Ladies Kil’ Off Another Dublin Team

Monaghan United ladies made it two wins out of two when they beat Kilbarrack United 7-1 in Dublin on Monday night.

The ladies got off to a poor start with the team arriving at the ground 15 minutes before kick off due to traffic congestion and this left them with no time for their pre-match warm-up. Monaghan were under pressure right from the kick off with Kilbarrack mounting attack after attack. The resilient girls weathered the storm however with centre halfs Caroline Griffen and Pamela Treanor easily dealing with everything Kilbarrack threw at them.

As the first half progressed, United got more into the game with Orla Callen and Michela Newell both having goals disallowed for off side on the 32nd and 40th minutes. The first half ended honours even 0-0.

Now fully warmed up Monaghan ladies dominated the game straight away in the 2nd half. On the 46th minute Nakita Cassidy split the Kilbarrack defence with a through ball for Callen to slot past the Kilbarrack ‘keeper. United pushed forward hoping to kill the game off but a high ball in United’s penalty area was poorly dealt with. Two further attempts to clear the ball were fluffed and it ended up deflecting off the Kilbarrack striker into the back of the net having sent goalie Deirdre McAleer the wrong way. It was 1-1 on the 53rd minute.

Not disheartened, the United ladies picked themselves up straight away and some good work by Callen put Newell through and she put the Mons back in front in the 55th minute. Five minutes later a long free kick by Griffen over the top was latched onto by Callen but her shot cannoned back off the post falling for Suzanne Gordon. Gordon made no mistake and coolly slotted home from 10 yards.

In the 68th minute a long ball in from Caroline Kavanagh fell to Gordon and she claimed her second goal of the night making the scoreline 4-1. A United substitution saw Nwanneka Chukwuemeka replace left winger Christine Meinenberg who had worked tirelessy up and down the wing.

Three minutes later United went further in front when, following a great run by Newell down the right hand side, she delivered a blistering cross setting Callen up to claim her 2nd goal. Despite the score reading 5-1 United did not sit back and Newell again sent in a cracking ball this time to be met by Gordon. Suzanne managed to curl the ball into the top corner of the net to gain her first hat-trick of the season and put United in a very comfortable position.

Orlaith Gallagher came on to replace her older sister Michelle and make her debut at senior level. With 5 minutes remaining Charlene Graham finished off the night for United with a wonderful curling shot into the net, leaving the Kilbarrack goalie with no chance. The final score was a very deserving 7-1 to Monaghan United.

Best wishes are sent to fellow team members Leona McConnon, Sharon McAree and Mary Croarkin who are all out injured at the moment. Training is this Friday night at 7pm at Kingspan Century Park.