Another busy week for Donegal Woman’s League with fixtures across all grades  

U-12

Illistrin 0-5 Ballyraine Harps

Ballyraine were the better side on the night and deserved the victory. Ballyraine goals came from Maria Wenelska (2), Evie McGonagle, Millie Toland and Hann Carty.  That’s now six clean sheets from six for Ballyraine and keeper Holly Gordon.

Lagan Harps 2-0 Letterkenny Rovers  

With a downpour leaving parts of our pitch unplayable, the game was moved to the Aura. It was a really close fought, evenly balanced game. 

Lagan took an early lead with Caoimhe Sweeney finishing well on five minutes. Rovers began to threaten with Mmaischikwu Stan-Mako and Savannah Keys going close. Thea Rodgers, Kelsie Mc Menamin and Likora Kolsut Mc Daid were forced to defend well for Lagan. 

Lagan came more into it again as the half wore on with Katie Gildea and Katie Doherty going close. Rovers’ keeper Lily Gallagher pulled off a fine save to stop Emily Mc Mahon increasing Lagan's lead. 

Lagan started the second half well again with Emily Mc Mahon scoring through a crowded area. They began to get on top with Emily Mc Mahon and Clodagh Kavanagh doing well in midfield. 

Letterkenny were always threatening with the dangerous Savannah Keys forcing two good saves from Ella Sharkey.  Despite some near efforts at both ends, there were no further scores. In what was a well fought and sporting encounter, referee Gavin Doherty did well. 

Bonagee/Lagan U-12s 

Finn Valley A 3-0 Convoy Arsenal

On Tuesday evening Finn Valley WFC played Convoy Arsenal at the Finn Valley Centre. 

The first half started very evenly with both defences coming out on top, but eventually Finn Valley got their goal through Islagh Patton, with Aoife McLaughlin adding two more before the break. 

Both teams had some great passages of football in the second half with the young Convoy side having some chances of their own. 

Convoy stuck at it and played right up to the final whistle. Thanks to Convoy for the game,and best of luck for the rest of season. Thanks to George Clinton for refereeing the game. 

Dunfanaghy Youths 1-4 Gweedore United A

Callum Friel Park was the location for this meeting of Dunfanaghy Youths and Gweedore United. 

It was an enthralling match with excellent football played by both teams. Dunfanaghy took the lead in the 12th minute with a goal by Emily Black. 

Dunfanaghy continued to keep the pressure on but the Gweedore defence stood strong and the home team couldn't add to their tally. Gweedore equalised towards the end of the first half and it was 1-1 at the break. 

The second half saw more tense physical battles and Gweedore managed to add three more goals. 

Dunfanaghy worked hard but couldn't break down the Gweedore defence led by the immense Lucy Doohan. The match ended with a 4 goals to 1 victory for the visitors. 

Kilmacrennan Celtic 1-2 Mulroy Academy

A hugely entertaining game between evenly 2 matched teams was played out in almost perfect conditions at Lurgy Park despite the heavy rainfall earlier. 

The home team started the brighter and had Mulroy under pressure from the start with Caidhla, Roise, Hayley and Jorjamae driving forward at every opportunity. 

Their pressure was rewarded after 20 minutes when a through ball from Jorjamae found Caidhla and she made no mistake from inside the box to put Kilmacrennan one up. 

The lead should have been doubled minutes later when Roise intercepted a pass from the Mulroy keeper, but her close range shot failed to trouble the keeper. 

With just minutes to go in the first half Mulroy forced a corner and with the home defence failing to clear it the ball was poked home from close range by Mia Carlin to leave it all square at the break. 

The second half followed a similar pattern to the previous one, with Kilmacrennan dominating large spells of possession and Mulroy looking to play on the counterattack. 

Kilmacrenan passed up a glorious opportunity to retake the lead when Aoibhinn ran clear only to see her shot cleared away by an excellent save from the Mulroy net minder. 

With 10 minutes remaining it was the away team that scored the all-important goal, a mishit clearance falling to Anita Peoples and she steadied herself to finish into the far corner. 

Kilmacrennan continued to push hard for the equaliser their efforts deserved but we're unable to unlock a stubborn and well organised Mulroy backline. 

A pulsating game with referee Con McLaughlin controlling proceedings from the middle. 

Glenree U-12s 

Glenree 4-1 Swilly Rovers

In tough conditions for football both teams played a really entertaining game with chances at both ends. 

Swilly took the lead when their striker Anna broke clear and finished low in the corner. Glenree were creating chances but found the Swilly defence hard to get past. Towards the end of the half Glenree scored two goals from Eilis. Half time score was Glenree United 2 Swilly Rovers 1. 

At the start of the second half Erin Caldwell was fouled on the edge of the box. Erin stepped up and curled the free kick over the wall and into the top corner. Shortly after Eilis completed her hat trick with a well taken finish. 

Eilis nearly had a fourth but brought a great save from the Swilly keeper who tipped the shot on to the crossbar. 

Swilly always looked dangerous and Abbie in the Glenree goals was always alert. Referee Sinead Hagan had a really good game keeping the play flowing. 

Ballyraine Celtic B 3-1 Finn Valley B

On Tuesday Ballyraine Celtic took on Finn Valley in the DWL U12B league. After a closely fought opening period where both teams had chances, it was Ballyraine who took the lead after a well taken goal by Eva O'Toole. 

This was quickly followed by a second Ballyraine goal scored by Lamar Yousif. Ballyraine made it 3-0 just after half time courtesy of another excellent goal by Eva. 

Finn Valley got their deserved goal scored by Hannah Browne to make the final score 3-1 in favour of Ballyraine. Both goalkeepers were excellent throughout the match.

Letterkenny Rovers - Drumbar Utd (Drumbar win)

Aoife Gallagher scored a hattrick, followed by two more goals from Grainne Kelly and Aoibhlinn Sweeney gave Drumbar a comfortable lead at game time. 

Rovers were more focused in the second half and battled hard only for Aoife Gallagher and Aoiblinn Sweeney scoring for Drumbar.   

Best for Letterkenny Rovers was Caitlin Crampsie and Chloe Strain with Lauren Matthews and Aoife Gallagher standing out for Drumbar

Friendlies

Milford United 2-0 Bonagee United  

A tight contest with both teams having opportunities early on but it was Milford who took the lead through Michaella McElhinney with a tidy finish from just inside the box.  Both teams had further opportunities, but it ended 1-0 at the break.  

Bonagee started strong in the second half but it was Milford who got a goal on the break through Tessa Grier. 

U-14

Convoy Arsenal 5-0 Donegal Town   

A good day for the club with prize giving in Deele College and then a good win at the U14 home match against Donegal Town. 

Convoy were quick out of the blocks with a fine goal from Amy Doonan early into the game with only 10 minutes gone.Jenna Doherty joined the scoring at 29 and 32 minutes after receiving some lovely balls from Amy and Lucia. Half time score was 3-0.Both teams came out with force in the second half. Convoy secured another 2, again from Jenna Doherty. 

A massive well done needs to be given to all the girls on the Donegal Town team who never gave up, they battled hard until the end and probably the most pleasant group we have come across so far. 

This young team has a great future ahead of them and we wish them every success.

Illistrin U-12s 

Keadue Rovers 1-1 Gweedore United 

A hard-working Gweedore United snatched a draw on their visit to Keadue on Friday evening in a cracking game of football for the large crowd in attendance. 

For long periods of the first half Keadue were camped inside the Gweedore half but Boyd and Rodgers up front were a constant threat for the away side and it took some fine defending from the home side to keep them out on a few occasions. 

United had the first chance of the game and hit the outside of the post and went to safety. 

Keadue began to pile on the pressure but some very poor finishing and an excellent performance from Doherty in goals kept Keadue at bay. 

Keadue had numerous corners, but the United defence coped well with the barrage of crosses. 

Against the run of play the visitors took the lead when a sliced through ball caught out the Keadue defence and Rodgers scored with a delightful finish her hard work deserved. 

Almost immediately Keadue nearly levelled when Rebecca Reestang was put through on goal but with only the keeper to beat she didn't catch her shot cleanly and the United keeper smothered the shot. 

The second half Keadue changed shape and began to dominate the midfield and forced corner after corner. 

From one of the corners the ball fell to Reestang and her shot was deflected into the net by Maria McGee and Keadue were deservedly level. 

Gweedore regrouped however and began to get a few more attacks but with the Keadue defence in top form they never looked like scoring again. 

The last few minutes saw Keadue throw everything to try and get the victory but the Gweedore defence held firm.

Raphoe U-16s 

Swilly Rovers 1-4 Mulroy Academy

Swilly Rovers U-14 girls took on a strong Mulroy Academy U-14 girls team in a windy but dry Swilly Park on Wednesday evening. 

A very entertaining  game it was fought out with both teams testing each other in the opening phase. A corner apiece it was all even but Multoy looked the more dangerous when they broke. 

And it was Mulro who took the lead through Áine Doherty who broke through an otherwise resolute Swilly defensive partnership of Alannah Quaile and Grainne Sweeney. 

Swilly then created their own pressure with Anna Pshenychna holding the ball up well before releasing Sophia Gorney who had a half chance saved. 

With Swilly pressing high they were caught on the break once more with Áine Doherty breaking through with her power and strength again. 

Not to be kept down though Swilly kept pressing with Ava Greer and Ella Lastimosa biting in the midfield. Mulroy however had their own engine room and Ashling Duffy buzzed around the midfield making her own presence felt.  

The game ebbed and flowed and Sophia Gorney had a chance saved after shooting from a tight angle after a layoff from Ella Coyle. 

On the other wing Sioma McFadden played Emma Naughton through a few times but the Mulroy defense were up to it and shortly after Áine Doherty was through again at the other side grabbing her hat trick. 

A free kick on the edge of the box swung in by Ava was Swilly’s last chance in that half with Sophia missing the connection by inches.  The second half started with a few changes. 

Mulroy kept testing but it was Swilly however who had the next chance and earned a corner. Ava Greer stood up to take and scored an olympico direct from the flag. Not something you see very often. 

The fight continued and Swilly had some more chances with the crossbar rattled and a few nice saves from Natalie Egan after shots from Kiri Sweeney, Ella McCarron and Emma Naughton. 

The final ten tilted Mulroys way however and Áine Doherty managed to get a fourth but not before some truly outstanding saves from Millie Gildea. 

Thanks to Mulroy for a good clean game and to Kevin O’Donnell for officiating. 

U-16

Raphoe Town - Bonagee United (Raphoe Win)

A strong second half performance from our U-16 girls saw them stretch away from the challenge of Bonagee at Drumineney this evening and secure another excellent league win. 

In a tight first half, the visitors had plenty of possession in the early stages and created several good chances, but weren’t able to find the killer touch in front of goal.

Instead, it was Raphoe who took the lead when Alicia Domaneska fired home from a free kick mid-way through the half and while they didn’t manage to add to their tally, Raphoe did grow into the game and played some excellent football. 

They continued in that vein in the second half, Clíodhna Kelly bursting through to score a great goal to make it 2-0 and then Molly McGroarty sending Erin O’Donnell clear of the Bonagee and she made it 3-0 with a super finish. 

Bonagee pulled a goal back soon after, but an excellent finish from Molly McGroarty with a shot that flew off the post into the net, and a fine strike from Aine O’Flanagan, extended the Raphoe lead. 

Clíodhna Kelly grabbed her second and Cassie Tinney also found the net as the Raphoe girls found their rhythm in the second half, despite the best efforts of the Bonagee girls who never gave up and who played some great football as well on the night.Well done to both teams for an excellent game of football, well refereed by Patrick Martin.

Gweedore United 2-2 Keadue Rovers   

This game was played in tough conditions and a strong wind at Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair saw a share of the spoils after a game of two halves.Gweedore playing with the aid of the breeze in the first half took the lead after 15 minutes when Eva Diver struck an unstoppable shot from 20 yards which was past the Keadue keeper before she could react leaving her with no chance. 

Gweedore had another chance to double their lead on 18 minutes when the ball fell to Maria Hynes but she shot over the bar. 

On 25 mins a fine through ball from Ciara McFadden left Lilly Rodgers one on one with the keeper but good defending from the Keadue defender forced Lilly to shoot wide. 

On 30 minutes Gweedore doubled their lead when Emma McCool played Maria Hynes through on goal and she made no mistake slotting past the on-rushing Keadue keeper. 

To Keadue’s credit they continued to work hard against the wind and played some nice football and on the stroke of half time they were rewarded when their striker Rebecca Reetsang reacted quickest in the area and finished well past Ellieann McFadden in the Gweedore goal to leave the score 2-1 at half time. 

The second half started with Keadue pressing for an equaliser. Playing with the breeze Keadue had the majority of the possession and had a number of chances through Nicola Bonner Gillespie and Aoibhinn McCann but they found Elianne mc Fadden in inspirational form in the Gweedore nets as she made a number of outstanding saves to keep Gweedore ahead. 

The equaliser arrived for Keadue in injury time when a loose ball at the edge of the area fell to Aoibhinn McCann who finished well past Elieann McFadden to grab a share of the spoils for the visitors. 

A good team performance from both teams on a difficult night for football with Aoibhinn McCann and Nicola Bonner outstanding for the visitors. Ciara McFadden and Elianne Mc Fadden excelled for the home side.Referee: Seamie Ferry