31/05/2026
5 star performance takes Seniors to league summit
The Kiltimagh Knock United senior ladies were in the county town on Friday evening facing Castlebar Celtic. Castlebar have been setting a high bar on their return to the Mayo Women's League having won all four of their Eco Powered Cabinets Division One league matches prior to Friday night and, two weeks ago, they beat us 3-0 in the First Round of the Mayo Cup. We have been doing alright in the league despite being two points adrift of them but the goal was to win and go back to the top of the league. We loved testing ourselves on this ground at underage level so we certainly were looking forward to again putting in a good performance first and foremost and then see where that took us result wise.
Castlebar had the first chance in the opening minute when Grace Carroll fired over the bar. We had our first sight of goal in the 10th minute when Shona Mahon picked out Mary Ann Ward with a clever ball but her finish was just too high. Both these players were to have prominent roles in this game. Carroll went close again on the quarter hour mark before the home team went ahead three minutes later with a smart finish from Sarah Jane Kilcawley.
Shona had a shot saved in the 28th minute as our midfield trio of Siofra McGuinness at 6, Viktoria Balik-Nowak at 8 and Saoirse Murray at 10 were beginning to edge the midfield battle and play really smart, intelligent balls for Shona and Mary Ann to strike fear in the home defence. Not bad for two 16 year olds and a 17 year old! Mary Ann had the ball in the net but was offside, Elaine Duffy in our goal continued her excellent form this season by pulling off a couple of high quality saves having been caught by a late challenge for one of them. Viktoria also took a heavy knock to her neck but all it did was to make her run even faster if that is even possible! Our two wing-backs Rachel Clarke on the right and Cliona Callaghan on the left, pushed high up at every opportunity denying their direct opponents any time or space.
We got the goal our first half display very much deserved with 42 minutes on the clock when Mary Ann left the home defence trailing in her wake before clinically hammering home into the bottom corner. Shona went close two minutes later and again worked the home 'keeper with the final chance of a pulsating half of football.
Half-Time.
Castlebar Celtic 1
Kiltimagh Knock United 1
Castlebar went close in the early moments of the second half before a sublime through ball from Siofra released Mary Ann and she sped away to fire home her and our 2nd goal with 48 minutes on the clock. We then spurned the first of a number of one on ones with the 'keeper as our play continually released our forward players into space. The home team were still dangerous and the crossbar saved us before Mary Ann had another goal ruled out for offside after fantastic play by Viktoria. Mary Ann was just wide with another attempt as we were creating chances at will.
Our twin centre backs, Nicola Maloney and Hana Ueno, were certainly having the better of their respective duels with the home twin strikers, with Erika Ryan really excelling in an unfamiliar defensive role proving that old adage correct - good players can take on advice and play anywhere. Elaine kept us ahead with another super save in the 71st minute. Shona reacted quickest to a breaking ball after a lung-bursting run by Saoirse up the left flank, and we had that important 3rd goal. We really should have added another two or three goals after that, such was our dominance, but at least we continued to create chance after chance. Cliona and Siofra provided terrific corner deliveries from both sides right across the game. Viktoria had our final chance three minutes from time but was denied by the 'keeper.
Final Score:
Castlebar Celtic 1
Kiltimagh Knock United 3
Squad:
V Balik-Nowak, C Callaghan, R Clarke, L Corrigan, C Conlon, E Duffy (C), R Foy, S Mahon, N Maloney, S Murray, S McGuinness, E Ryan, H Ueno, M A Ward.
Referee: Phillip O'Brien-Gleeson.
This was a first class performance from each and every player. Our work ethic, fitness, endurance and game intelligence was a sight to behold and it really was a privilege for Dee and I to watch. When I did my B Licence back in the day, I was asked what wild animal I would like my teams to compare with. I thought it a no-brainer. It had to be the Wild Dogs of Africa because of their extraordinary teamwork, stamina and strategy. Despite their small size, they have a hunting success rate of some 80% compared to lions' figures of 20-25%. Our performance certainly ticked all the boxes for teamwork, stamina and strategy.
That's us halfway through the league. Eight of our 14 players on duty came through our underage set up with another player on the opposition also having been part of our set-up.
Attention now turns to another huge game away to Killala next Friday night in our defence of the Mary Walsh Cup.
