Tough Battle for U14 Ladies
An away trip to league leaders and unbeaten St.John’s of Drumnaquoile was always going to prove to be a stern test for the U14 girls and so it proved. On a very warm Wednesday evening last week the blue visitors started quickly and attacked straight from the throw in. Following direct play and a bit of a goal mouth scramble, Emma Ryan was on hand to finish for the opening goal.
Despite this early set back, St.John’s were far from rattled. As the first half progressed, the home team started to get into their stride and hit 2 goals and 3 points without reply. The wave of St.John’s attacking was briefly halted, allowing Erin Carr to finish nicely for the Blue’s second score. Shortly afterwards, Cliodhna Martin got the visitors’ first point of the encounter. Further pressure from St.John’s saw a flurry of scores before the half time break, the home side sitting with a comfortable lead.
The second half was of a more competitive nature than the first, despite the Blues only managing a single score, a goal courtesy of Cliodhna Martin, following a strong run. St.John’s continued to take their scores on a regular basis, but were made to work hard by the Warrenpoint ladies, who were in no mind to take it lying down. Despite the final score line, it was a promising performance by the ladies from Warrenpoint and they left with their heads held high. Final score 9-15 to 3-1, in favour of St.John’s.
Deserved Success for U14 Ladies!
Following three away matches in a row, the Warrenpoint U14 ladies were back on familiar territory earlier this week to welcome the visit of Glenn. Having not faced Glenn before, it was a bit of a leap into the unknown, but examination of their recent results pointed to them being a strong outfit.
The home side were the first to attack, but the attempted score was sent wide. Glenn then started to apply pressure and had a couple of “sighters” at the posts, before taking the first score of the match with a point. It wasn’t long before the Blues hit back, with a point from Lauren Quinn, to level the scores. A period of sustained pressure then followed from Warrenpoint, but despite a number of shots, it was only the wides count that increased. Against the run of play, Glenn got their noses in front again, with another point. This was soon answered with both Cliodhna Martin and Erin Carr taking points, but soon after the visitors took back to back scores. Everything was pointing towards a very tight encounter.
The first goal of the game came via a superbly worked 45 routine. Lauren Quinn passing into Sydney Barnett, who popped the ball back to Lauren running in, whose shot nestled nicely into the top corner of the goal. The home side really had their tails up now and continued to push. Lauren Quinn was causing the visitors defence all sorts of problems with her direct runs and eventually drew a free. Taking it herself, she delighted the vocal home support by disturbing the visitor’s net, with the Blue’s second goal. Despite a point for Glenn just before half time, the home team went into the break with a moral boosting lead.
During the first half, Glenn showed they were not a side to be taken lightly, a fact the Warrenpoint girls were reminded of at half-time. The first half display was excellent by the home side, the second half display had to match it.
Following the turnaround, it was the visitors who started the stronger with four efforts at the posts, resulting in a couple of points. Any possible home nerves were settled slightly when Erin Carr got the Blue’s first score of the second half, with a goal, after some good work down the right wing. Warrenpoint continued to press, with Katie Carvill, Lillie McClorey, Lauren Breen and Lauren Quinn all surging forwards from half back and midfield, at any opportunity. Another point from Cliodhna Martin seemed to have put the home team in a comfortable position, but as the ladies have discovered in the past, no team is beaten until the final whistle.
Following a strong midfield run, Glenn rustled the Warrenpoint net, with their first goal of the game. This was then followed by two points and a further goal, all unanswered, to put the visitors into the lead for the first time since the second minute of the game. Sensing that victory was theirs for the taking, Glenn pilled on the pressure, looking to extend their now 3 point advantage. The back three of Keelia Mulligan, Aimee Kelly and Shannon Doyle, as well as goalkeeper Cara Bradley, were working overtime to prevent the lead from being extended. Tara Heatley showed great composure at one point to gather the ball inside the 20, drive out and find a teammate with a well-placed pass. With all hands to pumps defensively, a home score was looking unlikely, until a swift move saw Erin Carr take a score to bring the deficit down to just 2. The Glenn defensive lines were strong, but struggling to deal with the movement of Katie Carvill, Sydney Barnett and Lillie McClorey.
With time running out for the Blues, consolation could certainly be sought in a fine performance, but consolation was not in their thoughts. Through sheer determination, Cliodhna Martin forced her way through the Glenn defence, bringing loud cheers from the home fans, as the ball hit the back of the net. Warrenpoint 1 up, inside the last 90 seconds. If Glenn felt deflated, they didn’t show it and immediately drove forwards looking for a score. After another strong run and accurate pass from the Glenn number 8, drawing out the Blue’s defence, the ball was palmed home by the Glenn full-forward. The referee’s whistle was blown, square ball. Warrenpoint failed to clear their lines from the resulting free, the ball again finding the Glenn midfielder, who set-up a carbon copy of the previous attack. Strong run, hand pass and palmed into the net, no mistake this time, until again the whistle came to the rescue of the Blues, another square ball!
Nerves were frayed and fingernails bitten. A clash of heads involving Katie Carvill, brought a delay to the game. From the restart there could be only seconds left, cool heads required and none cooler than Lillie McClorey, who gratefully clutched the ball from the throw in, to see out the final few seconds, securing a well-deserved home victory 4-6 to 2-11.
Praise must be given to all players from both teams. Their commitment and passion provided spectators with a wonderful demonstration of ladies’ Gaelic football at its finest.
Next up for the U14 Warrenpoint Ladies is a replay of an earlier fixture against Bredagh, this Wednesday evening in Milltown at 7.30pm. A strong vocal home support would be very welcome!
U16 Ladies’ Strong Performance
Following on from last week’s disappointing defeat to Ballymartin, the Droichead Pointe U16 Ladies regrouped and set off early last Sunday morning making the long journey to Bredagh. The U16 Ladies, resolved to avoid a second loss, presented as a strong, united and optimistic group, anticipating a tough challenge.
The Blues did not hang around and quickly settled into the game notching up scores, one after the other. The Bredagh Ladies fought back but their attempts to secure the ball and convert to scores were prevented by a well-oiled midfield and determined defence. Half time score was 1-2 to 3-7 in favour of the Blues.
Returning for the second half, the Droichead Pointe Ladies had their heads up and despite a comfortable lead knew there was still all to play for. Second half whistle and the Bredagh girls were up for the fight. Droichead Pointe, resolute in holding their lead, launched a relentless attack with the forwards taking a no-nonsense approach and delivered scores confidently and accurately. The Droichead Pointe Ladies provided an excellent display of teamwork and support play with every girl rising to the challenge and delivering to the highest standard. The final score 2-4 to 7-12, Droichead Pointe ladies being the well-deserved winners. Upcoming Fixture U16 A League: Droichead Pointe will meet Saval on Sunday 18th July in Mayobridge.
