Women go in search of soccer glory as new season starts
There were no shortages of goals as teams racked up big scores as the new North East Football League Women's Section got underway this week.
In the Premier Div on Monday night Kentstown Rovers certainly got off on the right foot when they defeated Parkvilla 2-1 while in the other games in that division Bellurgan and Quay Celtic drew 2-2 while Kingscourt defeated Rossin Rovers 3-0.
In Div 1 Torro Utd showed the defensive fortitude and the attacking skills to get the better of Ardee, 2-0.
Another Meath side who made the perfect start to the season was Duleek. They went on a goal-rush against Drogheda Town winning on a highly impressive 9-0 scoreline.
However, Skryne/Tara found the going tough against Albion and were defeated 2-7.
MATCH REPORTS
Womens League Division 1
Ardee v Torro
Ardee 0
Torro 2
Yvonne Brady
The Torro girls arrived in Ardee with only 10 players due to Covid hitting the camp that morning. They played with the very stiff wind in the first half, and it certainly helped with the flight of the ball.
The Navan girls went 1-0 up in the 9th minute when captain Jen Byrne expertly used the wind to score directly from a left corner to send the ball in to the 'keeper’s top right hand side.
On the 18th minute mark, Torro were down to nine players. Anne Marie King, who valiantly played with a hamstring strain, finally gave into the pain and had to come off. This made things very tough for the girls, and lesser teams would have capitulated, but not these ladies.
They played out of their skin, under increasing pressure from a very young but enthusiastic Ardee side, who pushed and pushed for the equaliser. At one stage, with 10 mins to go, the Louth side had four-up front, but the Torro defence held strong. The back four of Cat Butler, Roisin Cullen, Hannah Scannell and Sophie McGuckian worked tirelessly to keep Ardee out.
In the 92nd minute, Roisin Cullen took possession of the ball in her centre back role, and the young vice captain went on a mazy run that brought her out to the right hand side, beating five players as she went. She then drilled a low cross towards goal which was initially well saved by the Ardee 'keeper, but the save pushed the ball in the path of the oncoming Shannon Conneely, who slotted it away neatly.
Highly entertaining game for the neutral, who would probably say that the Navan girls deserved the win, purely for their heroics and their support for each other on the grass.
There were super performances right across the pitch. Joint managers’ 'Player of the Game' went to Hannah Scannell, but in truth it could have been any of the heroic nine. Hannah Scannell shaded the decision due to her immense strength in tackles, her speed in defending and her ability to turn defence into attack. The referee also name Hannah as POTG.
Best wishes to Ardee for the season – a young well organised team.
Next up for Torro is away to Albion next Monday the 11th April.
Drogheda Town 1 Duleek AFC 9
On what was sure to be a nervous first night for all involved, Duleek could not have dreamed of a better debut appearance in the NEFL Women's Division 1 with Megan de Souza Wearen netting four goals.
Four-nil up inside 25 minutes, the hosts pulled one back, only for Duleek to hit the net again before the break, 5-1.First half goals from Laura and Gemma Rock, Shauna Leech and two from skipper Megan de Souza Wearen.
Drogheda Town were unlucky to concede an own goal early in the second half. Duleek added another three second-half goals - de Souza Wearen with another brace, and Laura Rock adding her second with just minutes remaining.