Our Minor Ladies welcomed Aghaloo to Clanabogan Park yesterday evening for their first home league game. Played in cold and damp conditions, the very young Sarsafields team gave an excellent account of themselves, going down on a scoreline of Drumragh 0-4, Aghaloo 6-3.
The scoreline did not reflect what was a very good contest and the young Drumragh girls can take great heart from an excellent showing against a strong Aghaloo team. Indeed but for the frame of the goals and some wayward finishing, the Sarsfields could have been three goals up within the first five minutes. Aghaloo settled and were not as wasteful in front of goal, scoring four goals in a ten minute spell midway through the first half. To the home team’s credit they never gave up and some excellent defending by Breanna Breslin, Emma Cait and Aoibhean Gallagher, Orlaith Duncan and Mia Gallagher and two fine saves by Cliona Beggan ensured that Aghaloo forward line had to work very hard for their scores.
The young Sarsfields eventually got the reward their outfield play deserved when Aine Kearney pointed just on the half time whistle following good work by Grace O’Neill and Carla Mullan to leave the half time score Drumragh 0-1 Aghaloo 5-0.
The second half was a much closer affair with the Sarsfields midfield pairing of Julieanne Quinn and Saoirse Mullin winning much more ball. The second half was just two minutes old when Sorcha McKenna pointed following a flowing move involving Saoirse Mullan, Aine Kearney and Aoife Marshall. Aghaloo replied in kind before Saoirse Mullin added another point from a free. Entering the last few minutes Aghaloo added a goal and two points before substitute Grace Norris had the final say with a fine point following and excellent pass from Sorcha McKenna to leave the final score Drumragh 0-4, Aghaloo 6-3.
Had the Sarsfields been more clinical in front of goal, there is no doubt the score would have been much closer. However, this very young team deserve enormous credit for the way they battled to the end and for the quality of some of their play in difficult conditions.
Team: Cliona Beggan; Emma Cait Gallagher, Orlaith Duncan; Aoibheann Gallagher, Breanna Breslin, Mia Gallagher; Julieanne Quinn and Saoirse Mullin (0-1) ; Aine Kearney (0-1), Grace O’Neill, Sorcha McKenna (0-1); Orla Loughran, Carla Mullan
Subs: Aoife Marshall for Carla Mullin, Grace Norris (0-1) for Orla Loughran.
Referee: Sean Darcy (Tattyreagh)
