Northern Ireland 5
Athlone Town 1
Northern Ireland got their 2024 Premier Girls campaign off to the best possible start as they ended up comfortable winners against Athlone Town. The girls from the North were impressive, applying a high press to win the ball back in dangerous areas, as well as being patient in position. It was their wide players, though, who proved to be the difference makers. Good hold up play by striker Ava Hurl saw the ball regularly spread out to the wings. In the 9th minute Lucy Kelly on the left saw her deep cross loop over Athlone keeper Ellen Gorman to open the scoring, her muted celebration hinting it may not quite have been intentional.
Athlone attempted to bounce back, and a low shot by Leah Stack got past NI goalie Abbie Smith, but Caitlin Carlisle tracked back well to clear at the last second. Soon, though, it was Northern Ireland who extended their lead when Kelly turned provider, finding Kayli-Ann Clayton at the back post for her first goal of the night. Athlone weren’t deterred though, and Emily Craven looked to pounce on a mistake in the NI defence, but her shot was gathered well by Smith.
Halftime: NI 2-0 Athlone
The second half saw Athlone working hard to limit Northern Ireland to shots from distance. But, unfortunately for them it was time for the Clayton show. She hit her 2nd of the night when a deflected clearance landed at her feet and she dispatched into the empty net. Then, soon after, she completed the hat-trick after a neat 1-2 to put NI 4-0 ahead.
Northern Ireland were largely comfortable, playing through Athlone’s pressure on the ball. But the girls from down south had their moments. None better than when substitute Abbie Duffy showed very tidy feet to wriggle free in the box and dispatch a hard strike into the NI net. This spurred Athlone on, but they couldn’t create many meaningful chances against the resolute Northern defence. The girls in green managed to add a little more gloss to the scoreline when Maya Stachura scored after a bit of pinball in the Athlone box.
Fulltime: NI 5-1 Athlone
Some excellent performances on both sides, Lucy Kelly and Ava Hurl for Northern Ireland proving real handfuls through both trickery and physicality. For Athlone, Maeve Wollmer in midfield showed good feet and passing range, while captain Niamh Dundon caught the eye with her unceasing positivity. But, without question, this was Kayli-Ann Clayton’s night.
Words from Steven Boucher