The action continues apace in the Donegal Women’s League with goals galore in all the Divisions. Here’s the latest roundup:
UNDER-14 LEAGUE
Finn Valley 1 Kilmacrennan Celtic 5
Finn Valley were hosts to Kilmacrennan on a dry sunny Friday evening.
Kilmac started the better with good runs of possession through the midfield throughout the first half.
The first goal was worked in from the right wing and Emma Price for Kilmac got the first of her five goals of the evening.
This set the scene for the rest of the first half with two further goals from Emma before half time.
After half time the young Finn Valley girls found their feet and began to have more of a say in the game.
Kimac continued to press but were kept at bay by Finn Valleys defence.
However Kimac scored again though Price who has a fantastic game. Midway through the second half Finn Valley got a penalty due to a handball in the box. Sarah Connaghan calmly took the penalty into the right hand corner of the net.
It was a small consolation to a hard fought game as Kimac scored once again through Emma Price before the final whistle.
Illistrin FC 2 Mulroy 0
This game was played in glorious sunshine on Friday evening in the excellent facilities at Illistrin.
The home team dominated the majority of the first half and created numerous chances against a well organised Mulroy defence.
Meabh Devenney was defending very well for the home team and Nicole McDaid made some great runs up the right side causing the Mulroy defence some problems.
Jodie McFadden and Ciara Molloy were very lively up front for the home team and created some good chances.
Illistrin had numerous corners in the first half with the best chance falling to Kaitlyn Doherty but her well hit shot just flew over the nets by inches.
Maria Kealy hit a superb free kick from 30 yards that struck the inside of the bar and post but somehow stayed out. However, the home team took a deserved lead when one of their corners paid off when Jodie McFadden showed great skill and determination in the box before finishing well.
At the other end Mulroy grew into the game and poised more of a threat with the introduction of Iseult Ni Mhauthuna. Her through ball almost released her teammate Jessica Coll but Aoibhin Randles was alert in the Illistrin goal. Caitlin Heraghty and Aoife Sweeney were more influential as the game wore on.
The second half ebbed and flowed both ways with Mulroy pushing for the equaliser and Illistrin dangerous on the break. Again, Aoibhin Randles in the Illistrin goals dealt well with the long balls that were coming her way. Darcey Kelly, Marie Rushe, and Erika Gallagher were defending well too.
At the other end Ciara Molloy almost doubled the lead with a great run that saw her shot just go wide much to the relief of Meabh Duffy in the Mulroy goal. Leanne McGettigan put the icing on the cake in the last few minutes when she latched onto Aobha Harrigan’s pass and slotted the ball in the corner with a great finish.
Aoife Toye and Kiera Breslin battled hard for Illistrin when introduced and Mulroy kept battling right up to the final whistle. Frank Duff was the referee and did a great job.
Raphoe Town 5 Bonagee United 0
Goals from five different players helped Raphoe Town’s U14 girls maintain their impressive league form against a Bonagee team who battled bravely from the first whistle to the last on Friday night.
Emma Doherty in goal for Bonagee made a couple of fine stops before Raphoe took the lead in the 8th minute when Rebecca McColgan finished from close range after a corner from Amy Quigley.
Bonagee’s defence marshalled superbly by centre backs Eva Harvey and Caitlin Hume pushed back wave after wave of Raphoe attack, but the home side did manage to add to their lead just before the break when Marie Sweeney stole in to smash home from a Cody Walsh cross.
The visitors came out fighting in the second half and Raphoe goalkeeper Lakiesha McCarron had to make a couple of important stops before Cody Walsh added a third to give the home team some breathing space.
With Clodagh O’Donnell winning lots of posession for Raphoe in midfield, they pressed and pressed and Abigail Temple Asokuh popped up with a with a fourth inside the last ten minutes and Marie Sweeney’s low cross in the final few minutes set up Ella McHugh for the fifth and final goal of the evening.
Swilly Rovers 5 Gweedore United 0
Swilly started strong with their first goal coming after seven minutes, a lovely finish from Tamara Blaney who is just back from injury.
Tamara was unlucky not to score a second, her shot being well saved by Aimee Diver in the Gweedore nets.
Swilly pushed hard and were rewarded by a cracker from Heather McLaughlin on 16 minutes.
Swilly had a number of chances but the Gweedore keeper made some great saves. Just before half time Swilly scored two quick goals – Naomi Hunter and Lurana Hegarty both finding the net.
Swilly again were strong in the second half, Heather McLaughlin scoring her second.
A great team performance from the Swilly girls, with Heather McLaughlin outstanding.
Best for Gweedore was Aimee Diver.
U16 LEAGUE
Finn Valley 0 Mulroy Academy 7
This game was played in a glorious summers evening at the Valley Leisure Centre. A full-strength Mulroy Academy kicked off the game against the nine-player Finn Valley and after a long period of play Mulroy took the lead through Caoimhe Herron. Herron capitalised on a misunderstanding in the Valley defence.
Valley continued to breach Mulroy with team Captain Ellie White leading by example combining with Catherine Elliott and Ava Dunnion but were thwarted by the well organised defence led by Eimer Sweeney.
Mulroy extended their lead with a succession of attacks which the inexperienced Valley defence were exposed on several occasions and Lauren McBride (3) got to extend the Mulroy advantage.
Valley keeper Caoimhe Brennan denied Mulroy on several occasions during the first half the game.
Valley got the second half underway and continued to take the game to Mulroy with CJ Doherty working tirelessly up front.
The depleted Valley were to be exposed and the heat taking its toll Mulroy goals by Lisa Duggera (2), Caoimhe Herron and Iseult Ni Mhauthuna put the game beyond doubt as the merciless visitors put the game beyond recognition.
Swilly Rovers 0 Illistrin 1
It was an evenly-contested game at Swilly Park with Illistrin coming out on top by one goal.
The only goal of the game came from a very well taking corner that was headed in by one of the Swilly girls.
Swilly Rovers Under-16s
UNDER-12 LEAGUE
Raphoe Town 3 Lagan Harps 3
A second half-hat-trick from Orlaith Doherty ensured a shared of the spoils for Lagan Harps on Monday night in a cracking encounter at Deele College that saw the visitors come back from three goals down to snatch a share of the spoils.
Raphoe started the game well with Mollie McGroarty working hard to keep Doherty in check, but Raphoe keeper Niamh Toye was also called upon to make a couple of fine stops in the first half.
The home side always looked dangerous going forward with Samara McBrearty working extremely hard leading the line, but it was captain Ella McCarron, bursting through from midfield who broke the deadlock with a fine individual goal.
Aileen Sweeney in defence for Lagan was having a fine game and goalkeeper Amy Doherty made a couple of fine saves, but Raphoe extended their lead after a short-corner and Ella McCarron prodded home from close range with a little help from a deflection.
The industrious Samara McBrearty got the goal she deserved just before the break when she raced on to a fine pass from Alicia McCullagh before slotting into the bottom corner.
On a very warm night, Lagan found great energy in the second half and spurred on by the hard-working Tanya Gillen in midfield they were always a threat.
Raphoe did lose the influential Alicia McCullagh through injury and lost some rhythm in the second half when the closest they came to adding to their tally was a fine strike from Cara Eaton brilliantly saved by Doherty and another long-range effort from Ella McHugh.
Orlaith Doherty who battled all night for the visitors eventually got her reward when she raced clear to find the net and as the second ticked by she managed two more inside the final six minutes as Lagan turned the game around to earn themselves a share of the spoils.
A great game of football on a beautiful night was well refereed by Patrick Martin.
Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 Mulroy Academy 5
On a warm evening for football Mulroy travelled to a sunny Kilmacrennan and were three goals up within less than 10 minutes.
A first from Eva Blaney followed by a Rachel Friel shot past the Kilmac keeper – all before Kilmacrennan got out of their own half. Emma McGrenahan scored the third from a corner so it was 3-0 before the water break.
On the stroke of half time Mulroy added a fourth after some fine work on the left before the cross came in to Megan McLaughlin who connected well to send it to the back of the net.
Kilmacrennan came to life in the second half and put Mulroy under some pressure but Leah McLaughlin stood firm. With ten remaining Kilmacrennan got the goal their play deserved when Sarah McFadden played a ball over the top for Siobhan Cameron to take down and finish past the Mulroy keeper.
Not to be finished Clodagh Herron scored a cracker of a header from a corner to make it 5-1. A great display from both teams in unDonegal-like heat
Finn Valley 6 Bonagee United 1
Finn Valley U12’s hosted Bonagee Utd on one of the warmest evenings this year so far.
Both teams began the match battling hard with both keepers being tested. Sarah Conaghan was first to hit the back of the net for the home side.
Emily Boyce followed shortly after with a powerful strike off the underside of the cross bar and in.
Bonagee fought hard and kept the valley defence busy.
The home side continued to put pressure on the visiting keeper who made some outstanding saves throughout the entire game.
Amy Dorrians persistance finally paid off as there was a fumble on the Bonagee goal line and she tapped the ball in get her name on the score sheet just before the half time whistle.
Throughout the second half both teams had made some good scoring chances. Sheila McElchar and Maria Kelly held the visitors well as corner backs for the Valley side.
Leah Lawne came on as a substitute in the second half to add another goal for the home side and her first of the season.
The Bonagee side began to link up some very good passing and managed to come one back with a very relaxed finish just slipping past the Finn Valley keeper Claire Diver.
Sarah Conaghan continued to shoot from all angles and was soon rewarded with her hat-trick after a superb shot from distance that floated over the keepers head and in.
Gweedore United 8 Swilly Rovers 1
On a scorching but beautiful evening Gweedore United came out of the traps quickly against Swilly Rovers and where soon three-nil up with a hat-trick from Maryanne Ward.
Swilly came back and some fine defending from Koraleigh McFadden and excellent keeping from Nadia McGee kept Swilly out.
Gweedore United then took control and Maryanne Ward was un playable scoring another 3 goals to leave Gweedore six-nil up at half time.
Swilly Rovers came back in the second half with fine play from both Kirsten Stewart and Kaitlin Doherty and she soon pulled a goal back.
It was a very even second half until Maryanne Ward scored her seventh of the match and Feya Coyle added an eighth following an excellent pass from Maria Gallagher.
Both teams gave their all and deserve great credit in very hot conditions.
Mulroy S 0 Illistrin 7
It was a perfect night for a match in Rabs Oark in Kerrykeel. Mulroy S was very composed in the first half seeing two goals from Orla Malseed and Lucy McGeever put past goalkeeper Blathnaid McAteer. Mulroy defence was strong throughout.
The second half saw illistrin goals from Darcey Kelly score a hat trick and Leanne McGarrigle net one. Illistrin strong blanket defence were too strong for the fighting spirt of Mulroy Academy.
Kaylagh Sweeney came close but the post obstructed.
FIXTURES
Under-12 League, Wednesday May 30, 6.30pm
Illistrin v Raphoe Town
Under-14 League, Wednesday May 30, 6.30pm
Gweedore United v Lagan Harps
Under-14 League, Friday June 1, 6.30pm
Kilmacrenna Celtic v Gweedore United
Gweedore Celtic v Finn Valley
Mulroy Academy v Lagan Harps
Bonagee United v Illistrin FC
Swilly Rovers v Raphoe Town
Under-12 League, Monday, June 4, 6.30pm
Finn Valley v Illistrin
Kilmacrennan Celtic v Lagan Harps
Gweedore United v Bonagee United
Swilly Rovers v Mulroy Academy
Mulroy S v Raphoe Town
Under-14 League, Tuesday June 5, 6.30pm
Lagan Harps v Gweedore United
