Castlewellan Girls complete the first part of their double ambitions

Cathoirleach

Castlewellan Under 16 girls won the Division B Championship On Sunday The 20th by Beating Shamrocks Newry 4.5 to 0.5

(Match Report Noreen Keown) This was a comprehensive victory by this very young team most whom still have another year at under 14 level.

There were excellent performances from the whole back line with Shannon Rice being the Star. She kept her head and her line in the full back line under control at all times breaking up attack after attack with great catches and clearances to the wings. She was well supported by Clare Cleland and Katie Savage while Brid Mc Coey and her line of Ciara Gibson and Paddi Hawkins kept the Shamrocks half forwards from making any impact.

Ciara Gibsons intelligent interceptions were outstanding, she reads the ball well and is fast to the tackle. The midfield duo of Emma Owens and Andrea Mc Clean had a hard time containing the fast midfields of Shamrocks plus the full forward who played as an extra man but the hard work of Aoife Keown and Ciara Gibson kept the ball moving into the forwards. Rosie Rice took advantage of those plays and sent the ball into the corner of the net to settle the young Town girls nerves and this was quickly followed by a second goal by Sarah Mc Ardle and a point from Caoimbe Kelly.

Shamrocks came back at the Town mounting attacks and were rewarded in quick succession 3 points this was replied to by the Town with another Goal from the poacher Sarah and point from Caoimbe Kelly.

The second half seen the Town girls dig in and soak up all the pressure from the Newry side with great work from players all over the pitch keeping the Newry girls scoreless. The town girls added pressure of their own popping over three more points from Caoimbe Kelly and Aoife Keown and a great goal from Christine Owens sealed the victory for the Town girls

Well done Girls from everyone in the Club and good luck to our your U14 girls who take on Carryduff in the County A Final on the 11th of Oct venue to be arranged but most likely Downpatrick or Loughinisland. This will be this side's first foray at this title but hopefully not the last as most of these girls have one more year at this level.

Lets have a big town turnout for this final in support of our young stars






Previous news reportIts double or nothing for the Town ladies under age footballers

This weekend the Town under 16 girls football team made it a double for the club when they beat the much fancied Annaclone side in the under 16 div B championship semi final.

Just a few days earlier the under 14 girls had beaten their near neighbours Bryansford in the under 14 A championship semi Final to set up a final with either Annaclone or Carryduff.

The Castlewellan girls played a very compact game of football converting a large number of opportunties whilst Bryansford failed to convert a number of chances they had.The steady back line of Paddi Hawkins Ciara Gibson and Katie Savage broke down the Fords attack time after time The midfield duo of Aoife Keown and Saoirse Steele kept the ball moving to the attack line of Anna Rogan, Caoimbe Kelly and Niamb Flannagan who when given any opportunity put their points over this was reflected in the score line of 9g and 17pts with the full forward line of Sarah Mc Ardle , Louise Mc Cabe Clare Owens, and Aimee Mc Aleenan who replaced Clare not missing many chances either.

The steady full back line led by Shannon Rice controlled the game sending long balls up the field to the midfield. This was a comrephenseive victory for the under 14 girls team which makes up 90% of the under 16 team who travelled to Annaclone on Sunday

The girls of the Town knew they had a tough job on their hands if they were to come out of Annaclone with a victory as they had already met in the league and it had been a victory for the home team. But the girls had put a lot of hard work in over the long lay off during August and this paid off as they started brightly with a point from Sarah Mc Ardle the same player hit the crossbar a min later with an attempt on goal which seemed to spur Anaclone on who went up the field and scored a goal and a point without reply.

This seemed to settle the Town girls who knuckled down to some great defensive play by Shannon Rice Clare Cleland and Katie Savage who tackled and worked to clear the ball. Emma Owens and Andrea McLean worked tirelessly in the mifdfield feeding the half forward line of Caoimbe Kelly, Aoife Keown and Saoirse Steele These three players combined to make a leathal attack and the Annclone defence found them almost impossible to mark.

Some great ball into the full forward line created a number of chances which the full forward line of Rosie Rice, Sarah Mc Ardle and Louise McCabe ensured went over the bar to bring the match back in the favour of the Town Girls. The Town girls kept the pressure up and drove forward to go into a 8 point lead at half time.

The match restarted with Annclone putting a lot of pressure on the town defence but the half back line of Paddi Hawkins Brid Mc Coey and Ciara Gibson were outstanding and every ball was tackled for and passed to mid field of Aoife and Andrea who had the legs to run all day The Town soaked up the pressure and then turned in a brillent last ten mins where they increased their lead to go home winners 4.14 to 3.8

Well done Girls from everyone in the Club. Final possibly next Sunday against either Shamrocks or Rostrevor