All the Carnegie Premiership teams were back in league action last week with most of the Clubs playing their last fixture of the season.
Loughall Lakers recorded their 2nd and biggest win of the season handing out a 9-0 drubbing to a lacklustre Linfield. This emphatic win meant that Loughgall Lakers missed automatic relegation resigning Northland Raiders to the Championship for next season.
Loughgall Lakers will play Cliftonville Ladies in a league play-off with the ultimate prize at stake – Premier football in 2010.
Phillipa Dougan Toal propelled herself into the top ten league scorers with 4 goals ably assisted by Brooke Jordan, Janice Willis, Rebecca Capper and Ruth Hill.
Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers already with the league trophy in the cabinet enjoyed their last game of the season with a 2-0 win.
Mid Ulster Ladies who have been battling for every point had to go home and recompose for their last game of the season on Wednesday night against chasing Linfield.
Terri Harper and Danielle McDowell were both on target for the Strikers.
Newbridge Predators who have just managed to stay out of the relegation zone hosted Ballymena last week and were treated to a lesson in goal scoring. The final score was 6-0 to Ballymena, a result that is worthy of third place in the table as Ballymena have been playing good consistent football all year.
Northland Raiders will be preparing for Championship football next season after going 4-0 down to Glentoran BU at Dairy Hall in Newtownards. Raiders finished bottom of the table after winning only 1 game all season and even a hard fought draw against Linfield a couple of weeks back wasn’t enough to help them save the drop.
Glentoran only finished 3 points from the league top spot but are still in with a chance of taking silverware when the take to the field in the final of the Carnegie league cup as well as the final of the Coca Cola Irish Cup.
The Coca Cola Championship has been wrapped up with YMCA taking top honours. They completed the season hosting Larne Ladies and true to form winning 4-1.
Kendra McMullan finished her season in style with a brace, team mates Aine McKeever and Laura McLaughlin also on the team sheet. An exceptional season for a young squad under the guidance of Greg McKeever.
Carrick pulled off surprising 1-0 win again Cliftonville which ended Cliftonville hopes of winning the Championship League. However, this win wasn’t enough to lift Carrick off the bottom of the table and they face Division 1 football next year.
Dromore Amateurs, Fermanagh Mallards and Coleraine Ladies were all fighting for survival in order to miss the play-offs between the Championship and Division 1.
Dromore Amateurs hosted Donegal Celtic and had to win to stay in the league. The Amateurs didn’t disappoint and dispatched with the Celts 2-0.
Ciara McElderry scored her 1st goal of the season and was joined on the scoresheet by Kirsty Bates.
Coleraine Ladies and Fermanagh Mallards met at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena last week. Coleraine suffered 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Mallards resulting in Fermanagh remaining in the Championship with Coleraine facing a daunting play-off.
Coleraine Ladies will play Armagh or Downpatrick in the play-off and the winner will play in the Championship next season.
Coca Cola Division one winners St Mathews finished the season in style with a 3-1 win against 3rd spot Downpatrick.
Division 1’s top scorer Rachael Rogan made it onto the score sheet last week in her normal formidable form along with team mates, Maria Sykes and Megan Mailey. Sarah Jess struck a consolation goal for Downpatrick.
Knockbreda and Tollymore met at the Parish last week and Tollymore came away with all three points after a 2-1 win. Laura Byrne and Carissa Hall both netting for Tollymore, and a solitary goal for Knockbreda from Samantha Mulligan.
Blackieville played host to struggling Portaferry, their clash finished 2-0 with no change to the table. Julie Scott and Danielle McKinley both on target for the home side.
Glenavon Ladies will be joining the ranks of Division 2 next season after winning only 1 game all season. They travelled to Holm Park in Armagh on Friday for their last game of the season with hopes of staying in Division 1 but to no avail as Armagh put the nail in the coffin for Glenavon beating them 1-0.
Just 1 game was played in Coca Cola Division 2 last week. Promotion hopefuls Limavady needed a win at Moyola to secure a place in Division one and squandered the chance with a 1-1 draw after a highly contested match at the last game ever to be played at Moyola Park (as their new pitch and facilities will be opening at the start of September).
Banbridge Ladies were handed their last 3 points of the season when Derry City didn’t field a team. They finish top of the league and will be promoted to Division 1 next season.
Coca Cola Division 3 has been decided for quite a few weeks now. League winners Bangor Ladies have been cruising through the tail end of the season and haven’t taken their foot off the pedal. Their final fixture will be against Wellington Rec on Wednesday after this weeks game had to be abandoned due to poor weather conditions.
1st Bangor aren’t slacking either welcoming Killyleagh to the Dairy Hall in Newtownards and sending them home again after a 6-1 thrashing.
Shona Hewlett was on fire with a hat trick and helped along by team mates Hannah Sheffield, Desree Goodman and Molly Moore.
High scoring at Dunleath Playing fields when Rossglass took it upon themselves to crush Ballyvange 10-0. Single goals from Audrey Hanna, Clara Reid and Natalie Kelly coupled with a hat trick from Mary McGrady and 4 for Fatima Ross completed rout.
An 8 goal nail biter was the order of the day at Millbridge when Ballynahinch and Wellington Rec went toe to toe and came out with 4 goals a piece.
Rebecca Davis netted a hat trick for Ballynahinch with Sarah Walsh joining her on the score sheet whilst Welington Rec had 2 goals a piece for Jamie-Leigh Wilkin and Lana Robinson.
Abbey Villa weren’t able to escape relegation but they did end their season on a high note beating Ballynahinch 2-0 last Wednesday night.
Coca Cola Division 4 was wrapped up this week and Kilkeel Ladies will make their way up to Division 3. They finished the season with a 4-0 win over Rathcoole during a feisty encounter at The Diamond.
Runners up Portadown Integrated also finished on a high note with a 4-1 win over Lisburn Distillery.
Goal machine Aisling McKenna finishes the season in 4th spot on the goal scorers table after 2 from last weeks game. Collette Carville and Rachael Hall also join her on the score-sheet to increase their tallies for the year.
Stephanie Laverys single goal was Lisburns only reply.
PSNI finish the season in 3rd spot after a 4-0 win at home to Dromara.
Leigh Chapman, who has had an exceptional season, with a hat trick (taking her to 17 goals for the season) and Caroline Walker backing her up with a single strike.
Monyslane will end the season at the foot of the Coca Cola division 4 table after a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Crumlin United.
In the reserve league Linfield Reserves beat Blackeville 5-0 and Glentoran beat the Northland Raiders 2-0.
This incoming week sees the start of the Cup Finals -:Tuesday 25th August – Coca Cola Division 4 Cup Final – Lisburn Distillery v Kilkeel Ladies at Danny Blanchflower Stadium, Belfast with 7.30 p.m. kick-off.
Friday 28th August – Coca Cola Championship Cup Final – Fermanagh Mallards v Cliftonville Ladies at Coleraine Sowgrounds with 7.30 p.m. kick-off.
Report by: Gareth Irvine
