday and Monday – and there were plenty of goals!
Raphoe Town 3 Finn Valley 0
Raphoe Town (above) marked their return to the Donegal Women’s League with a 3-0 win at Deele College on Monday night, but this was a much closer contest than the scoreline suggests and the visitors might just as easily have gone away with the points.
Both teams fielded young squads made up mostly of U10 players, but that didn’t stop them serving up a cracking game filled with action and excitement from the first whistle.
Raphoe took the lead inside two minutes when the impressive Rocha McCullagh split the Valley defence with a super pass and Samara McBrearty supplied a cool finish to give the hosts a dream start.
However any thoughts that the game would be one-way traffic were soon dismissed and Valley, with super displays from Sarah McCloskey, Aibigail Temple-Asokuh, Ciara and Leah Lawne, worked themselves back into the match and rattled the post and the crossbar.
Finn Valley
Raphoe responded and captain Shania McMonagle who was exceptional throughout, saw her piledriver coming back off the bar and spurred on by fine displays from Hannah McCarron, Chloe Jamieson, Enya McBride and Aimee Connolly the home team pressed to extend their lead.
With Valley’s Keely McGettigan, Aoibhinn Brennan, Caoilfhinn McCabe Sarah Conaghan, Emily Boyce and Aisling Roarty, all standing firm it was only when the visitors tired that the home side got the upper hand.
Ella McCarron, Hannah Walker, Aine O’Flanagan and Cara Eaton all impressed, while young Libby Sachs was called upon to make some super saves to ensure Raphoe’s narrow lead stayed intact.
In the end they made sure of the points when Leah McClean slotted home the second and then fine work from Marie Sweeney set up Ella McHugh for a third to ensure a winning start for Raphoe.
Bonagee 1 Lagan 8
Lagan started the better team going ahead in the third minute with an Erin Doherty strike.
She followed that up quickly with her second of the game.
Lagan were very strong in the middle with Erin Doherty and Emma Gribben linking up well.
Lagan Harps
The third goal game from Harriett McCrossan who got on the score sheet soon after for her second.
Bonagee had spells with Hannah Hopkins and Grace Murphy playing well together.
McCrossan got her hat-trick soon after the restart.
Eva Harvey and Amy Callaghan were working tirelessly together on the back for Bonagee and got the ball up to the front two for Hopkins to make a great run and score in the Lagan net from a quick pass from Murphy.
Other scorers for Lagan were Kelsey Coll, Harriett McCrossan and Niamh Sweeney.
Bonagee United
Gweedore Celtic 0 Gweedore United 0
The first game of the season for Gweedore Celtic’s u12 girls was a derby game at home in the Screaban against Gweedore United.
Good conditions for football with a slight chill in the air but the football by both sides was fantastic.
A great strong defence proved to be the receipe for for this first outing of the season for the Celts.
It was end to end football, Gweedore Celtic’s goalkeeper Mary Kate McGinley made some superb saves, our midfielder Maeve Boyle played outstanding football from helping out in defence to making runs and passes towards goal.
Unfortunately no goals were scored but the young Celt girls should be very proud of their performance.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 Swilly Rovers 6
(No report received)
Mulroy M 3 Mulroy S 0
Mulroy M defeated Mulroy S 3-0 on Saturday in a sunny Rab Park in Kerrykeel.
This was a first for the Mulroy Soccer Academy as two U12 teams kitted out in the black and white of Mulroy Academy, under the leadership of Tracey McBride and Una Sweene, went head-to-head.
Mulroy S had a slow start to the game which gave Mulroy M a good advantage.
Iseult Ni Mhatuna in fine form helped Rachel Shemy take the lead early on in the first half.
Clodagh Herron added to the scoreline aftwr a fine cross from Caitlin Heraghty.
Shortly after Clodagh once again scored for Mulroy M’s third goal of the game.
Meabh McAteer looked sharp in the forward line but Sophie Gallagher had other ideas, as did Ella McBride and Emma Hunter resulting in a well-structured backline for Mulroy S.
The second half saw Mulroy S battled very hard but with no reward. Eva Blaney and Jessica Coll controled the midfield and fought hard with no rewards.
Bronnagh Duffy tried hard to break free but it was just not her day. The sisters Megan and Leah McLaughlin had a mighty game. Megan commanded the defense line along with Aoife Sweeney and Olivia Friel. Leah took full control in nets and stood strong which resulted in no scores in second half.
A great team effort from Mulroy S but in particular Leah and Megan McLaughlin, Eva Blaney, Aoife Sweeney and Jessica Coll, who were invaluable. Super subs for Mulroy S were Aoife Carr, Roisin Carr, Aoife McMullan, Hannah Gibbons, Kate McAdoo
Clodagh Heron, Rachel Shemy, Caitlin Heraghty and Iselut Ni Mhatuna were suberb for Mulroy M. Super Subs for Mulroy M were
Chloe Martin, Emma McGrenaghan.
RESULTS
Donegal Women’s League, Under-12 League, Monday April 10
Mulroy M 3-0 Mulroy S (game played on Saturday)
Bonagee United 1-8 Lagan Harps
Gweedore Celtic 0-0 Gweedore United
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1-6 Swilly Rovers
Raphoe Town 3-0 Finn Valley
FIXTURES
Donegal Women’s League, Terry Leyden Under-14 League, Wednesday April 12, 6.30pm
Bonagee United v Swilly Rovers
Raphoe Town v Mulroy Academy
Finn Valley v Lagan Harps
Donegal Women’s League, Under-12 League, Monday April 17, 6.30pm
Lagan Harps v Raphoe Town
Finn Valley v Kilmacrennan Celtic
Swilly Rovers v Mulroy Academy M
Mulroy Academy S v Gweedore United
Gweedore Celtic v Illistrin FC
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