Senior Ladies’ League

Donaghmore Ashbourne Vs Boardsmill A

Venue: Killegland West

Date: 10 March ‘09

Time: 8:00 PM

Referee: Michael Ryan

HT Donaghmore/Ashbourne 3-8 Boardsmill 2-3

FT Donaghmore/Ashbourne 3-17 Boardsmill 2-7

Team:

Ciara Dixon, Aine Ni Mealoid, Karen Menton, Aoife O’ Rourke, Grainne Field, Michelle Johnson, Catriona O’ Shaughnessy(1,9) , Maire O’ Shaughnessy (0,1), Eva Mc Neilis, Mary-Kate Benville, Jenny Moran, Hayley Lawton (2,5), Sorcha Murtagh, Kyna O’ Connor (0,1), Alison Fitzgerald. Subs Hayley Jenkinson, Sarah Mc Evoy, Aideen Kenny, Ailish Moran

The Senior Ladies got their league campaign off to a flying start against Boardsmill on Tuesday evening. Mark and Stephen shuffled personnel a bit, with Ciara in goal and Ali playing outfield.

Eva won the ball from the throw in, with Kyna scoring our first point inside the first few minutes. The ball was no sooner kicked out, but it was right back in again, with Catriona putting her first score on the board. This time, the ball made it to the half- way line before Mary – Kate, Eva, and Kyna combined to get the ball to Hayley, which inevitably resulted in a score, the first goal of the evening. For the first fifteen minutes, the match was a full-frontal assault on the Boardsmill goal, with another point and a goal for Hayley, with three further points for Catriona and one for Jenny. Ali had the ball in the back of the net for us, but unfortunately it was disallowed for a square ball.

We started to lag slightly at this stage of the game. Boardsmill gained possession and scored 1 goal and two points in quick succession, the ball staying firmly in our half. Action moved to the opposition goal, where Catriona logged another point, before Boardsmill worked the ball forward, harrying our defence, and a resulting free ended in a goal. The Donash Ladies rallied, with another point from Catriona, but we lost possession and conceded another point, before Catriona retaliated by putting the ball over yet again. The final score of the first half was a goal from Catriona, after a superb through ball from Jenny.

We started well in the second half, keeping up the regained momentum from the end of the first. Hayley got the first point of the second half, the next coming from a dual run between Catriona and Mary-Kate. Ailish came on for Ali, and then another point for Catriona before Boardsmill recorded their first score of the half. Maire had been working the ball upfield all evening, providing great ball in, but a magnificent solo run was topped off by a well-taken point. Jenny and Hayley combined in a great catch and pass move, resulting in another Hayley point. Boardsmill battled to get the ball, and were moderately successful as they scored 2 points in a very short space of time, before Aideen came on for Sorcha, and Boardsmill scored what was to be their last point. After another point for Hayley, the ball reached our defence and was moved back up by Catriona, a solo run which ended in a very accurate long-distance point. Hayley scored a further point, before Hayley Jenkinson replaced Jenny, and Catriona rounded off her evening with a final point. One of the last actions of the evening was an Aine save off the line.

The scoreline says it all for our attack as well as our midfielders’ ability to get the ball up to the opposition goal as well as scoring themselves .Our defensive players deserve kudos for their ability to be in the right place at the right time, and going to the ball rather than waiting for it. The girls are becoming a very strong defensive unit.

The final score was 3-17 to 2-7 to Donash Ladies.