When White’s Cross met Castlelyons three weeks ago in the Ladies Football Féile competition, Castlelyons narrowly won a close game. Therefore when these sides clashed in the league on a warm, sunny evening in White’s Cross on Tuesday last (29th April) a similar close contest was envisaged. At least nobody foresaw the above scoreline.
Early on the visitors did have some forays into the White’s Cross half but the two goal chances that they created were easily dealt with by Mairead Cashman in goal. In front of her, Sadie Coughlan at full back and the ever-assured Ciara O’Callaghan at center back formed a strong spine that wasn’t in a mood to cough up scoring chances easily.
At the other end of the field, our forwards were on top form on this occasion. In such games where one team is completely dominant, it is hard to highlight a turning point or a significant moment in the game. In the opening quarter, White’s Cross went on a scoring spree that, in effect, ended the game as a contest. Though Maria Hayes, at center forward, did not get the scoresheet herself until later in the half, she was instrumental in everything that was good about her team’s play in the opening ten minutes. She was central to the team movements that lead to the opening goals. Emer Kiely at full-forward was a real handful for Castlelyons and she finished the first one. She would go onto to finish up with hattrick before half-time. Reine Butler, who cooly finished the second goal, and county-star Sophie Erangey’s play were also rewarded on the score board. At half time, the home side had an unassailable 6-03 to 0-01 lead.
With the game effectively over, the intensity dropped a little in the second half though White’s Cross did manage to add another three goals to their tally. The coaches were also afforded the opportunity to be able to give everyone adequate game time and rotate the players in different positions. Belle Quinlan who will have another few years at this age group was very impressive in the second half. In reality, it is very hard, as the scoreline indicates, to find fault with any aspect of White’s Cross play. They will have tougher games ahead. It might come against these opponents. Castlelyons, to their credit, battled all evening. They did not have much luck on this occasion but given that they won when the sides last met, they will rebound from this chastening defeat. For White’s Cross, it is a job well done and their second win out of three in this league.
Team
1 – Mairead Cashman
2 – Charlotte Roche
3 – Sadie Coughlan
4 – Anne Marie Twomey
5 – Lily O Connell
6 – Ciara O’Callaghan
7 – Maria Cotter
8 – Aoibhe Dunlea
9 – Sophie Erangey
10 – Belle Quinlan
11 – Maria Hayes
12 – Reine Butler
13 – Abigail Cotter
14 – Emer Kiely
15 – Rose Kelleher
SUBS:
Carrie O’Donovan, Belle Quinlan, Julia Linehan