Title race to reach boiling point in Birdhill

North Tipperary Women's League Review

By Gary Culbert

Premier Division

With just four games to go in the Premier Division title race, a single point separates the top two, Birdhill and Killavilla United, who meet this evening (Wednesday) in Birdhill.

The experienced Birdhill are out in front on fifteen points, but the young guns from Roscrea are the reigning champions and lie in wait just one behind. Killavilla are unbeaten all season, but have drawn two of their last three games, heading into this blockbuster tie.

If the hosts are to extend their lead at the summit, they will need their, and the league’s top-scorer, Abbie Lenihan, to continue her inspired form in front of goal. The twenty-year-old is virtually unplayable at times up top, and has already netted twelve goals in just six league games.

Indeed, it was yet another brace from Birdhill’s number nine that laid the foundations for an impressive 5-1 victory in Moneygall last Wednesday. Skipper Eimer O'Brien was also on target with two, while Claire Coffey and Moneygall’s Emma Costello were the other scorers.

Killavilla had an equally impressive win last Wednesday too at home, putting four past Peake Villa while only letting one in at the other end.

Carly Wright’s charges took an early lead through Abi McMahon’s second goal in three games, but were pegged back almost instantly by Peake’s Chloe Shorely. There were no further goals until after the hour mark, at which point the floodgates opened as Khya Lynch put on a late exhibition; the twenty-year-old found the net twice, either side of setting up a Lexi Wynne goal. Lynch has only played three times for Villa this season, but with three goals and three assists there is no doubt that she is one to watch against Birdhill.

Elsewhere, there were second half heroics from ten player Holycross, but they just couldn't hold out on BT Harp’s vast new pitch; the host’s freshness late in the game proving pivotal to a late winner.

This was the first game on the new state of the art facility at Michael Fennell Park, and Grace Cummins will go down in the annals as the first scorer; rattling the new nets after just three minutes. Holycross levelled through Lily Ryan shortly after, but there was a late twist when Leah Feehan won it for Harps in the 83rd minute.

First Division

Knigh United had another convincing win last Thursday, this time Nenagh Celtic put to the sword by the new entrants to the league.

Goals from Josephine Kennedy, Isabelle Kingston, Sadbh Clancy, Olivia Mulhall, and Meabh Ryan did the damage for the visitors, while the hosts netted consolation goals through Chloe McMahon and Ana Carla Lopes Soares.

Heather O’Neill scored the only goal of the game when Newport Town defeated Shinrone United in Derryleigh Park last Tuesday.