Our U12A girls were up against fierce strong opposition away to a very fancied Cregmore side in the SFAI Trophy early on Sunday morning. They got off to a bad start when an OG deflected off one of our players. Cregmore’s superiority & physicality showed as they were 3-0 up at the break. Colemanstown’s best chance of the half fell to Sorcha Nic an Iomaire after Ciara Somers squared the ball across the box. The score might have been much more only for some fine stops from Lily Burke in goals. Laoise Naughton did well in defence breaking up many Cregmore attacks. Cregmore added to their scoring tally in the 2nd half but there were a number of positive signs from the Colemanstown youngsters. They never dropped their heads & kept plugging away despite their backs being to the wall while the fresh combination of Laura Hayes & Kayla Maloney helped a lot. Cregmore went on to win comfortably and advance to the next round of the SFAI Trophy competition.
Squad: Lily Burke, Lauryn Murphy, Amy Morrissey, Laoise Naughton, Siana O’Grady, Niamh Lally, Ciara Somers, Sorcha Nic an Iomaire, Ava Forde, Laura Hayes, Kayla Maloney.
Our U12B Girls also found the going tough away to Kinvara also on Sunday morning eventually losing out 3-0 but again many positives to be taken, most notably our B team with some very young players vs. Kinvara first team squad.
Our U14 Girls also found the going tough at home to Kilshanvey on Sunday morn. It was a close first half with both sides giving their all. The visitors goaled within 5mins but Colemanstown battled hard to get back in the game. They were rewarded on 20mins with a great individual goal from Chloe Flynn who executed a top class finish into the top corner. Kilshanvey scored again before the break putting Colemanstown under pressure once more. The 2nd half saw Kilshanvey up the tempo. Despite the best efforts of Lily Kirby & Chloe Flynn they were unable to find the net. The next goal would be decisive and it arrived 10mins after the restart when Kilshanvey scored their 3rd making it an uphill battle for the Colemanstown girls. They added a 4th 10mins before the end, ensuring no way back for the fighting Colemanstown contingent. Final score: Colemanstown 1 – 4 Kilshanvey
Our U16 Girls had their first game of the weekend away to Yeats United in the Irish Trophy. The Girls made the 2 hour journey to Carney Village and were excited to get out there. The game started in a high intensity with both sides showing fantastic footwork and skill. Our girls were unlucky not to capitalise early on but the Yeats keeper was in top form from the start. Our backline of Aisling Ruane, Chloe Manley, Lucy Roberts and Annalise Doran worked tirelessly but were unlucky to concede 3 phenomenal goals in the first half when Yeats no.7 shot from the edge of the box and struck them to the top corners. Fantastic goals that no keeper could even get a hand to.
Our girls regrouped at half time and with a bit of reformation and changed team layout, they went out ready for a comeback, and that’s exactly what they did. With Lucy Roberts now in attack the girls were continually attacking the opposition goals and with the help of Libby Kennedy, Grace Mitchell and Lillie Kirby the girls constantly tested the keeper. On 59mins the Colemanstown girls grabbed their first as Lillie Kirby set up a perfect ball to Lucy Roberts who powered it to the back of the net to make it 3-1. Goals breed confidence and the girls were on a high, constantly took shots at goal only for them to hit the post or see the ball scooped off the line. On 64 mins Colemanstown clawed back a 2nd. Libby Kennedys cross found Grace Mitchell who volleyed to the net to make it 3-2. Colemanstown kept pushing for the all elusive equaliser but I think we managed to hit every part of the post in those dying minutes. Then on the 74th minute Yeats broke against the run of play and grabbed another to make it 4-2 and in the last play of the game they made it 5-2. Despite the loss, it was a fantastic effort by the girls who showcased along with Yeats the fantastic football in Ireland. POTM Annalise Doran
Scorers: Lucy Roberts, Grace Mitchell. Match report by Laura Parker
The same U16 Girls lined out for their second game of the weekend with a home game v Loughrea Rams. The girls started strong and with 2 mins on the clock a lovely through ball from Lucy Roberts landed to Libby Kennedy who made no mistake in slotting home the opener. The girls maintained the pressure with shot after shot being stopped by an in-form Loughrea keeper. After a solid clearance by Loughrea, Annalise Doran was quick to grab the ball and did her trademark Megan Campbell style throw-in and set up a perfect ball for Lucy Roberts who made it 2-0 on 9mins. Loughrea didnt give in and grabbed back 2 goals against the run of play to equalise. 17 minutes played and it was already 2-2! We knew this was going to be a goal fest. The Colemanstown girls kept plugging away. Following fantastic workrate by Grace Mitchell and Laoise Maybin on the wings, a lovely ball was sent through to Lucy Roberts who once again set up Libby Kennedy to make it 3-2. The girls didnt stop there as Shona Barrett worked tirelessly in the middle of the field tidying up any loose balls. The defence line of Aoife Laffey, Chloe Manley and Annalise Doran stayed secure throughout the 1st half and ensured Aoife Hynes in goal had a quiet first half. The girls kept the attack moving and a lovely timed through ball from Lucy Roberts set up Grace Mitchell to make it 4-2. Clodagh Flynn worked tirelessly in attack and was unlucky not to get herself on the scoreline at the half hour mark. The girls kept digging and just on 40 mins, Laoise Maybin crossed in a great ball for Lucy Roberts to make it 5-2 at the break.
The Colemanstown girls continued the 2nd half in the sane vein with attack after attack but their efforts just drifted wide or hit the upright. Megan Gooney worked hard to win the ball and was unlucky when her attempt on goal was cleared by the defence. Lucy Roberts was unlucky after she superbly took down a kick out and struck on the volley only to see her effort saved. Honor Tuohy worked hard in the middle of the park clearing up any loose balls and gave some brilliant through balls to her striker Nicole Brennan who set up some lovely chances but was unlucky not to convert. Loughrea weren’t giving up just yet & in and in a 1-on-1 moment, Aoife Hynes made a superb save but the Loughrea player was quick to the rebound. Loughrea then went on the attack again and made it 5-4. The Colemanstown girls dug deep and a fantastic passage of play saw Anna Barrett place an inch perfect ball to Libby Kennedy who made it 6-4 and in doing so, grabbed herself a hattrick on the day. The girls didnt stop there though. They were extremely unlucky with shot after shot just edging wide of the goal. The girls deservedly the 3 points after a busy weekend for the team. Scorers: Lucy Roberts x2, Libby Kennedy x3, Grace Mitchell. POTM Shona Barrett. Match report by Laura Parker