GreenfieldsRemain undefeated.
Sunday last saw Greenfields 1sts take on NUIG in their fourth match of the Connacht Senior League. Greenfields came into the match on the back of 3 wins, while NUIG had won their one and only game of the season prior to this match.
The game started at a high tempo and NUIG put the pressure on early and won a short corner within the first 10 minutes. This was well defended by Greenfields, however, at the cost of a further short corner which the students slotted home, Amy Rossiter getting her name of the score sheet. Greenfields reacted well to this early set back and raised their game with great work from the midfield of Ellie Noone, Becky Anderson and Elaine Hall. Greenfields attacked with menace and put the NUIG defense under great pressure with Freddie Timmons doing some heroic work for the students. Greenfields pressure and indeed the tireless work rate of their forward lines was duly rewarded following a great run down the left side by Trish Garrett caused chaos in the NUIG circle leaving Pamela Ryan with a simple tap in for the equalizer.
This buoyed Greenfields up, and the forward line of Garrett, Ryan and Alma Whelan showed great determination and work rate to keep the pressure on the NUIG defense. Garrett again with a mesmerizing run down the left wing beat a number of NUIG defenders before taking a magnificent reverse shot strike from an acute angle giving Greenfields the lead which they would take into half time. NUIG continued to push hard for an equalizer with some fine play from Tara Melvin and some great long range balls by Timmons, but all these were well dealt with by Catherine Moore in the centre of defense, who shone throughout the 70 minutes.
The second half saw Greenfields continue where they left off, but great defending by NUIG kept the score at 2-1. With 5 minutes to the final whistle, NUIG got a short corner after some fine work on the counterattack. Despite excellent running from Elaine Hall and keeper Sinead Collins getting a hand to Orla Callinan’s shot, it managed to loop into the top left hand corner to give NUIG the equalizer. This set up an exciting finale with both teams giving it their all. Great work again from Garrett this time down the right hand wing resulted in a short corner for Greenfields right on the final whistle. A perfect execution by Sarah McDonald, stick stopped by Ellie Noone and a unstoppable strike by Neasa McGettigan into the bottom left corner gave Greenfields the win. Indeed an exciting end to a gripping match on a blustery Sunday afternoon.
Final score: Greenfields 1sts 3 – NUIG 1sts 2
Greenfields 2nds faced a tough challenge lining out against Galways 1sts team, also in the Connacht Senior League. It was Galway who took the lead against the young Greenfields side with a powerful short corner strike by Emma Glanville. Just on the stroke of half time Greenfields equalised following a well-timed pass from Siobhan Divilly in midfield into Kate Hennessy who made no mistake in finding the back of the net. It was an early deflection in the 2ndhalf that secured the win for Galway with Emma Johnston finishing off a well worked short corner.
Final score: Galway 1sts 2 – Greenfields 2nds 1.
Greenfields 3rds played out an exciting game against NUIG 2nds, losing out by just one goal. Well done everyone!
