Girls Academy: Goalden return

The Cliftonville Girls Academy hit the ground running on their big return to action with no fewer than 28 goals scored across Sunday’s various games.

Three different players netted four goals in a match, while there was a further hat-trick to toast elsewhere as the young Reds got back in the groove following their Christmas break.

Girls Academy Team of the Week (January 15)

Under-9s
Sophia Kielty took the Coaches’ Player of the Match award for her performance in Cliftonville’s friendly with Barn United Boys at the Norman Whiteside Pitches.

Under-11s/10s (Red)
A Lisburn League encounter with Lisdrum saw Holly Saunders on target for the Reds.

Under-11s/10s (White)
Colin Glen played host to a battle with Hillsborough that saw Caela Loughlin (above) deliver a standout display.

Under-10s
Katie Lewis celebrated a hat-trick, while a brace for Rachel Kerr and a strike from Alesa Manea contributed to a high-scoring friendly with Ballyclare.

Under-13s
Aquinas provided the opposition at Blanchflower Stadium, where Mia Callaghan scored four alongside a goal from Lilliana McKeown, while both Maeve McMenamin and Yvie Rose McMahon impressed in the SBYL Boys League game with St Mary’s at Whiterock.

Under-14s
There were goals galore across two matches as Amy McBride hit all four in a friendly with Carryduff, and Emira Rapalyte, Erin Murray, Aliyah Conlon, Rio Brenann and Michaela Cummings all found the net against Ballysillan Boys.

Under-15s
Brook McAree joined the cast of players to strike four goals in a game when the Reds (main image) took on Ballymena United at Grove, with Zara McCartan (2) and Darcy Murray were also on the scoresheet.