Dundalk FC’s U16 girls’ team continued their preparations for the upcoming season with a convincing win over Drogheda United on Sunday morning.
The match got off to a rapid start, with four goals flying in in the opening 15 minutes. Dundalk took the lead five minutes in through Sophie Hanlon, but Drogheda equalised two minutes later. The Lilywhites then retook the lead on 11 minutes with Hanlon again scoring, but Drogheda again leveled things up just four minutes later.
Bernard Freeman’s side then settled down and took control of proceedings, as they began to open their opponents up on a consistent basis.
The goals soon began to flow as Dundalk stormed forward and bagged five more before the break. Hanlon completed her hat-trick before a Jennifer Freeman brace and another double from Molly Gordon wrapped up the first-half scoring.
After the break, the Lilywhites switched to more of a possession-based game, but the goals continued to pour in, as Dundalk added another five goals in an excellent second-half showing.
Gordon completed her hat-trick 60 seconds after the restart, before scoring her fourth goal of the game on 54 minutes. Stacey Murray then scored Dundalk’s tenth goal of the afternoon just a minute later.
Molly Williams then got in on the act, bagging a hat-trick of her own, with her goals coming in the 58th, 79th, and 83rd minutes to wrap up a top performance for Freeman’s side.
Drogheda showed moments of quality on the ball throughout the game, but Dundalk’s Premier Division experience shone through in what will surely be a boost to the players as they head towards the beginning of the league season.
DUNDALK FC U16 GIRLS: Caoimhe Magee, Ciara Dunne, Maggie Holland, Naomi Dowd, Page Kavanagh, Jennifer Freeman, Molly Williams, Sophie Hanlon, Stacey Murray, Eimer Traynor, Clara Howard, Kayleigh Goss, Molly Gordon, Alishia Matthews, Emma Goodman.
