Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.31 2022-23

The second round of fixtures were completed on Friday night and Lisburn Ladies kept up their
good start with a 5-2 victory against newly promoted Larne Women. Michelle McDaid gave
Lisburn a first half lead which was cancelled out by Hollie Johnston but a quickfire double from
Stacey Murdough put Lisburn in control at half time. Murdough went on to complete her hat-trick
just after the hour and McDaid netted her second, before Amanda Morton scored an injury time
consolation for Larne from the penalty spot.
Linfield Ladies bounced back from an opening day defeat to get themselves off the mark by
also winning 5-2 against Crusaders Strikers. Mia Fitzsimmons gave Linfield the lead midway
through the first half, with Beth Chalmers equalising six minutes later, but Linfield then wrested
control of the game thanks to a Keri
Halliday hat-trick. Faith Johnston pulled P W D L F A Pts GD
one back for the Crues late on but it was GLENTORAN 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 6 6 17
13
13
SION SWIFTS
Linfield who were to have the final say, CLIFTONVILLE LADIES 2 2 0 0 12 0 6 12
Emily Reid netting their fifth goal a minute CRUSADERS STRIKERS 3 2 0 1 10 5 6 5
later. LISBURN LADIES 2 1 1 0 6 3 4 3
Crusaders Strikers were to get over LINFIELD LADIES 2 1 0 1 5 5 3 0
this setback and on Wednesday night, they MID ULSTER LADIES 2 0 1 1 1 7 1 -6
defeated Derry City 5-0 at Seaview to join BALLYMENA UTD WOMEN 2 0 0 2 0 9 0 -9
the teams on six points at the top of the LARNE WOMEN 2 0 0 2 2 12 0 -10
table. Caitlyn Hamilton and Faith Johnston DERRY CITY 3 0 0 3 0 25 0 -25
ensured that the Strikers were two goals
ahead at half time and after the interval, Larne 2 Lisburn 5; Linfield 5 Crusaders 2; Crusaders 5 Derry 0.
Rachel McLaren increased their lead and
Johnston netted her second shortly afterwards, before Leah McEvoy rounded off the scoring with
twelve minutes remaining.
The remainder of the matches will be played on Friday night.

This year’s Electric Ireland-sponsored Junior Cup final and Year 8 nine-a-side competition decider
were superb advertisements for girls’ football in schools. Edmund Rice College (Glengormley) and
Kilkeel High School triumphed in the respective finals – but they were made to battle all the way.
The matches were staged consecutively at the Blanchflower Stadium in Belfast and pupils
from the four participating schools created an electric atmosphere in the stands.
Kilkeel High School, who lost out in this year’s Electric Ireland Schools’ Cup for senior girls’
teams (Under-18) to Holy Cross College Strabane, were involved in a real ding-dong battle in the
Year 8 competition decider. The Co Down school were up against Blessed Trinity College (north
Belfast) in the final.
Blessed Trinity took the lead on three occasions only for Kilkeel to reel them back in. Just after
the interval Kilkeel made it 3-3 and looked the more likely to score in the second half.
The Belfast school held on to take the game into extra time. Kilkeel then scored a fourth goal
before Blessed Trinity levelled. After that the sides could not be separated and it was on to a penalty
shootout.
Like the match itself the penalties went back and forth but in the end it was Kilkeel who
triumphed and made history in becoming the inaugural winners of the Year 8 (Under-12)
competition.
In the Junior Cup final (U14) Edmund Rice College were up against Newbridge Integrated
College (Banbridge). Edmund Rice were looking to make a mark in their first campaign, while
Newbridge were hoping to build on last year when they fell at the semi final stage.
The match was a nervy affair. Chances were few and far between in the first half. Edmund Rice
opened the scoring after the interval, however Newbridge shifted up a gear and soon levelled. The
Glengormley school then restored their lead and that proved to be enough to secure the trophy on a
2-1 scoreline.
Damian McLaughlin, Schools and Futsal Officer with the Irish FA Foundation, said both finals
had been excellent and thanked Electric Ireland for supporting both competitions.
(irishfa.com)
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