Yesterday’s game saw us take on table toppers Park Rangers in the U17s league .

It was a game that was filled with excitement a plenty .

The game started with what has now become the norm , a furious and fast pace , with both teams trying to edge themselves on top .

Ella Bailey and Grace O Toole were work horses today as they dealt with an ever persistent Park Rangers attack . Both ladies left it all on the pitch , backed up by team mates Cayla Dunphy and the always reliable Ciara O Keeffe .

Sommer Grant seemed to be everywhere at once yesterday on the pitch , clearing and spraying balls as the need arose and also in the middle of the field Laura Flynn really impressed on her first game back after a long spell out due to injury . Evelyn Holden and Ciara Corcoran also put in a mighty shift for us yesterday .

Up front Becky Brogan and Casey Moore , did all they could to break down a resolute Park Rangers defence but it was proving to be a difficult task ….
The introduction of Georgia Grant and Emily Blackmore freshened up the squad on the half hour mark , by when the half time break arrived , Park Rangers had taken the lead 0-1 which the took into the second Half .

The second half saw some very good passages of play from the girls and we created a few chances , none if which we managed to capitalise on … Kayleigh Smith and Katie Tolan took to the pitch mid way through the second half and both players put in a big effort .

Despite this , Park Rangers added another goal to their tally .
Making it 2-0 which is how the game finished up . Mia Ponce De Leon was once again fearless between the sticks , and was vocal and encouraging to all her players throughout the game . The result didn’t go our way today , but all the girls put their heart and soul into yesterday’s game .

Also a Shoutout Alanah Jordan who joined us in the past few weeks , Alanah didn’t see any game time yesterday , but was a great support to the girls during the game .

Great match today away to Ballyduff, not an easy place to go.

Early goal from Ethan settled the nerves as it went in off both posts. Ballyduff equalised in the first half. Shane had one of his characteristic mazy runs and kept his head to walk the ball into the goal to go in 2-1 at half time. Ballyduff got a headed goal at the back post, before Ethan got his second, this time just off one post.

Ballyduff were stubborn and never gave up and were rewarded with their No7 getting a second goal with a well placed shot giving Will no chance in goals. In the end it could have gone either way, but the lads saw it out and 3-3 draw was a fair result. Well done to Conor B on his u12 league debut today.

Saturday afternoon the u14 Schoolboys took an unusual route by heading west towards Tipperary were they met Clonmel Celtic the Schoolboys FAI National Cup.

This was the first time in 5 years that any team in Mooncoin Celtic had played in a national cup competition and they started off very well with some slick passing out from the back and through the midfield.

There was an early shout for a penalty for Mooncoin but it was immediately waved away. Then the teams exchanged some shots, with Clonmel taking the lead from one of their chances.

The 2nd half started at a quick pace and there was a mighty midfield battle, but Clonmel got another break through goal in the early part of the 2nd half which made to tie a little more difficult for Mooncoin.

It was a battling performance from the lads today, and every player can be proud of their efforts against a well established Premier A side. The Mooncoin players didn’t look out of place with such company and will for sure continue to do well in the league campaign.

MoM in this one was Finbarr Purcell who had a titanic display at centre back.

There are six girls from MCFC representing Waterford tomorrow in the Gaynor Cup matches against Wexford.

At U13 we have Aoibhe Rees, Emily Cooney, and Sophie Schaill. Special mention of Sophie who has been super in her U14 and U16 matches for Mooncoin and has been called up to the Gaynor Cup squad.

Did you know that back in 2018 Sophie was hugely vocal about the need for a girls team in Mooncoin and was over the moon when she heard it was going ahead. Since then we don’t think Sophie has missed one training session and has worked hard on her game and we here at MCFC central are so proud and delighted for Sophie as she breaks into the Waterford development squad.

At U15 we have Mia Ponce De Leon, Sommer Grant and Emily Blackmore.

The very best of luck to all the girls, and management team.

Mooncoin conceded an early goal in this match, but then Aaron equalised on 25 minutes. They scored again to go 2-1 ahead at half time. Aaron scored again after the break to level. Cian followed up minutes later to bring us to a 3-2 lead.

Ballinroad went clear on goal ten minutes from time but Fionn made a great save.

Ballinroad pressed on and got a late equaliser.

A 3-3 classic but solid defending from Mooncoin throughout in spite of the result.

A fiercely contested battle today between ourselves and Bohs .

A game that was filled with intensity from kick off to the final blow of the whistle.

Bohs got off to an flying start , when they slotted home to go 0-1 up after ten minutes , normally our heads would have dropped but the girls dug deep and clawed their way back into the game getting the equaliser ten minutes from the half time break.
Bohs edged ahead yet again before the half time break .

The second half started with the same intensity as the first ,,, and five minutes in Mooncoin found the equaliser that set up a dramatic and suspense filled finish.

Five minutes from time Mooncoin took a well deserved lead and fought it out for every single ball after that until the final whistle blew. The chance of an equaliser came for Bohs built out goalie wasn’t going to allow it

3:2 to Mooncoin today , a fantastic and well deserved win for these players today, who never once gave up.

Goal scorers today
Emily Blackmore ⚽️⚽️
Aoibhe Rees ⚽️