CCFL Review

BALLYMACKEY

By John Delaney

Ladies Premier Division: Ballymackey 2–2 Mullingar Athletic

Ballymackey and Mullingar Athletic shared the points following an entertaining 2–2 draw in Ballinree in the Combined Counties Football League Women’s Premier Division on Sunday.

It was a much-changed Ballymackey side from the team that opened their league campaign with victory away to Tullamore Town the previous weekend. Five players were unavailable, including four of the goalscorers who had shared seven of the goals in that opening fixture.

The home side twice found themselves behind during the first half but responded quickly on both occasions. Kate Cavanagh created Ballymackey’s first equaliser with an excellent through ball behind the Mullingar defence, releasing Allison McDonnell, who kept her composure to finish past the advancing goalkeeper.

Mullingar regained the lead, but Ballymackey again responded before the interval, this time from the penalty spot, to leave the sides level at 2–2 at half-time.

Both defences found their feet after the restart and, while the second half developed into a lively end-to-end contest, neither side could find a winner. Ballymackey went close late on through Thia McCarthy before McDonnell almost snatched all three points in the dying moments.

There were two more senior debuts for Ballymackey, with Orla Meehan and Phoebe Sage returning to the club after a number of years away, having previously played at juvenile level.

Ava O’Rourke, Molly O’Brien and Isabella Meehan were among the standout performers despite all three having played eighty minutes for the club’s U19 side the previous day. Sixteen-year-old Meehan produced a particularly strong performance, defending well while also having a considerable influence on Ballymackey’s attacking play from both full-back and centre-back.

Another of the club’s underage players, Isabel Manicle, was included in the senior matchday squad for the first time.

The result leaves Ballymackey with four points from their opening two CCFL Women’s Division fixtures.

Ballymackey: Ava O’Rourke, Emma Nolan, Chloe Whyte, Nicole Ryan, Isabella Meehan, Kate Cavanagh (capt), Aoibhín Delaney, Sadhb Connolly, Orla Meehan, Allison McDonnell, Molly O’Brien, Shauna Egan, Phoebe Sage, Thia McCarthy, April Slevin, Isabel Manicle.

KILLAVILLA UNITED

By Gary Culbert

Men’s Division 1: Clonaslee United 3-3 Killavilla United

Killavilla United ‘A’ picked up an important point on the road thanks to a 3-3 draw with Clonaslee United on Sunday.

A goal from veteran Darren Coleman, and two more from youngster Jack Walsh made it four points from four games for Villa on their return to the top division.

Team: Aaron Mulready; Tom Ahern, Dylan Carroll, Roddy Teehan, Eddie Simmons; Darren Coleman, Kevin Fitzgerald, Jack Walsh; Ben Lynch, Johnny Corboy, Miko Pasalic. Subs: Luke Fitzgerald for Coleman (46); Evan Conway for Corboy (72).

Next up for Villa is home tie against Mountmellick this Sunday at 2.00pm. The visitors finished fourth last season so this will be a real test for Villa, who will be hoping to make home advantage count.

Leinster Shield

Killavilla United ‘B’ started their Leinster Junior Shield campaign with an impressive 6-1 win over Glenmalure Rovers thanks to a Jason Fitzpatrick brace and a goal apiece for Craig Phelan, Josh Tynan, Devin Loughnane and James Synott.