Lagan Harps get women's eleven-a-side team back up and running

Lagan fielded their first eleven-a-side team in a number of years on Sunday as they came up against a very strong Glenview Stars side.

The Sligo club had just completed a league and Cup double, but the Lagan girls gave a good account of themselves.

Playing with the aid of the breeze, Glenview put Lagan under pressure from the start as they opened the scoring after a scramble at a corner, with Aine Gorman firing home.

They kept up the pressure, forcing Ciara Cullen into a number of good saves while Lagan had a couple of breaks without really threatening Glenview.

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Glenview increased the lead when Sarah O'Boyle scored on twenty-four minutes.

And Lagan got off to a terrible start when a long ball held up in the wind, and Hayley Mullaney lobbed it home. Lagan's Rebecca McGinley forced Hannah Hargadon into her first save minutes later.

McGinley then scored with a great effort from thirty yards on fifty-four minutes as the Manor side had a good spell for the next ten minutes or so.

Glenview retook the initiative, and Jillian Monaghan broke through to score twice more.

In the end, Lagan were well beaten by a strong side, but it was a great learning experience for the girls. Some hadn't played eleven-a-side before, so it should be a huge help. Lagan had some good performances throughout the team, with Ciara Cullen excellent in goal.

Cara McFadden and Saoirse Mc Bride were outstanding at the back, with Rebecca McGinley excellent up front. The game was well refereed throughout by Liam McLaughlin.

Squad: Ciara Cullen, Ciara McConnell, Gemma Coyle, Mia Devenney, Cara McFadden, Saoirse McBride, Nadine Crawford, Sinead McLoughlin, Amy Lateef, Rebecca Mc Ginley, Chelsea Dowds.

Subs: Siobhan Curran, Mikaela Breen, Lauryn Harkin, Leah Gallagher.

Glenview Stars: Hannah Hargadon, Michaela Gaffney, Ava Travers Duncan, Donna O'Boyle, Ruth Monaghan, Aine Gorman, Hayley Mullaney, Helen Monaghan, Jillian Monaghan, Sarah O'Boyle, Rebecca Doddy.

Subs: Kathlyn Feeney, Leah Mullaney, Aisling Herbert.