GAA: Girls enjoy debut season

The Under 14’s can be happy with their progress and the fact that they are winning competitive games shows the effort and hard work the girls have put in to improving their basic skills is beginning to pay off. The first matches played in a Feile in Glen resulted in heavy losses to two teams that they have played at the end of the season. Whilst Glen played a weaker team against the Coleraine side in the Feile they were still much too strong for Coleraine.

In the match last week Glen had to resort to their strongest line out in the second half to see off the Coleraine challenge by a six point margin – with Glen scoring a goal with virtually the last kick of the game. The other defeat by Magherafelt in the Feile has been well overturned by the final win of the season on Wednesday. Had the Coleraine side kept their strongest team on for the entire match the scoreline could have been much more comfortable for the local side.

Considering the three challenge matches played, seven league matches, three championship games, three County Feile games, three Ulster Feile games, and the highlights of the trips to Croke Park and Monaghan, and the improvement in their individual skills and team play it has been a rewarding season for all concerned.

The girls can look forward with confidence to next season when some will step up to Under 16 level and challenge their skills against the teams within the County at that grade. Some girls will remain as Under 14 and will help bring through the Under 12’s that will break through to the Under 14 panel.

As always there is room for more – the panels are not big and there is room for more girls to come along – give it a try, enjoy the experience and potentially get to represent the Eoghan Rua club in Ladies Gaelic Football competition in 2013.

Eoghan Rua completed their competitive season with a home league game against Magherafelt last Wednesday evening. The match was played as a 12 a side game and the Eoghan Rua girls started very brightly as Shauna Doherty, Aoife Bradley and Leah Dollard knocked over three points from play early on.

An Anna Morrison goal and a 2-1 tally from Shauna Doherty to a two point reply from the visitors left the half time score at Eoghan Rua 3-4, Magherafelt 0-2. In the first half Cora Lagan in goals was safe under pressure and had a great goal line clearance at one point. Sarah Moore and Anna Frizelle in the full back line were coping well and the half backs of Aoife Boorman, Niamh Boorman and Darcey Kelly were putting their players under severe pressure and forcing them to rush their shots that resulted in four wides for the visitors in the first half. Niamh Boorman was coping well with county full forward Elle McGuckin and was winning her individual battle there.

Brenda Grant was having a great battle at midfield and was moving the ball on to a colleague when the opportunities arose. Whilst her opponent was quick, Brenda was tackling well and breaking even with her opponent. In attack Shauna Doherty, Leah Dollard and Anna Morrison gave the Magherafelt girls plenty of trouble. Great support play between the girls helped create the chances that left Coleraine in their healthy half time position. Aoife Bradley was having a terrific battle with county Under 14 player Aoife McAleenan and Niamh Morrison was making things difficult for the Magherafelt defence.

In the second half the Coleraine team used all their subs to give everyone some game time in the final match of the season. Players were switched to different positions and two girls had turns in goal. Shannon Neill, Francesca Watson, Grace Taylor, Olivia Mullan, Naoise Kennedy and Eve Lundy all had game time and all performed well as the Coleraine girls ran out deserving winners on a scoreline of 6-05 to 4-05.

Eoghan Rua Under-14 and Under-12 girls footballers enjoyed a trip to Monaghan last week where they played a challenge game against Doohamlet and then took in a coaching session involving the Monaghan ladies footballers as they prepared for their All-Ireland senior semi-final against Cork. It was a busy day out for the Eoghan Rua girls as they enjoyed bowling, played a challenge match followed by meeting the Monaghan County panel at their training session. .

In the Doohamlet match the first half was fairly even. The Coleraine girls started and finished well as Doohamlet had a good spell in the middle part of the first half. Aoife Bradley scored three points and Shauna Doherty one as Doohamlet led by 1-3 to 0-4 at half time, Darcey Kelly did well in goals and with the corner backs of Sarah Moore and Naoise Kennedy doing well the Doohamlet scores had to come from further out the field. Anna Frizelle was commanding at full back and with Olivia Mullan, Aoife Boorman and Niamh Boorman in the half back line performing well, they were keeping the Monaghan side at bay when they did come through.

In the second half Naoise Kennedy and Olivia Mullan were replaced by Hannah Mullan and Lucy Wells who both made their competitive debut for the Coleraine girls.

The Eoghan Rua side played well in the second half and tagged on 1-5 to a solitary point reply from Doohamlet to win by 1-9 to 1-4. Cora Lagan switched to defence and did well when Doohamlet did threaten and second half goalkeeper Niamh Morrison made a couple of goal line clearances that helped keep the Eoghan Rua girls on the front foot. Brenda Grant was winning her midfield battle and scored two long range points while Aoife Bradley with a further point and Shauna Doherty with 1-2 completed the scoring. The forwards showed well in the second half with Anna Morrison and Leah Dollard offering plenty of support. While Lucy and Hannah were a bit in awe they did well and the experience will be good for them.

Team: Darcey Kelly, Sarah Moore, Anna Frizelle, Naoise Kennedy, Olivia Mullan, Aoife Boorman, Niamh Boorman, Brenda Grant (0-1), Aoife Bradley (0-4), Anna Morrison, Leah Dollard, Niamh Morrison, Shauna Doherty (1-3), Cora Lagan. Subs: Hannah Mullan for Olivia Mullan, Lucy Wells for Naoise Kennedy.