Winning start to league for Mallow United girls
MALLOW United U/15 Girls opened their 2020 campaign with a very hard fought win over Carrigaline Hibernians at St Mary’s on Saturday.
Having lost five players from last year’s squad, Mallow fielded a very young and inexperienced side; however, following an uncertain start, the team settled down and gradually took control of the game. Lois Asante twice went close to scoring before finally breaking the dead lock 16 minutes in with a powerful strike into the roof of the Carrigaline net.
With the defence competently led by Niamh Williams and Nicole O’Rahilly and backed up by a very steady Clodagh Lehane in goal holding the Carrigaline attack, Mallow pushed on searching for another score. This score duly arrived when Ciara O’Brien raced through the visitors defence and cracked a powerful shot against the upright and into the back of the net.
Now with a reasonable lead, Mallow took the opportunity of introducing four of last year’s U/11’s players and continued to press but failed to add to the score as the half came to a close.
Playing with a strong breeze to their back, Carrigaline opened the second half in a determined mood and pressed Mallow back deep into their own half. The defence stood firm however with excellent performances from Lucy O’Sullivan and team captain Emily Power, who was outstanding in the holding role in front of the defence.
Though under constant pressure throughout the second half, Mallow came close to adding to their tally a couple of times with breakaway efforts from Lois Asante.
Carrigaline continued to apply the pressure right up to the end but with player of the match Clodagh Lehane giving an outstanding performance in goal their numerous efforts floundered.
Mallow United U/16 Premier Boys put in a great performance in Dublin on Sunday and were unlucky to exit the National Cup after an extra time defeat to Mount Merrion Youths. Mallow trailed 1-0 at half time before going 2-0 down early in the second half.
Mallow pulled one back when the Mount Merrion keeper was unable to gather a well delivered corner and Callum Carroll was quickest to react to poke the ball home at the back post. Ben Buckley got the equaliser for Mallow from 6 yards after excellent work by Kennedy Amechi on the right side who then squared the ball for Buckley to finish.
The game moved to extra time with the score tied at 2-2 and despite sustained pressure on the Mount Merrion goal it was the home side who got the vital third goal as they punished Mallow on the counter-attack to take a 3-2 win and progress to the last 16 of the competition.
Mallow’s U/12 Premier Boys continued their push for honours with a narrow win over Lakewood Athletic.
Mallow started the better side with plenty of possession but had few shots on target. Lakewood gradually got into the game but both sides failed to get a hold on the game. Sean Higgins and Eoin Looney made some threatening runs down both sides but to Lakewoods credit their back four were up to the challenge. The best chance of the half fell to Lakewood however they were unable to get the better of Mallow keeper Cian Davis Heelan and the game remained scoreless at half time.
From the start of the second half Mallow began to impose themselves and Mikie O’Riordan put through a ball to Dylan O’Connell who slotted it home and make it 1-0 to Mallow. Within 3 minutes Lakewood were level when they made a break on the wing and made no mistake with their finish to make it 1-1.
Now the character of the team was really tested as Darrin Dugdale and Cathal Foley were introduced. From a great kick out to Ciaran Isaak, who made a surge forward before finding Dylan O’Connell, who was on hand to slot it home again and put Mallow 2-1 ahead.
This was a valuable 3 points keeping Mallow in second place in the league with three games in hand on leaders Leeside.
Mallow United U/14A Boys had an impressive 1-0 win away to Richmond in a tough hard fought game.
After losing three to injury early on, Mallow started the second half by pressing Richmond and got the goal they deserved in the 44th minute when Kennedy’s shot came off the upright and the lethal Daniel Weedle wasn’t going to miss from 4 yards.
Richmond put the pressure on but found it hard to get the equalizer. Mark Kelleher put in a man of the match performance and topped it off when in the 3rd minute of injury time Richmond were awarded a penalty which was brilliantly saved by Mark.
Mallow United U/16B Boys lost 2-1 in a very tight game to Ballinhassig. Mallow scored from a well taken goal by Adam O’Rahilly and it was a great performance from all the team with man of the match going to Stephan Iwajomo.
Mallow United U/15 Premier Boys drew 1-1 away to Fermoy with Donnacha Barrett scoring for Mallow from a penalty. The team played well on the day and were unlucky not to win as they conceded and equaliser with 12 minutes remaining.
Mallow United U/17 Boys maintained their drive for the title in Division 2 with a 5-2 with over Carrigtwohill United with goals coming from Mark Tobin (2), Senan Long (2) and Fionn Sheehan.