Here are all of the results and match report’s from this week’s Donegal Women’s League football action.
Under 12
Group 1
Letterkenny Rovers 2 – 5 Ballyraine Harps
Illistrin 4 – 0 Bonagee United
Illistrin controlled the game and ran out 4 nill winners. All 4 goals scored by Éabha McKinney.
Group 3
Finn Valley WFC 5 – 1 Drumkeen United
On Monday night Finn Valley WFC U12s travelled to Drumkeen Utd for a changed fixture. Finn Valley got off to a great start with Ríona Mc Intyre scoring early on. Drumkeen then settled into the game and held their own before Mia Gallagher grabbed a second for Finn Valley before half time. The second half was still well contested before Finn Valley netted a few more times through Islagh Patton, Aoife Mc Laughlin and Samara Mc Glinchey. Drumkeen then scored from a well taken penalty. Thanks to Orlaith and Drumkeen Utd for the match and good luck to their girls for the rest of the season.
Kildrum Tigers 0- 2 Convoy Arsenal
Kildrum welcomed Convoy Arsenal to station road this evening for what was to be a very entertaining game of football. Convoy came out strong and were quick on the score sheet with a great goal by Aoibheann Greene after 2 and a half minutes. It was end to end football and both teams enjoyed excellent spells in possession. 20 minutes in and Molly Toland for Kildrum broke through the convoy defence and got a shot away only for Convoys keeper to make a great save. Keeping the score at 0-1 going into half time. Few changes were made at half time and both teams came out strong. Convoy were quick off the mark again only to hit the post 4 minutes into the second half. Convoy were awarded a free kick and with a well stuck effort, Kildrum’s Alana Hannigan made the save to keep the score at 0-1. Áine Bovaird was quick on the attack for Kildrum with a great run and strike only to see her effort flash past the post. Convoy quickly took advantage of a lapse in Kildrum’s defence and Lucy Munn found the back of Kildrums net to make the score 0-2 bringing it to full time. A great entertaining evening of football with two well matched sides and a great team effort by both teams. Referee was Patrick Martin.
Group 5
Swilly Rovers 0 – 4 Kilmacrennan Celtic
Mulroy Academy 5 – 3 Milford United
Group 6
Ballyraine Celtic – Letterkenny Rovers (Ballyraine win)
Cappry Rovers B 3 – 2 Drumbar United B
Cappry u12 B girls welcomed Drumbar Utd to riverside park this evening. A very tough first half ended with Drumbar leading 2 -0. In the second half the girls came to life and had some great performances with Abbi Lyons scoring 2 and Emiy McBride scoring 1. Thanks to Drumbar Utd for a very hard-fought match and to the referee Oisín Toye.
Finn Valley B 5 – 0 Gweedore United
A strong first half performance from Finn Valley ensured the points against an ever-improving Gweedore United in Stranorlar on Wednesday evening. Saoirse McMenamin got things off to a perfect start for the home side with a well taken finish and added a second minutes later with a fine individual effort. As the visitors poured forward looking to get back into the game Finn Valley caught them on the break and a fine ball from Hannah May Browne put McMenamin in for her hat trick. Browne managed to grab a fourth with a tidy finish just before the break. The second half was a much closer affair with Gweedore getting stronger as the game wore on. However, Saoirse McMenamin completed a superb individual display with a late goal following a good save from the visitors’ keeper.
Under 12 Friendlies
Glenree 2 – 0 Lagan Harps
Glenree entertained Lagan Harps in the return game in the Donegal Women’s League. Lagan started the game better and Abbie in the Glenree goal made an excellent save with her feet. Glenree had the wind the first half but were finding it difficult to create chances. The opening goal arrived on the stroke of half time with Erin Coyle releasing Eilis who finished well past the Lagan goalkeeper. Half time score was Glenree United 1 Lagan Harps 0. Glenree started the second playing against the breeze and were creating chances. Eilis brought two great saves out of the Lagan keeper who was excellent all evening. Aoife had an in-swinging corner that the keeper also did well in saving. On the break Lagan with some great passing nearly equalised but Abbie was alert and made a great save. With five minutes left Eilis broke down the right and squared the ball into Erin Caldwell. Erin took a touch and finished low past the keeper. This was an excellent game of football between two very evenly matched teams.
Donegal Town 0 – 3 Cappry Rovers
Cappry came out top in the third meeting between these sides this season on a 3-0 scoreline, it was a very tight first half with Cappry scoring a penalty to go in 1 up. Early in the second half Cappry scored a second after a good move down the left wing, Donegal had a few chances to get back into game but couldn’t convert and Cappry scored a third to run out convincing winners on the night. Well done to both teams on a great game.
Drumbar United 5 – 1 Raphoe Town
Dunfanaghy Youths 3 – 2 Gweedore Celtic
Callum Friel Park was the venue for the friendly match between Dunfanaghy Youths Girls u-12 against Gweedore Celtic. Although the game was a friendly both teams played a competitive game. Dunfanaghy were awarded a penalty in the 27th minute when Robyn Collett was taken down inside the Gweedore box. Emily Black for Dunfanaghy slotted the ball to the back of the net with a well taken confident penalty which the keeper was unable to save. Black scored again on the 29th minute to give Dunfanaghy their second goal within minutes. Dunfanaghy Youths keeper Roisin Browne made her debut on the night and gave a standout performance making some fine saves on the night. Gweedore were 2-0 down at half time but came back energised after the break. Their number 10 Nell Nic Grianna scored a goal at 47 minutes to bring the score to 2-1. Dunfanaghy Youths forward Emily Black was in fine form and secured her hat trick at 59 minutes with a confidently slotted goal. Gweedore were given a penalty towards the end of the match which was confidently taken by Nell Nic Grianna to make the score 3-2. Overall, a fine performance from players on both sides with the home team putting in a well-rounded team performance.
Keadue Rovers 3 – 2 Letterbarrow Celtic Youths
Keadue Rovers u12 girls played out a very entertaining game with Letterbarrow Celtic on Tuesday evening. A frantic start saw both keepers called into action early on and they produced a few outstanding saves. Keadue had a breeze with them and Letterbarrow began to struggle to get out against it and with Keadue beginning to exert some pressure, an excellent move saw Fia Ham smash the ball into the net to give Keadue the lead with a brilliant finish on minutes. Letterbarrow went on the attack right away and forced a corner which they took short, and Orla Maguire showed some terrific footwork to beat the Keadue defence and blast the ball into the top corner from a very tight angle for a tremendous goal. On 18 minutes Letterbarrow hit the front when McGinty finished at the back post after Robyn Duffy had made a brilliant initial save. The rest of the half was very open with good attacking play from both sides. Keadue made 8 changes at half time and almost immediately got back into the game when an outstanding move saw Lena O Donnell shoot just wide. Keadue were level on 36 minutes when Shauna McGovern hit the net after being brilliantly set up by Lena O Donnell. Keadue had numerous chances which Gough in the visitor’s goal expertly dealt with. On 48 minutes Keadue took the lead when Lena O Donnell with some fine wing play set up Ayva Boyle who coolly finished giving the keeper no chance. Keadue hit the post on 2 further occasions and Letterbarrow done well to defend a number of corners to ensure there was no more scoring. Game was well reffed by Con Mclaughlin.
Under 14
Group 1
Ballyraine 1 – 3 Lagan Harps
Lagan Harps took all three points against Ballyraine at Orchard Grove. Ballyraine took the lead when Grace McGlynn hit a half-volley from 45 yards over the Lagan keeper. Lagan rallied and could have equalised when Abi Nesbitt broke free but couldn’t find the target with her shot. However, they had the ball in the net on 24 minutes when Sinead McLaughlin scored with a well struck shot. Lagan took the lead early in the second half with a goal from Mikeala Breen and that seemed to waken up Ballyraine. They pressed Lagan for an equaliser with both Jessica Byrne and Eadaoin Kennedy hitting the woodwork. Ballyraine peppered the Lagan goal with shots but just couldn’t find a way past Ciara Cullen in goals. With 10 minutes left on the clock Abi Nesbit raced clear and scored a great counter-attacking goal past Aine McDaid in the Ballyraine goal. Ballyraine continued to look for a goal, but the night belonged to a very well organised and hard-working Lagan Harps.
Group 2
St Catherine’s 4 – 1 Finn Valley
Under 16
Group 2
Convoy Arsenal 4 – 4 St. Catherine’s
A slight change to match day for the U16 girls’ teams from the usual Wednesday to Sunday and a big thanks to St. Catherine’s for accommodating, from a seriously waterlogged pitch for our first game against this team which many would say should never have been played to a dry Orchard Park. St Catherine’s came out really quickly and buried the ball in the back of the net within the first minute, a wakeup call the Convoy Arsenal girls needed. Jenna Doherty got the Convoy girls back level after 9 minutes. Unfortunately, the Convoy keeper Rihea took a boot to the face a minute later and had to come off the pitch. No sub keeper meant the home team were at an instant disadvantage. Thankfully Amy Doonan stepped up for her team and put on the goalie gloves. St Catherine’s came so hard and tough as it is to say the majority of the next 40 minutes were played in the Convoy quarter. Plenty of good saves made, however plenty of goals scored against Convoy too. St Catherine’s were 4-1 up with 15 minutes to go. The Convoy keeper Rihea was ready to step back in again and unleash the Amy Doonan meant a change to the game. All girls were now back on form and in their rightful place, balls being played forward by Tammy Porter, April Patton and Leah Doonan down the left wing and the outstanding Jenna getting on the end of them. If ever there was a lesson for this Convoy team that they need to play their positions it was today. From 4-1 behind with 15 minutes to go Convoy Arsenal drew level and that’s the way the game ended. Well done girls, a young group and only the first year for U16 team, they show grit and determination every time they take the pitch. A massive well done to Amy and Jenna who came straight from a morning of County training for next week’s Gaynor Cup tournament to help their team out.
Cappry Rovers 0 – 4 Finn Valley Ladies
Cappry welcomed neighbours Finn Valley to the riverside field on Wednesday evening. The away side started the brighter and dominated the early exchanges. Rachel Harron broke the deadlock for Finn Valley when she finished home after a brilliant team move involving passes from Brooke Byrne and Ella Udokau. Brooke Byrne broke past the Cappry defence and slotted the second. Finn Valley struck again before half time through Nicole Kelly when her spontaneous effort flew into the roof of the net. Cappry to their credit didn’t drop their heads with Hannah McGowan making a number of half chances as Cappry were denied by a strong defensive performance by Finn Valley. Rachel Harron got her second to seal the win when her strike riffled into the bottom corner. Team performance from both sides but Finn Valley deserving winners in the end.
Senior Ladies
letterkenny Rovers 1-3 Bonagee United
Bonagee Utd continued where they left off last season, with Nataile McFadden scoring two quick goals on 32 and 36 Mins. Mia Devenney was taken down in the box on 43mins which Ciara McGarvey converting from the penalty spot. Catherine Grier scored a free kick on 86mins to secure the victory for Bonagee.