It was the first time that the team had to play two competitive games inside such a short space of time – just three days – but luckily they were both at home and they earned two brilliant results.

First up on Monday was Clanna Gael Fontenoy, which was a high-scoring fixture, and then on Wednesday Robert Emmets visited Bushy Park.

Ranelagh Gaels 8-8
Clanna Gael Fontenoy 6-10

THIS can only be described as one of the craziest and most enjoyable games that you could ever hope to see!

It turned into a complete goal-fest and it was the Gaels that got the scores that mattered.

Of all the goals, Fiona’s last minute top corner rocket not only saved the game for Ranelagh but was also the pick of the day

Unfortunately the RTE cameras weren’t there to show replays because it would easily have been a contender for their Goal of the Season competition.

Gaels got off to the ideal start hitting the net through Kristy, Laoise and Babs.

The toughest challenge for the home side in the first half was getting the ball out of defence and at times lacked the composure to clear there lines.

This handed Clan simple opportunities which they didn’t fail to convert.

Gaels were blessed with stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhe (if you’re interested in playing goals for the Ranelagh Gaels ladies team you can email us on info@ranelaghgaels.ie for more information) as she kept the home them in the game.

The second half tempo stayed the same as both sides exchanged scores, one of the best was Aoife long range effort falling under the cross bar.

Ranelagh Gaels 8-10
Robert Emmets 0-4

AFTER conceding so much on Monday night questions might have been asked of the Gaels defence.

But on Wednesday they answered them all by limiting Robert Emmets to just four points over the hour.

The ladies team are still struggling for a goalkeeper because it is such a tough job but somebody has got to do it.

Kristy stood between the posts for the first half and then moved out to full back for the second. At times the Gaels defence were fantastic at clearing the ball

The final 15 minutes of the game lacked a bit in intensity and Ranelagh were content to pick off their scores and conserve their energy on a hot summer’s day.

Many of the players found themselves playing out of position, but adapted well on a steep learning curve.

The Ranelagh Gaels Ladies returned to winning ways with a well deserved away victory against Ballyboughal on Wednesday evening.

Still smarting from their first defeat of the season on their previous outing, the Gaels began as if determined to erase the memory of that reversal.

Although missing some key players, such as Lil, Martina and Claire, Ranelagh were bolstered by the return of Laoise at centre-forward, whose class was immediately underlined by two well-taken points to open the scoring.

Indeed, this opening phase of the game belonged to the away team, with an impressive half back line of Mary, Edel, and Kate acting as a springboard for constant Gaels pressure.

Enjoying an advantage in both territory and possession, the Gaels’ superiority finally began to be reflected on the scoreboard as Kirstie embarked on a scoring spree, helping herself to a total of 2-02 as the first half progressed.

At this juncture the Ranelagh forwards were causing the Ballyboughal defence all sorts of problems, with Laoise, Ger, Claire Larkin and, in particular, Fiona, dominating their markers.

Unfortunately, a series of wides halted the Gaels scoring progress, while the Ballyboughal girls, cheered on by a sizeable home support, began to exert some pressure of their own.

The ten minutes preceding half-time saw Ballyboughal begin to reel in the Gaels, with the latter only enjoying a slender four point lead at the half-time whistle.

Any thoughts the home team may have harboured of achieving a notable comeback were quickly extinguished on the resumption of play, with the Ranelagh girls now playing some of their best football of the year.

The catalyst for this impressive performance was undoubtedly Aoife Long in midfield, her work-rate and link-up play driving the Ballyboughal team to distraction.

With all avenues to the Gaels goal-mouth shut off by a most solid full-back line of Caoimhe, Claire Gleeson and Mags, and complimented by the goalkeeping skills of Patricia, it fell to the forwards to finish off the game.

Spreading the scores more evenly in the second half, Laoise, Kirstie, Ger and Maria all registered points, with Maria also finding the net with a well taken goal.

On her final appearance for the Gaels before departing for Australia, corner-forward Sile was denied the perfect send-off as two goal scoring chances were twarthed, the first to an excellent piece of goalkeeping, while an obvious foul denied her on the second occasion.

Unfortunately the omens appeared to be against the Gaels girls from the beginning, with heavy traffic and an unhelpful throw-in time resulting in the the Gaels starting with only fourteen players.

Compounding this numerical disadvantage was a strong wind which favoured Scoil for the first half.

However, it must be conceded that the opposition were a formidable unit, with a dominant figure at full-forward supplying plenty of ball for a powerful half-forward line to exploit.

Although somewhat rattled by an initial onslaught, the Gaels defence, reinforced by Lil, and driven on by Edel and Claire, eventually came to grips with the situation.

Indeed, the Scoil half-forwards now had the rather unforgiving task of attempting to keep tabs on Mary and Lil as they sped forward from the half-back line.

Midfield also began to stamp their authority on proceedings, with Aoife, as per usual, perpetual motion, always at the heart of the action.

Having made hay when the wind blew, Scoil enjoyed a good half-time lead and continuing Gaels’ bad luck the wind died down signficantly after the change of ends.

Despite conceding two quick scores on the restart, the first twenty minutes of the second half saw the Gaels more than match their opponents, with the game developing into quite a contest.

Kirsty’s class inevitably began to cause all sorts of problems for the Scoil defence, her series of points awakening the real possibility of a comeback.

Such optimism seemed to be confirmed when Kirsty slotted home a well taken goal after an incisive one-two with Claire Larkin. The Gaels attack now began to enjoy the occassion, with Fiona, Mags, Maria and Ger finally getting the breaks their efforts deserved.

As the game entered the home stretch, an injury to Ger appeared to halt the Gaels momentum, with perhaps the unrelenting tempo now beginning to tell on weary legs.

Without question Scoil dominated this final period, with only inspired goalkeeping, the resolute defending of Caoimhe and a hobbling Patricia, and the tireless tracking of Kate halting the Scoil advance.

Although disappointed with the result, the Gaels came away from the game with many positives, many taken from observing (and matching) an excellent football team at close quarters.

The Gaels will undoubtedly play much worse than on Wednesday evening and win so this was a valuable learning experience.

It will be the team’s first ever away game and also their first outing in the league.

So far they have enjoyed two great wins from their outings to date this season – the first in the cup and the second a challenge.

Unfortunately last week’s game was supposed to be a league encounter, but an administrative mix-up meant that a friendly had to be played against Robert Emmets instead.

This week they will be hoping to keep up their 100 per cent winning record in 2010 when the travel to the Clontarf Road. Throw in from 7PM.

Click on the following link for directions to the game: http://tinyurl.com/2up6yyv or http://www.scoilgaa.org/location_map.htm

Unfortunately, due to an administrative mix-up the scheduled league game was unable to take place, but both teams were happy to avail of the opportunity for some match practice.

Making their customary fast start, the Gaels sped into the lead, with centre-forward Laoise helping herself to three points.

The forward line as a whole were particularly impressive in this first half, the hard-running of half-forwards Kate and Aoife complimenting the dominant midfield pairing of Edel and Kirstie.

The Gaels closed the half enjoying a 2-05 to no score advantage, the goals courtesy of Kristie and Fiona, with an excellent point from Aoife.

Much to their credit, the Robert Emmet’s girls responded to this daunting scoreline with a much improved second half showing, finishing with six well taken points. Faced with this resurgent challenge, the Gaels defence really came into their own.

Taking their example from full-back Claire Glesson, centre-back Geraldine and new girl Lil, the defence held firm despite constant pressure. The Gaels scoring was completed with a well deserved point by Kate, finishing a move which had begun with some excellent defending from Miss versatile Mary.

The Gaels take on Robert Emmet’s at in Division 7 of the Legaue and the game has a 7.0 start.

The girls were due to play Emmet’s in their very first competitive match, but the game fell victim to bad weather.

So far their debut campaign has gone excellently so they will want to stay on the winning track.

Ends.