Carrigtwohill AFC Women's Team Make Historic Debut with Thrilling 2-2 Draw

It was a landmark evening in Carrigtwohill as the club’s first ever Junior Ladies team stepped onto the pitch for their debut competitive 11-a-side match — and they delivered a performance full of passion, pride, and pure heart. In a dramatic clash with Mallow Utd FC, Carrig came from 2-0 down to secure a memorable 2-2 draw in the GE HealthCare 2nd Division.

Adding to the magic of the occasion, Carrigtwohill’s U13 Girls team were playing at the same time on the adjacent pitch — a powerful visual of generations side by side, with four mother-daughter pairings proudly representing the club. The mothers were showing their daughters the way forward, both literally and figuratively, as the future of women’s football in Carrig unfolded before everyone's eyes.

Despite pre-match nerves, Carrig exploded into the game with energy and intent. An early corner from Rachel got the ball rolling, followed by a shot from Bláithín that flashed just wide. Neasa and Rachel both had early efforts that came close — Rachel’s in particular was inches over in the 8th minute.

But it was Mallow who struck first, breaking quickly on 18 minutes and finishing smartly after a cross into the box. Carrig responded well and nearly found an equaliser when Sarah and Neasa combined beautifully on 38 minutes, only for Sarah’s shot to just miss the target. Mallow added a second right before the break to go in 2-0 ahead at halftime.

The response in the second half showed everything this Carrig side is made of. The team lifted their intensity and began to dominate possession. Their breakthrough came in the 72nd minute — Rachel feeding Neasa, who curled a sublime finish into the net to make it 2-1.

From there, it was a masterclass in resilience. Nicola, Carrig’s goalkeeper, made a series of crucial saves — commanding the box and keeping the game alive with fearless stops. A standout moment came when Ciara whipped in a dangerous ball to Kate, whose strike was miraculously denied by the Mallow keeper in one of the saves of the match.

Then, in the 90th minute, came the fairytale finish — or close to it. With coolness beyond measure, Sarah Meighan slotted home the equaliser after composed build-up play, sending the Carrig crowd wild. One final chance almost won it, but again the Mallow goalkeeper produced an extraordinary save to deny the debutants a dream winner.

A night of firsts, of family, and of footballing pride. From social soccer to league football, this Carrig team has already made history — and inspired the next generation doing it. As daughters looked across the pitch to see their mothers leading the charge, one thing became clear: the future is bright, and it’s already here in Carrigtwohill.

Squad - Nicola O Sullivan,  Katie Walsh,  Eadaoin Hornibrook,  Eorann McGrath,  Lucy Cashman,  Sarah Connolly,  Sophie Clarke,  Grace Meade (C), Neasa O’ Donovan,  Rachel Walsh, Blaithin Power,  Karolina Wachowska,  Kate Bogue,  Ciara Dennis,  Christine O Regan,  Sarah Meighan, Sarah Brophy,  Tanya Carroll.