DONEGAL CELTIC 0 v 1 COLERAINE SPARTA
Ladies Football League Division 2
Donegal Celtic girls continued their poor start to the season with a disappointing home defeat to leave them with only 1 point from the first three games.
And for the second home game in a row, it was an injury time strike that robbed the Colleens of a well-earned result.The girls have been finding goals hard to come by of late, and this game was no different.
The hoops run the show straight from the first whistle, and early chances went begging for Sonia Toner, Karen Kilifin and Nuala Rafferty.
And without influential wide players Donna Mervyn (injured) and Louise Irvine (international call up), the Suffolk Road side found it difficult to take their chances against a stubborn, defensive Coleraine side.
D.C kept the visitors to a minimum of chances, although both sides struck the crossbar, and home goalie, Nuala McFetridge, produced a magnificent flying save, in a frantic finish to an otherwise dull affair.
In the final seconds of the game, Sparta stole the points from a corner kick, which was powerfully headed home.
The girls have a thankful break from league action this week, as they face Crusaders in the Irish Cup on Wednesday night.
Any players wishing to travel to the Clubs cup final showdown with Linfield on Tuesday night should contact Barry McGreevy.
Armagh City 1 v 1 Donegal Celtic
TONER STRIKE SEALS VITAL POINT
This was an important and well-earned point for the D.C girls after last weeks league reverse at the hands of Newcastle.
Celtics coaching staff had to deal with a selection problem that would have Martin ONeill in tears as Goalie Nuala McFetridge, defender Elaine Curley and international winger Louise Irvine were all unavailable.
This prompted a new role for Sonia Toner in midfield and Leslie Beattie in Centre Back. Both gave performances worthy of their Scottish counterparts in a flowing game.
Armagh City took the lead. Northern Ireland International Gail Davidson, caused havoc in only their second attack, and her deep cross ended in a penalty award for the home side. Davidson herself coolly slotted home past Drain.
D.C, starting with youth prodigy Lauren Moore in attack, went on the offensive and found Toner to be a more than adequate midfielder, after following up to drive home from fully 30 yards inside 10 minutes of the opener.
Both goalkeepers needed to be called on several times to keep their side in the game, and Christine Drain produced 3 vital stops in a second half which saw both teams throw caution to the wind in search of the three points.
And the home side breathed a sigh of relief as first Toner and then Rafferty both shaved the uprights in the dying seconds of an entertaining game.
Player of the match - Sonia Toner & Leslie Beattie.
D.C Ladies continue their league campaign on Wednesday night as they entertain Coleraine FC K.O 7.30pm.
The girls would also like to wish their male counterparts the very best of luck in their two cup finals with Lurgan Celtic & Linfield Swifts.
Donegal Celtic 1v2 Newcastle Tullymore
Bad start to the season for DC Ladies
This was the worst possible start to the new season for the D.C. girls as a well oiled Newcastle side frustrated the hoops to win all three points.
Donegal Celtic got an early warning of the pace of the diminutive Newcastle striker and failed to take heed as two counter attacks in the first 10 minutes almost brought the first goal for the visitors.
Celtic could not settle and seemed second to every ball in midfield, and this was detriment to the first goal. Christine Drain lost possession and the quick break left goalie McFetridge exposed, and the latter was soon picking the ball out of the net.
D.C changed to a sweeper system at the back and this seemed to nullify the Tullymore tactics.
The Colleens were soon level. Leslie Beattie released Donna Mervyn on the left wing, and the Falls Road girl raced 30 yards to beat the visiting keeper to the ball and skilfully curled it into the net for 1v1.
Donegal Celtic build on this and in the second half, should have added to their tally through Irvine, Rafferty and Beattie who all wasted good openings.
While it seemed a draw was the end result, a defensive mix up saw the visitors take the lead in injury time after both Toner and Drain failed to clear the danger. D.C will need to play much better than this if they are to continue their dream like progress over the last two years.
Next for the Celts is a tough visit to Armagh City at Holm Park.
Player of the Match Elaine Curley
Chimney Corner 0 v 4 Donegal Celtic
Ladies Football pre-season friendly game.
Donegal Celtic got back to winning ways this week in the last of a series of preparation games. And they swept aside their Division 1 counterparts with alarming ease at the Allen Park venue.
Only two minutes had elapsed when the first goal arrived. A determined run on the right from International winger, Louise Irvine, produced a dangerous low cross, which was driven home from six yard by the recalled Donna Mervyn.
Corner came back into it, and should have equalized on 10 minutes. A great effort from just inside the box was gracefully parried away by the veteran goalkeeper, Nuala McFetridge, who went on to make a number of great stops.
The Suffolk road side rode their luck on a few occasions, but went 2-0 ahead after a terrific counter attack. A sweeping long ball from Christine Drain released tricky midfielder, Leslie Beattie, who beat two players before cheekily putting through the goalkeepers legs.
The hoops improved in the second half. Starlet, Lauren Moore was introduced and immediately caused problems for the home side, and was unlucky not to add to the score line.
It was soon 3-0 to Celtic. Emma Morgan, who was fed from towering defender Elaine Curley, released Irvine who coolly slotted passed the badly exposed keeper. D.C. added a fourth in injury time when Centre Back Sonia Toner, drove home from the edge of the box.
This was an assured performance from the girls, 10 days from their opening league fixture, and gave the coaching staff a few selection problems for the game, which they wont mind one bit.
Players of the match Christine Drain & Nuala McFetridge
Tollymore (1) V- Donegal Celtic (3)
FOUR WEKS TO GO FOR DONEGAL CELTIC LADIES AS NEW LEAGUE LOOMS
Only four weeks to go now for the start of a new adventure for the Donegal Celtic ladies team. Division two looms for the colleens and they warmed up well with this brilliant win over a Newcastle side that lifted last seasons divisional cup, and missed out on promotion to the Premier Division of the ladies soccer by one point.
The hoops started the game with new signings Sonia Toner and Nuala Rafferty, and both players put in a solid performance alongside a much improved Emma McVeigh at right back.
Former International Goalkeeper, Nuala McFetridge made a long awaited comeback to the Celtic side, which boosted four International players in total the newest of them Louise Irvine, creating one and scoring one.
The game itself was no spectacle. A heavy pitch and an over-physical home side allowed DC no time to play their flowing style of football. The hoops rolled up their sleeves and responded with the tackles, which brought the opener. Karen Kilifin charged down a challenge, then ran 25 yards and placed the ball past an exposed goalkeeper.
It was level at the break as Donegal Celtic were caught in possession in midfield, a quick counter attack resulted in an easy opening which was coolly dispatched.
Donegal Celtic lost the initiative 10 minutes into the 2nd half, when Christine Drain saw red for dissent. This seemed to spur the hoops on, as straight from the restart Selena McCauley slotted home from an acute angle for a real strikers goal.
A well worked corner from Louise Irvine added a third, and confirmed a good win for the Hoops, and the girls proving they can mix with one of the top teams in the country.
Best for Celtic: Emma McViegh
DC Team: McFetridge, McNulty, Curley, Toner, McViegh, Beatty, Morgan, Drain, Kilifin, Rafferty, McGonnell, Moore, McCauley, Irvine, Ulrika :)
Donegal Celtic (5) V- Northland Raiders (0)
TWO SEASONS, TWO PROMOTIONS FOR DC LADIES
Nuala Rafferty capped a superb debut for the Suffolk Road side, scoring a hat-trick in the clubs opening game of the pre-season.
The hoops will march into division two this season to make it two promotions in two years and will be confident of holding their own.
Charlene Smith and Sonia Toner also claimed a debut win, comfortably fitting into midfield and defense respectively.
While last years goalkeeper Christine Drain, made a confident start in her new role in the middle of the park.
Goals from Rafferty, Beattie and new club captain, Louise Irvine, put the seal on an excellent performance by D.C.
Emma Morgan was the surprise choice between the sticks and showed the ability of of an experienced stopper, dealing with all but a spectacular consolation goal from the home side.
New players for the senior team and under 14 girls team are welcome to attend training sessions on Wednesday nights and the A-town Leisure Centre from 8-9pm.
(DC Team): Morgan, McVeigh, Toner, Curley, Smith, Kelly, McNulty, Drain, Beattie, Kilifan,, Moore, McCauley, Irvine ©, Shepard, Mervin
