It proved to be a good couple of days for the club’s women’s teams who both moved to the top of their respective league tables after impressive victories.
After playing out a 0-0 draw at home to Longford Town on Saturday, a brace from Ciara Brady moved our WU17 team a point clear at the top of the EA SPORTS LOI Academy Tier Two North table on Tuesday night as they beat Drogheda United 2-1 at Oriel Park.
Next up for the WU17s is a trip to Sligo Rovers on Saturday, August 31st.
DUNDALK FC WU17: Grace McCabe, Aoife Fanning, Wendy Bend, Sion Kirby, Mean McConnell, Erin Shannon, Macy Treanor, Naomi Dowd, Noise Smyth, Shauna Smyth, Ciara Brady. Subs: Emalie McDonald (GK), Jessica Cox, Leona Hanney, Ernesta Marut, Jennifer Freeman, Abbie Shiels, Molly Gordon, Sarah Burkę, Amelia Cassidy.
Before that, our WU19 team recorded a brilliant 4-2 win over Peamount United at Oriel Park on Saturday afternoon to go joint top of the EA SPORTS LOI Academy WU19 Tier Two North table.
After beating Sligo Rovers away from home a week earlier, Jason McConville’s side started the game full of confidence and dominated the first half.
Dundalk FC WU17 players celebrate Ciara Brady’s second goal against Drogheda United at Oriel Park. pictures: Gerry Scully
Chloe Ibezim, who along with Aleesha Smith-Palanzuela, was outstanding on the day, opened the scoring in the 15th minute but Peamount hit back two minutes later through Alicia Maher.
The Lilywhites saw chance after chance go astray and it looked like they would go in level at the break but Kate Drumm gave them a deserved lead seven minutes before halftime.
Peamount came out fighting in the second half but Ibezim’s second, and Dundalk’s third, held them at bay and although the visitors set up a nervy finish through Maher, Dundalk defended their goal well and Smith-Palanzuela’s late penalty secured them a well-earned win.
“All in all, our attitude and application over the past few weeks has been excellent and you can really see the progress in the group which is a credit to the players,” said McConville.
Next up for the WU19s is a trip to Galway United on Sunday, September 1st.
DUNDALK FC WU19: Toyah Hennessy, Abigail Martin, Laura Woods, Kate Drumm, Abbi Griffin (Ruth Leahy 65), Sarah Byrne (Ernesta Marut 80), Aleesha Smith-Palanzuela, Ella McKenna, Chloe Ibezim, Stephanie Cunningham, Jodie McQuillan. Subs not used: Eden Laughton Tyler (GK), Emma Goodman (GK), Kelly Pease, Aoife Fanning, Zara Farrell, Macy Treanor, Moya Bishop.
