Learning curve for CMUL Academy girls in Interleague

Last weekend saw the beginning of the Interleague for the Cavan-Monaghan Academy girls' teams. Even if the results didn’t go their way, the experience gained will be invaluable for the U12, U13, U14 and U16 teams going forward.

Coach Neil Kelly had anticipated as much for his U16 outfit, as he knew the “Belfast squad is a very skillful, high-quality squad made up from girls that have played since they were small”.

He was honest in what to expect.

“It's quite daunting to be going. They only ever trained once as a team since coming together last week, Thursday. So we will see. It's a massive test, but they're really looking forward to,” he had said ahead of the match about his young footballers.

The CMUL aims to offer young players across a pathway to develop their skills and fulfil their sporting ambitions in two 14-week programmes each year with underage teams for boys and girls.

Each squad carries 20 to 22 players, who train at Cootehill Harps and The Peace Link in Monaghan, under the guidance of 18 FAI-qualified coaches.

Neil Kelly is glad they can train in his hometown Cootehill, where his three daughters also play football. One of them, Clodagh, is part of his U16 squad which he describes as a “very eager team”.

“The camaraderie is very big. They all have known each other from other sports. A lot of them would have played together in the Cavan Gaelic under fourteens team.”

Even though it was quite a track up the North, it would be “fun and interesting to play on a different level, on a higher level, essentially it will show how far away we are.”

The match was played in the Seaview Stadium, home of the Irish League team Crusaders Football Club – a truly extraordinary setting for the U16 footballers.

“We were beat 4-0,but the scoreline flattered Belfast,” said Neil afterwards. “we went 1-0 down at halftime with Caoimhe Murtagh very unlucky not to make it 1-0 to us first after she broke through and shot on her left and went just wide off the post.”

Despite the loss, the “girls loved every minute of it” and the team are looking forward now on working towards their upcoming interleague match at home against Donegal Inishowen.

Meanwhile, the U14 CMUL girls played their first Interleague game against Doneagl in the Letterkenny Community Centre.

“Both teams started brightly with attacking combinations coming from both sides and defences coming out on top,” described coach Christopher Farrell.

The CMUL girls created the best opportunities in the first half with the Donegal keeper making two brilliant saves to keep the score 0-0 at halftime. Unfortunately, Donegal capitalised on a rare error in defence scoring with a brilliant finish. Repeatedly repelling CMUL attacks, Donegal eventually scored a second time.

“It was a tough game to start the season, but with brilliant performance across the board lots of positives to be taken also,” Farrell concluded.