Derry Ladies on Track

Sundays game (20/07/08) took part at Louths Centre of Excellence, Darver with the game scheduled for a 3pm start. With a dry day, firm surface and a strong breeze blowing straight across the pitch, neither team had any significant advantage due to conditions. Although Louth took the first point of the game in the 10th minute, Derry were quick to respond 3 minutes later with the only goal of the game from Shauna McCallion. Within the next 4 minutes Derry added a further three points through Kathy Conway, Ashleen Kealey and Julie McLaughlin, setting the score line Derry 1-3 Louth 0-1 halfway through the first half. Louth managed to bring the game back to a goal difference by adding points in the 17th and 20th minute before Ashleen Kealey added her second point for Derry (27th min). As the game went into added time in the first half Kathy Conway (32nd min) added her second for Derry, which received a quick response from Louth with their 4th point (33rd min) to leave a half time score of Derry 1-5 to Louth 0-4.

The second half turned out to be very tight, with a 4 point lead Derry seemed determined to keep a clean sheet and not concede any goals. Praise should be given to the Derry defence and keeper who battled for every ball, closed down the Louth attacks and worked the ball out to mid field through short accurate hand passes. Points were few in the second half, Louth notched up the first two (4th and 7th minutes of the second half) with Derry responding with two of their own (Ashleen Kealey 8th min and Shauna Valleley 29th min of the second half). The last point of the game came from Louth in the 31st min, leaving the final score Derry 1-7 Louth 0-7.

With the blow of the final whistle and the Derry girls celebrating, Derry managers McCallan and Boyle were quick to pull the team together to congratulate and praise the squad and emphasise the importance of the win. Both managers reminded the team of the task ahead and re-affirmed their belief in their squad and what they could achieve this season. Derry next play London on the 3rd August at home, venue to be arranged.

The Derry Squad and Management would like to thank all those supporters who made the trip down and hope for their much-appreciated support in future games.