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Sligo/Leitrim Senior Ladies League
Dromore Villa 0 v Manorhamilton Rangers 3
Manorhamilton Rangers ladies made the long trip to
Dromore for their historic first ever Sligo/Leitrim senior ladies
league game. In a thoroughly entertaining game with numerous goal
chances Manorhamilton Rangers ladies eventually ran out comfortable
winners by a scoreline of 3-0. Manor signalled their intent from the
start and launched several attacks in the first few minutes.
Michelle O’Hagan and Clara McGriskin controlled the midfield area
with Aisling Clancy and Aoife Molloy operating on both wings. Manors
first real chance came with just four minutes played when Molloy
crossed in a ball from the left wing which was met by Anne Marie
Curneen. She shot on goal forcing a fine save from Kelly Murphy in
the Dromore net. The ball was parried to Carly O’Hara and her shot
was again cleared by Murphy. The resulting clearance saw Murphy off
her line and when the ball dropped to the feet of O’Hagan she lobbed
the keeper from the halfway line forcing Murphy to retreat and just
manage to stop the ball going into the Dromore net.Manor attacked
again two minutes later with Molloy again finding O’Hara who
controlled the ball before shooting into the side netting. Dromore
were finding it difficult to get out of their own half as the Manor
ladies dominated the midfield area. In the twentieth minute a Manor
free kick from a foul on Molloy was taken by O’Hagan. She found
Clancy free in the Dromore penalty area. Clancy struck a fine shot
low and hard into the Dromore net which should have seen the
North Leitrim side in front. Controversially the referee
signalled for a goal kick much to the dismay of Manor manager Helder
Oliveria as he claimed the ball hit the side netting. This setback
stunned the Manor ladies and Dromore Villa came more into the game.
Some excellent link play between Shannon Finnegan and Danielle
Dunleavy saw Finnegan find herself one on one with Manor keeper
Claire Gallagher. Finnegan shot on goal and forced an excellent one
handed save from Gallagher. Dromores resulting corner saw Ciara
Crean head narrowly wide. Dromore attacked again two minutes later
with Finnegan again the provider for Leighan Murphy. Murphy ran
through on goal and was about to shoot when Manor captain Maire
Keany saved the day with a last ditch tackle. Dromore had a few half
chances in the remainder of the first half but such were the
accomplished displays of Lynda Thompson, Marie Keaney, Olivia
McGovern and Catroina Devanney in the Manor defence Dromore never
really threatened the Manor goal.
The first half finished 0-0 largely
due to the excellent displays of both keepers.
The second half was a cracking display of football
from both teams with any amount of chances for either side.Manor
broke through for the games first goal on 47 minutes when Devanney
cleared a ball from defence which found McGriskin in the middle of
the park. She beat two Dromore players before finding herself one on
one with Murphy in the Dromore net. She made no mistake with a fine
shot low and hard to the middle of the net to put Manor 1-0 ahead.
Rather than sit back Manor attacked at will again and piled on the
pressure on the Dromore defence. Lorraine Hynes and Jessica
McGuiness had an excellent display at the back for Dromore. The
pressure applied led to Manors second goal five minutes later. When
Keany found Molloy on the wing with a sublime pass. Molloy took off
on a run towards goal and with no fewer than four Manor players
queuing up for the cross, Molloy only had one thing in mind as she
first rounded Crean and then McGuiness before hitting a cracking
shot which Dromore keeper Murphy could only parry. Molloy found the
net on the second time of asking. It was a richly deserved reward
for Molloy who was outstanding on the day. Dromore regrouped and
played some fine football with Connolly, Finnegan and McCloat all
linking well. Indeed Dromore should have equalised when a great
clearance by Hynes from the Dromore penalty area went over the heads
of the Manor defence and Finnegan ran through with only the keeper
to beat to the high bouncing ball. Realising that she was out of her
area Manor keeper Gallagher headed the ball over the advancing
Finnegan to deny Dromore a score. Finnegan and Gallagher seemed to
be having a personal duel during this game as the Dromore midfielder
found herself through on goal against the Manor keeper on no fewer
than five time with the Manor coming off best on each occasion.
Manor had a number of other chances with Curneen, who terrorised
Dromore, Clancy and Molloy unlucky not to find the net after
creating good goalscoring opportunities. Manors third game came
after Keany found O’Hara with a pass from midfield. O’Hara ran onto
it and so did Dromore keeper Murphy. O’Hara shot against the legs of
the keeper and followed through to slot the ball into the Dromore
net to put Manor 3-0 ahead. Manor made a number of changes late on
with Laura Braiden, Lisa Keany, Aishling Kerrigan and Megan Nolan
all coming on and contributing to a hugely entertaining game.
Dromore brought on Aleen Kelly and Lisa Kilshannon. Manors final
flurry of activity came with five minutes remaining as first Megan
Nolan hit the bar with a ferocious shot and then the ball fell to
Clancy who hit the post. With the game drawing to a close Dromore
had one final attack which again saw Finnegan and Gallagher one on
one. Finnegan hit a full force shot which Gallagher saved
brilliantly. The game finished with the North
Leitrim side taking all three points largely due to
their keeper.
Player of the match could have went to a number of
Manor ladies such as Thompson, Clancy,Gallagher or Dromores Finnegan
but the all round display by Aoife Molloy saw her scoop the
accolade.
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