Castlewellan defeat Bryansford in Club Championship

Castlewellan defeat Bryansford in Ladies Senior Championship

Castlewellan defeated Bryansford in the preliminary round of the
Ladies Senior Football championship at Kilcoo on Saturday evening.
Even without the injured Lisa Morgan the Town totally outplayed
the Ford in the second half, so much so that the Ford only managed
1 point in the second half.

The Town opened the scoring after 4 minutes with a point from Kelly
O’Higgins after good work from her sister Nolleen. Castlewella then
moved into a 3 point lead with points from Aine Keary and Nolleen
O’Higgins (Free) before Bryansford resistered their first score
of the game. The Ford then brought the score back to a point when
the scored their second from a free but Castlewellan moved 4 points
ahead when a high dropping ball into the square from Catherine Keown
was misjudged by the Ford keeper and ended up in the net. 1:03 –
0:02. Nolleen O’Higgins added a further point from a free before
the Ford hit a purple patch before half time. They scored a goal
and a point to leave just the minimum between the sides at half
time. The goal came as a result of an unforced error by Castlewellan
keeper Lisa Owens.

Half Time Castlewellan 1:04 Bryansford 1:03

The Town started the second half in superb fashion. Nolleen O’Higgins
won the ball in the middle of the park and hit a super pass to her
sister Kelly who in turn found Paula Clelland at the back post and
she finished to the net in style. The Town added 2 further points
from Kelly O’Higgins before Paula Clelland struck for her second
goal after 10 minutes. Another great pass from the player of the
match Nolleen O’Higgins sent Paula clear and she made no mistake.
Bryansfords only reply in this period was a point in the 15th minute.
3:06 – 1:04 Further points followed from frees by Lisa McCrickard
and Catherine Keown before the score of the game arrived in the
25th minute. Clare Drummy won the ball on the left wing and passed
to Nolleen O’Higgins who slipped the ball to Lisa McCrickard who
beat two players and passed the ball to the on-running Kelly O’Higgins
who crashed the ball to the net for a fabulous goal.

Castlewellan finished the scoring with a super longe range point
from Catherine Keown. This was a superb team performance in the
second half. The defence was superbly marshalled by Elenor Nixon
and Bronagh Quinn with all of the defenders not giving the Ford
attack any space to play at all. Th game was won and lost in midfield

Castlewellan: Lisa Owens, Aislinn Crilly, Elenor Nixon, Colleen
Wynn, Aine Keown, Bronagh Quinn, Clare Drummy, Maread Hardy, Aine
Keary (capt), Catherine Keown, Lisa McCrickard, Deirdre Quinn, Paula
Clelland, Kelly O’Higgins, Nolleen O’Higgins.
Subs: Deborah Keown for Colleen Wynn(40min) , Leanne Owens
for Aislinn Crilly (43min), Natasha McCartan for Paula Clelland
(51mins), Fiona Keown for Kelly O’Higgins(55mins); Bronagh Toner,
Clare Steele, Neave Kelly, Aislinn Savage, Sorcha NiCaithiann