Our Senior Ladies got their Club Players League off to a winning start after a great battle with Derrygonnelly A team on a sun drenched Sunday morning at MacNean Park. The O’Rahilly’s 4-8 to 3-6 winners.
The contest took no time at all to ignite despite a 10am throw in, Belcoo had recorded the opening point of the game inside 90seconds and it was a fine score. Siofra McAloon turned over a Harps attack in the right corner back spot and the ball was worked down that side through Crona Higgins, Mikayla Maguire and Sinead Barrett following swift transitions before Sam Martin took up the ball and split the posts from the edge of the D.
Derrygonnelly responded through Bronagh Duffy on 3minutes but from the resulting kickout Belcoo had tip toed into the lead again. Riona Keaney found Scarlett O’Connor on the left with the restart, O’Connor made ground, found Sam Martin on the 45 and Martin drove forward to fire over a second well taken point from distance. The lead was short lived, Derrygonnelly came forward with an overloaded attack, the ball was fed through to Shauna Elliott and she ran in and fired to the net.
The frantic start had Derrygonnelly 1-1 to 0-2 to the good with 5minutes played. The next score of the game didn’t arrive until the 22nd minute. Things began to tighten, the two sides matched other well, some good defending, some errant final balls preventing shots when in promising positions. The game also halted for a period of time after a nasty neck injury of Ciana McGrath who had to be withdrawn, we hope to see her back soon.
Riona Keaney had swept up from the defense well, Michelle Cullen was getting through a mountain of work while Rhianne McGuinness was having a great battle with Elliott on the left wing. Belcoo made a few positional tweaks to their attack and they had a profitable period in front of goal coming to half time.
Derrygonnelly initially extended their lead with a Bronagh Duffy point but Belcoo would hit 2-4 in a 5minute spell. Michelle Cullen blocked a clearance from the visitors, won a free, took it quickly to Eve Barrett who fed the supporting Scarlett O’Connor and she fired over. A somewhat fortunate goal followed as Mikayla Maguire’s dipping free kick found the net. Sinead Barrett won the next kickout and fed O’Connor who drilled over her second point before O’Connor and it three in as many minutes when Michelle Cullen supplied a fine pass to create the opening. Belcoo now 1-5 to 1-2 ahead.
The O’Rahilly’s were flowing well and the best move of the game happened on 28minutes down the right side, the ball was worked to O’Connor 50yards out, she made her way forward and played a superb crossfield ball into the path of Sam Martin who hadn’t to break stride, she gathered, ran through and tucked the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
On the stroke of half time Belcoo goalkeeper Riona Keaney was forced into a fabulous save, tipping a strong shot onto the crossbar and gathering the rebound. That kept Belcoo 6up at half time and would prove to be a vital stop. Half time Belcoo 2-5 v 1-2 Derrygonnelly.
Belcoo began the second half well. Michelle Cullen continued to lead excellently and following some good passes through the hands she arrowed over a brilliant point. The Harps replied with two before Mikayla Maguire clipped over a close range free kick on 38minutes, 2-7 to 1-4.
Remarkably the next 4 scores in this fixture were 4 goals. Three of these coming in the space of 3minutes. Lynn Carroll’s first act off the Derrygonnelly bench was to rifle a powerful shot to the roof of the net. Belcoo though worked their way back up the field for a brace of three pointers.
Cara Gray made a great tackle on her own 14 yard line, the ball was worked down the left with Sinead and Eve Barrett combining on a few occasions before Scarlett O’Connor took possession and found Aine Barrett close to goal, Barrett swiveled and found the net via the inside of the post.
Another powerful piece of play by Michelle Cullen helped create the next Belcoo goal, combining with Sinead Barrett they sucked a few defenders to them allowing Eve Barrett to duke in over the top and when she was sent through one on one with the keeper she tucked the ball low into the net.
Derrygonnelly weren’t done and on 51minutes Shauna Elliott bagged her sides third goal and quickly knocked over a point to leave it 4-7 to 3-5 with 8minutes to play. Dearbhla Jones cut the deficit to 4points and at this juncture Belcoo were under pressure to secure primary possession from the restarts. Some good defending from Crona Higgins, Cara Gray and Siofra McAloon thwarted the visiting attackers.
The O’Rahilly’s managed to prevent Derrygonnelly registering a score in the last 6minutes while they broke upfield after Crona Higgins picked up a breaking ball and fed it forward to Sam Martin, she picked out Eve Barrett who split the posts. Final Score Belcoo 4-8 v 3-6 Derrygonnelly.
It was a great opening game to the new season for our Ladies who were without a number of players. The Competition for places is very healthy within the squad and after a very productive pre season campaign, they made a winning start to the year. Up next they travel to Irvinestown for a 7.15pm throw in on Friday night in Round 2 of the Club Players League.
(13 a side): Riona Keaney, Ciara McGuinness, Siofra McAloon, Rhianne McGuinness, Ciana McGrath, Crona Higgins, Cara Gray, Michelle Cullen (0-1), Sam Martin (1-2), Scarlett O’Connor (0-3), Mikayla Maguire (1-1), Sinead Barrett, Eve Barrett (1-1). Used Substitutes Stacey McCabe, Aine Barrett (1-0), Eimear Gray. Unused Rachel Nolan, Abbie McGovern.
