Our Senior Ladies maintained their 100% winning start to the new season following a 1-18 to 1-6 win in Irvinestown on Friday evening. The O’Rahilly’s accepting the change of date to suit the home side. Irvinestown to their credit never stopped working for the hour but in truth they never looked like causing an upset. Belcoo producing a much cleaner and slicker second half to push well clear by the final whistle.
The hosts only led the once and it was from a first minute point. By the 10th minute Belcoo had registered four in a row. Sam Martin opened the O’Rahilly’s account after Sinead and Eve Barrett combined from a sideline ball, Martin fastened onto possession just inside the D and split the posts. Stacey McCabe done well to recycle possession 6minutes in to find Michelle Cullen who gave her side the lead while Siofra McAloon was out in front in the defensive end to cut out an Irvinestown attack, the ball from was swiftly shifted from McAloon to Cullen and onto Cara Gray who stormed forward and kicked a long range point.
The O’Rahilly’s won a free 35yards out and Mikayla Maguire played a great ball to the left for Michelle Cullen who gathered it first time and fired over the bar. The O’Rahilly’s were on top but began to miss the target. They failed to convert any of their opportunites in the next 8minutes of play. Irvinestown by this stage had registered twice to leave it 0-4 to 0-3 in Belcoo’s favour with 18minutes played.
Sinead Barrett ended the drought with a well taken point before she netted Belcoo’s only goal. Sam Martin, Scarlett O’Connor and Eve Barrett were involved in the build up before Sinead Barrett stepped through the home defence and fired to the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Defensively Leona McNulty was making some fine turnovers as Irvinestown started to come forward with more regularity. Eve Barrett would register a point after another Siofra McAloon interception, Cara Gray taking up the ball and picking out Barrett. Chances still went abegging as the game drew close to half time. The final two scores, an Irvinestown free from Caitlin Grainger and a Scarlett O’Connor point for the visitors. Half time Irvinestown 0-4 v 1-7 Belcoo.
Mikayla Maguire kicked the opening score of the second half before Irvinestown quickly rattled in a goal and point. Sorcha Malone catching a high ball and turning sharply to fire to the net while Grainger slotted another free. 1-5 v 1-8 with 37minutes played.
Belcoo however cleaned up their act, lifted the pace of the game while doing the simpler thing much more affectively. They began stringing together some neat exchanges and cut through for some well taken scores. The last 23minutes seen Belcoo outscore their opponents 10 points to one.
Five difference scorers kicked the next five scores, Eve Barrett, Sam Martin, Sinead Barrett, Cara Gray and Mikayla Maguire all finding the target. Irvinestown’s Ciara McDermott stemmed the flow momentarily but by the end Belcoo had five more point kicked, Maguire (2), Sinead Barrett, Cullen and Gray.
The Irvinestown goalkeeper did make two fine saves, one from Sam Martin, the other from Sinead Barrett when two incisive Belcoo attacks had created the openings. All in all it was job done, park it and move on. Tougher assignments lie ahead. Belcoo host Derrygonnelly on Sunday 8th May. Training continues Monday at 7pm.
(15 a side): Riona Keaney, Ciara McGuinness, Siofra McAloon, Rhianne McGuinness, Kelly Connolly, Leona McNulty, Crona Higgins, Cara Gray (0-3), Michelle Cullen (0-3), Eve Barrett (0-2), Sinead Barrett (1-3), Sam Martin (0-2), Scarlett O’Connor (0-1), Stacey McCabe, Mikayla Maguire (0-4). Subs Used: Aine Barrett, Eimear Gray.
