Colemanstown’s ladies got off to an exciting start to their campaign on Thursday evening away to Tuam Celtic. The girls played their first league game of the season and did they do it in style! If you were a neutral supporter you would probably have thought that Colemanstown were the home team. The crowd and support for the girls was brilliant as they anticipate similar support for their next game, home to Moyne Villa on Sunday next April 14th. It was a nervous time for both management and players, not having fielded a ladies team in the Galway FA for the past 12 years but the girls got off to a dream start. On 5mins the ball broke nicely to our centre back Orla McCaffrey just inside Tuam Celtic’s half and she cleanly struck the ball as the crowd watched it float over the keeper’s head to hit the back of the net. This was hugely important and settled the nerves nicely. Shauna Ward was unlucky with an effort from a cross whipped in from the right wing by Tessa Mullins, but was well saved by the keeper. Colemanstown had all of the possession, with most of the play in the opposition’s half and after 15mins the second goal fell to Tessa Mullins, assisted by full-back Eavan McDonagh, her threaded through ball found Mullins who turned quickly and found herself just inside Tuam’s 18 yard box. From there, all that was on her mind was to shoot and she did it with some decorum into the top right hand corner of the net. Aisling Kelly was causing havoc out on the right wing and after an astute switch to up front, it was only a matter of time before she got on the score sheet. Assisted by Mullins, Kelly raced into the box and she coolly slotted the ball across the keeper into the left side of the goal. Colemanstown went into the break smiling and 3 nil up. As the second half got under way, the ladies were itching for more goals. Captain Paula Kelly led from the back along with goalkeeper Sinead Cosgrave who was never short with words of encouragement. Aoife Reilly in centre mid did the dog work of harrying and hassling and wingers Shauna Ward and Catherine Burke led Tuam Celtic to a merry-dance, tormenting their full backs. The 4th goal came when striker Aisling Kelly intercepted Tuam’s goal kick and with no mistake she blasted the ball past the keeper to put Colemanstown up 4 goals to nil. ‘Dazzler’ Trish Kelly made a great impact coming off the bench and she too was unfortunate not to bag herself a goal. There was great confusion about Colemanstown’s 5th goal but over a few pints after the game in Burkes, the ladies unanimously came to the conclusion that it was in fact an own goal aided by the on-rushing Catherine Burke. So the long awaited 1st game is over for now, these ladies are quietly known as the ‘silent assasins’ as they continue to train & progess under the stewardship of manager Kara Mullins assisted by Conor Jackson. Who knows what plans and tactics they have up their sleeve.
Squad: S. Cosgrave, E. McDonagh, P.Kelly, O. McCaffery (1), N.Ryan, S. Ward, A.Reilly, T. Mullins (1), A. Kelly (2), C. Burke (0.5), N. Finn. Substitutions: T. Kelly for N. Finn, C. McMenamy for E. McDonagh, G. Casserly for A. Reilly.