Ballymackey FC Women made a winning start to their Combined Counties Football League campaign with an 8–0 victory over Tullamore Town under the lights at Leah Victoria Park on Saturday evening.

The Ballinree side travelled with a youthful squad, with six starters from their last competitive outing in July unavailable. Their absence provided an opportunity for a number of Ballymackey’s emerging underage players to make the step up to senior football.

Ava O’Rourke made her first competitive senior start in goal, while Anna Lee, Olivia Fitzpatrick and Molly O’Brien all made their senior debuts for the club.

Ballymackey settled into the game and took the lead after 15 minutes through the experienced Joanne O’Brien. LilyKate Kenneally then added two goals in the space of 12 minutes, finding the net in the 26th and 38th minutes to send Ballymackey into the interval with a 3–0 advantage.

The visitors continued to create opportunities after the restart, with Joanne O’Brien adding her second goal in the 49th minute. Debutant Olivia Fitzpatrick made it 5–0 four minutes later, winning a penalty before stepping up to convert from the spot and open her senior account.

O’Brien completed her hat-trick in the 56th minute before the club’s younger players added two further goals in the closing stages.

Isabella Meehan grabbed her first senior goal in the 66th minute before fellow youngster Anna Lee completed the scoring eight minutes from time, marking her senior debut with Ballymackey’s eighth goal of the evening.

The result was a positive start to the new league campaign, but perhaps the most encouraging aspect for Ballymackey was the contribution of the club’s younger players. Fitzpatrick and Lee both scored on their senior debuts, Meehan registered her first senior goal and Kenneally continued her progress at senior level with a brace.

All of Ballymackey’s senior debutants as well as fellow Underage stars Meehen and Kenneally turned in excellent performances, with the youngest of the group, Molly O’Brien, shading the Player of the Match  with a display of poise and composure beyond her years  on what  was a good night for the club’s developing players.

With a number of established players still to return, Ballymackey will be pleased to have started their CCFL Women’s Division campaign with three points while also giving valuable senior experience to several of their younger players.

Ballymackey FC: Ava O’Rourke, Olivia Fitzpatrick, Molly O’Brien, Isabella Meehan, Nicole Ryan, Chloe Whyte, Stephanie O’Sullivan, Kate Cavanagh (capt), Shauna Egan, Anna Lee, LilyKate Kenneally, Joanne O’Brien.