Illies Celtic went to the top of the North West Women’s Super League on Thursday with a fine 2-0 away win at Bonagee, while there were more hat-tricks as Sarah Faulkner landed a treble in Greencastle’s 6-1 win over Moville, but Bronagh Gallagher went one better, scoring FOUR as Lagan Harps overcame Carndonagh.
Bonagee United 0 Illies Celtic 2
Illies Celtic moved out on their own at the top of the North West Women’s Super League thanks to an away win in the top-of-the-table clash at Bonagee.
The two sides went into the game having won two-from-two, but it was John Doherty’s side who had the edge thanks to goals from Paula McGrory and Michelle McDaid.
McGrory’s goal, just before half-time, was the goal that broke Bonagee’s resistance and laid the platform for the win.
Bonagee contested that there had been a foul in the lead-up to the goal, but as McGrory headed in off the inside of the post the appeals fell upon deaf ears and Illies were in front.
As they parted ways at the break, the body language told the story; Illies energised by the goal and Bonagee deflated after a tough, tense first half.
Denise McElhinney, the Bonagee netminder, was called into action by Deirdre Grant in the opening minute and at the other end McElhinney had a go from a free-kick, but her effort was too high.
McElhinney denied Grant again and a powerful closer-range drive by Kirsty Grant warmed the palms of the Bonagee ‘keeper.
Bonagee, with Donegal senior ladies Gaelic footballer Kelly Wilson in their engine room for the first time, were more than a match for Illies, but the clinical edge just belonged to the Inishowen side as McGrory, having been twice denied by McElhinney, broke the deadlock.
Bonagee introduced Alice Diver and Shannon McBride at half-time in a bid to get back into the game but despite a valiant attempt they couldn’t force a breakthrough.
Just when it seemed as if the home side were beginning to come into it, Illies struck a decisive second when McDaid continued her good form, rolling past McElhinney after narrowly beating the offside trap in the 72nd minute.
Bonagee United: Denise McElhinney, Siobhan Sweeney, Emma Ryan, Leona Russell, Aisling Grieve, Brenda Sweeney, Kelly Wilson, Olivia McGinley, Naomi Moore, Deborah Kerrigan, Michaela Carolan. Subs: Alice Diver and Shannon McBride for Sweeney and Moore (HT), Lauren Lynch and Caoimhe Kelly for Grieve and Carolan (73), Aoife O’Donnell for Kerrigan (81)
Illies Celtic: Kerrie Kelly-Ferguson, Deirdre Grant, Tessie Coyle, Aishling Gillespie, Alana Doherty, Caroline Gallagher, Claire Doherty, Michelle McDaid, Paula McGrory, Alison McGonigle, Kirsty Grant. Subs: Caoimhe Devlin for Gillespie (54), Mary McKinney for D.Grant (88).
Referee: Dessie McLaughlin.
Greencastle FC 6 Moville Celtic 1
Greencastle opened brightly and should have scored when Sarah Faulkner’s pass sent Sarah Jane McDonald through, but her shot from ten yards scraped past the post.
Greencastle opened the scoring after six minutes when Sarah Jane McDonald ran onto Eimear Gillen’s through ball and slotted past Lisa burns in the Moville goals.
They increased the lead two minutes later when McDonald broke down the line and crossed for Sarah Faulkner to tap in at the far post.
Greencastle FC
Moville came more into the game after this, but Greencastle’s Danielle Barr and Danielle McKaughlin were defending well.
Aisling McGuinness broke down the left for Moville, but her cross into the middle found no takers.
Greencastle made it 3-0 on the half hour when Aisling McDermott out-muscled Coleen McElroy and lobbed Lisa Burns from 20 yards.
Moville came more into the game in the second half, with Erin Coyle and Bronagh McGuinness pressing forward but Greencastle held firm.
Greencastle went four up after 60 minutes when Sarah Jane McDonald outpaced the Moville defence and slotted home from inside the box.
Sarah Faulkner made it five with 20 minutes left when she ran onto Eimear McLaughlin’s pass and fired low into Burns’ left-hand corner of the net.
Movie Celtic
Greencastle added another with 10 minutes left. Burns did well to beat out McDonald’s cross with Faulkner following up slid the ball home to complete her hat trick.
Moville scored with five minutes left, Erin Coyle got away down the right, and shot from just inside the box, Danielle Houton got her hands to the ball but could not keep it out.
Carndonagh FC 0 Lagan Harps 8
Carndonagh started well against last seasons Donegal Women’s League champions, winning a free at the edge of the 18 yard box just after 13 minutes and Lisa Doherty saw her efforts go just wide of the post.
Lagan responded with Zoe Green flicking a fine header into the top corner to score Lagan’s first.
Carndonagh’s defence where caught for two quick goals when Bronagh Gallagher saw her shot on the edge of the 18 yard find the back of the net to get her first and later getting her second when Amanda Callaghan laid the ball off and Gallagher just slotted into the back of the net.
Again on 26 mins, Lagan’s Paula Valles scored to make it 4-0.
Carndonagh’s defenders tried to deal with Lagan’s counter attacks but again Green broke from the half way line taking her shot and getting her second goal of the match.
At the start of the second half Carndonagh were 5-0 down but they continued to push on. Beibhinn McClure, Cliona Gibbons and Tegan McSaid proved a handful for the Lagan defense.
In the second half Carn pushed the play deep into Lagan, but Lagan’s counters caught Carn when Bronagh Gallagher got her hat-trick.
McClure for Carndonagh was battling hard as she forced the Lagan ‘eeper to concede a corner. Cliona Gibbons sent in a fine corner ball to Tegan McDaid who saw her shot edge over the bar.
Again Carndonagh players pressured the Lagan back-line when young Gibbons sent another fine corner ball into the six-yard box forcing Neva Scanlon to clear her line.
Lagan players quickly countered forcing Carn’s ‘keeper For the night Niamh Callaghan to produce a fine save.
Lagan won a free kick, Valles steeped up to strike it but saw her shot go wide.
Carndonagh FC
Carndonagh continued to battle hard in the second half Cliona gibbons carrying a fine ball through before seeing her shot go wide. Lagan’s deadly counters again proved hard to defend when Amanda Callaghan seen her shot hit the crossbar and go out.
Gallagher landed her fourth of the night to seal a fine performance for her and Amy Boyd got the final goal just 5 minutes before the end. They came close to scoring another but Carndonagh shot stopper for the night Callaghan gathered the ball well.
Despite the scoreline Carndonagh’s second half showed great promise for ladies soccer in the club with some fine performance from this newly formed team against a well established side.
Rashenny FC 3 Swilly Rovers 0
Rashenny FC bagged their first win of the new North West Women’s Super League season with a fine win over battling Swilly Rovers on Thursday night.
The Trawbreaga women had a difficult start, but they came good for a home win on Thursday.
Danielle Gordon bagged a brace of goals for Rashenny and Leanne Devlin was also on the mark as they grabbed a vital three points.
RESULTS
Bonagee United 0 Illies Celtic 2
Carndonagh FC 0 Lagan Harps 8
Greencastle 6 Moville Celtic 1
Rashenny 3 Swilly Rovers 0
FIXTURES
Thursday, May 18, 7.30pm
Greencastle FC v Bonagee
Illies Celtic v Rashenny
Lagan Harps v Clonmany Shamrocks
Moville Celtic v Carndonagh FC
Swilly Rovers – Bye
| NW Women’s Super League | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Illies Celtic | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 9 |
| Greencastle FC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 6 |
| Bonagee United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| Lagan Harps | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Rashenny FC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 3 |
| Clonmany Shamrocks | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 3 |
| Moville Celtic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 3 |
| Carndonagh FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 0 |
| Swilly Rovers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 0 |
