MWFL24

U17 Girls Division 1

Ballina Town 2
Ballinrobe Town 6

Scorers
Ursula Shaughnessy (4)
Caolin O'Brien & Katrina Jemeljanova

Ballinrobe U-17s Ladies played their second match of the season away to Ballina Town FC. After winning their opening fixture against Snugboro FC, the ladies gave another confident display today.

The sun was shining in Ballina, pitch was wet yet firm, very different to conditions 7 days earlier which saw Ballina’s first game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Ballina started the game, retaining the ball well. Ballinrobe grew into the game resulting in a great looping shot from Ursula Shaughnessy from the left hand side; the ball dipped under the crossbar for a great opening goal after 9mins.
Ballina quickly responded with a great goal from their No11, a bursting run down the left wing, cutting in with a venomous shot hitting the back of the net after 25mins, 1-1.
With the game level, Ballinrobe didn’t let their spirits drop and went on the attack again. Ursula contributed with another great effort just before half-time, a powerful shot to the keepers right found the net. Half-Time, Ballinrobe 2-1 Ballina.

HALF TIME

A slow start to the second half, both teams cancelling each other out, great defensive display from Kayla Maloney, Mya Shaughnessy, Roisin Yates, Blaithnaid Feerick and Brooke Grimes to keep the lead. 10mins into the second half saw a great team effort, ten consecutive passes, resulting in a nicely slotted goal by Caolinn O’Brien, 3-1.

A tight midfield battle from Katrina and the engine of the team Lola followed with the Ballinrobe midfield trying to find an outlet to the forward line of Rachel Gallagher, Ursula Shaughnessy, Hannah Pecak and Caolinn O’Brien. The forward line pressed for another goal, the ball falling back to Katrina Jemeljanova who calmly tapped in to make it 4-1 to Ballinrobe.

Ballina FC’s resilience shone through on 62nd minute. A rare defensive lapse left Ballina’s No6 with a shot on goal which was calmly converted. 4-2.

On 65mins a scrappy bit of play brought a foul on Ursula, up she stepped to take the free-kick from just outside the penalty area……Goal! Top-right corner, second hat-trick of the season! Ursula’s brother, Dean, grinning from the sidelines alongside Declan Commons and Michael Curley, this years new coaching team. Brilliant! 5-2 to Ballinrobe.

Ursula wasn’t finished, five minutes later making a defence-splitting run through the middle, shooting low-left for her fourth of the game. 6-2.

Superb display by the U-17s Ladies on their first away game of the season. The future is looking good for this side, great all-round team effort today. Well done ladies!

Declan, Dean & Michael