So close yet so far for Charlestown Ladies. Charlestown’s Championship run came undone on an unseasonably warm October morning against a clinical and determined Kilmovee team.
Right from the off you could tell this Kilmovee team meant business when they scored a goal after a slick passing move within the first minute of the game. Charlestown, as they do, regrouped and the rest of the first half became a shootout with both teams finding their range time and again. The sense was however that Charlestown were maybe a little lucky to be going in at half time just a goal down as every time Kilmovee attacked they looked like scoring, while Charlestown were having to work just that bit harder.
Sadly, after the break, Charlestown couldn’t plug the holes in their defence evident in the first half, and the second half started much like the first, with Charlestown’s goal coming under siege time and again. Charlestown hung in there though and their full forward line of Doherty and McGovern were proving lethal on the limited occasions Charlestown could get ball into them. With 10 minutes of normal time remaining there was still just that goal in it.
That was as good as it got for Charlestown however as coming down the stretch their play became noticeably more one-dimensional as the pressure and tension grew, constantly getting isolated on the ball and getting corralled on the tight Kilmovee pitch time and again. Charlestown lacked a cool, calm head to direct play more thoughtfully around the centre half forward area in those last 10 minutes, with the likes of the experienced McGovern now sitting in the dugout, having been called ashore with 20 or so minutes remaining in the contest.
A soft goal in the last minute put an extra shine on the scoreline for Kilmovee, moving them out of sight in what was an even closer game than the final score would suggest.
Ultimately for Charlestown there is a lot to be proud of in their first year back in Senior football. All 3 of their games went right down to the wire against 3 very established Senior teams. But for the bounce of the ball here or there and the story of each game could have been very different.
They must pick themselves back up however as there is still a job to be done. The spectre of the shield competition, which doubles as the defacto relegation playoff is coming. A trip to Hollymount this weekend awaits. A win could see them through to a shield final while a loss would mean a final showdown with either Burrishoole or Castlebar to see who plummets down to Intermediate.
Stayed tuned.
Half Time Score:
Kilmovee: 3-06
Charlestown: 2-06
Scorers for Charlestown:
Deirdre Doherty: 1-8
Nora McGovern: 1-2
Chelsea Doherty: 0-1
Katie Gavin: 0-1
