GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 23 – April 10, 2015 | Page 23

TEAM FORMATION
We had our captain Marie and Soraya
up front. Midfield was made up of
Angelique who played on the French
team against Italy in Toulouse last November, and Claire (all 5ft 11 inches of
her), who only started playing a few
weeks ago. In defense, we had Kayleigh a tenacious Anglo Irish expat
with previous experience playing for
Rennes, and Charlene who would run
all day. Minding the house in goals was
myself Sinead – I played with Rennes
Niort Ladies huddle. Photo: Niort Gaels.
for many years before giving up due to
the impracticality of playing for a team
two hours away from where I live. But egged on by Kayleigh, I’m
seven players (even if Bordeaux had kindly lent us some
have come out of “retirement” to help the Niort girls develop
players) was starting to show. Leading by 2 points with three
and give them a possibility of fielding a team.
minutes to go we were dealt a blow when our MVP Angelique had to go off injured and the midfield battle was lost.
The Federal team pushed on and the experienced Irish playAGONY
ers and Joumi, attacker on the French national team, made
The first game was a harsh lesson for the girls as they came
no mistake scoring a late goal and a point to win the game
up against an experienced Rennes team (current French and
by three. We were very disheartened to lose in such fashion
European Shield champions). We put in a good first half perbut that’s sport, yet, we learnt a lot from the game and vowed
formance though and kept the scoring to a minimum forcing
to do better in our last match against Bordeaux.
them to rush and take shots from far out. The second half was
a different story as Rennes settled into their rhythm and the
THRILLER
collective passing and excellent shooting meant they ran away
with the victory in the end.
During the very physical game against the Federal team
we lost two players to injury but thankfully Angelique is
such a warrior that she pushed through the pain to put in
EXTACY
a massive performance against Bordeaux. The Federal team
This could have put a damper on the day, if the inclement
kindly lent us two girls for the last match and it was perhaps
weather wasn’t bad enough, it actually had the opposite effect
one of the best games of the day. In the first half Bordeaux
and in the next round against Paris the individual efforts of
had multiple shots on goal but the keeper ‘mise’ made a few
each girl, helped to spur on the team to a well-deserved victory.
‘huge’ saves to keep the scores level. In the second half the
An amazing achievement against last year’s vice champions.
team matched each other score for score. Bordeaux moved
a point ahead with two minutes to go after some good teamSO CLOSE
work. Niort managed to equalise from a fantastic sideline
Up next was a Federal team made up of girls from Lyon, Toukick by Angelique from a very tight angle. With no time
louse and Coutances. By this stage the effects of only having
remaining perhaps a draw would have been the fair result

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