03/05/2026
Great performance 👏
Impressive ladies go top of league
The Kiltimagh Knock United Senior Women hosted Ballina Town at CMS Park on Friday evening in their latest Eco Powered Cabinets Mayo Women's League Division 1 clash. Ballina were very impressive winners of Division 2 last season and had provided stern opposition for us in a Mayo Women's Cup tie then too.
KK really flew out of the blocks and inside the opening minute Mary Ann Ward teed up Shona Mahon to open the scoring with a smart finish. We were about to witness a lot more action involving both players. Mary Ann was just wide in the 10th minute with Viktoria Balik-Nowak being in the right place at the right time a minute later to double our lead. Mary Ann bagged her first of the night shortly afterwards with an excellent finish after a sublime through ball from Aoife Collins. Along with Erika Ryan and Rachel Clarke, Aoife was part of the midfield axis that worked their socks off closing down the oppostion, winning the ball back and using it smartly to the front-line. Simplicity is indeed genius!
The visitors had their first sight of goal on the quarter hour mark when our captain and goalkeeper Elaine Duffy did well to parry away a well struck direct free kick. Both Mary Ann and Viktoria squandered chances of further goals before Shona was unlucky with a header from a Viktoria cross. Out of nothing, the always dangerous visiting centre forward pulled a goal back for Ballina on 24 minutes. Our right back Kellie Mallee was having a great battle with the opposition left winger while on our opposite flanks, Cliona Callaghan was having her usual composed game. Aoife played another brilliant penetrating pass releasing Mary Ann to comfortably score again with 28 minutes on the clock.
Mary Ann was just too high with an effort before we had a let-off when right sided centre back Nicola Maloney got back to clear off the goal line to prevent a certain goal. Shona scored a super individual goal in the 31st minute with Elaine having the assist. The late great Bob Paisley (the first manager to win three European Cups which I never tire of telling anyone) came to mind. "It's not about the long ball or the short ball. It's about the right ball!" Mary Ann went close again before Ballina again reduced the deficit through their centre forward again. Not to be outdone, Mary Ann replied almost immediately, sealing her hat-trick following superb build-up play involving Erika and Shona. Anna McDonnell was just too high with a free-kick before Viktoria was denied in a one on one with the visiting 'keeper.
The home attacks continued unabated at the start of the 2nd half with both Mary Ann and Viktoria being denied by the 'keeper and Shona firing wide.Shona completed her hat-trick on 61 minutes. Juliet Duffy was on into midfield at this stage and Mary Ann added another quick-fire double with a real goal scorer's instinct. Viktoria and Shona both went close before Mary Ann got another goal in the 75th minute.
Our final two switches of the night saw Lisa Corrigan come into midfield and Emily Moore come on as a right winger. There was no great surprise that it was Mary Ann who concluded the scoring in the 76th minute to seal a victory built on real hard work right across the pitch, very good decision making and a ruthless front line.
Squad: V Balik-Nowak, C Callaghan, R Clarke, L Corrigan, A Collins, E Duffy (C), J Duffy, S Mahon, N Maloney, K Mallee, E Moore, A McDonnell, S McGuire, E Ryan, M A Ward
Referee: Phillip O'Brien-Gleeson.
Our attention now turns to another home league match next Friday, May 8th, against perennial rivals at both underage and senior level, Killala.
