A County Antrim teenager is on cloud nine after scoring a triple hat-trick for Ballymena United Women in the first round of the NIWFA Cup.
Megan Henry, who lives near Kells just outside the Ballymena, rifled home NINE goals in Sunday’s 13-0 demolition of Shamrock Ladies at Allen Park in Antrim.
The 19-year-old striker registered seven goals before half-time - at a mind boggling ratio of a goal every six minutes - and added another two in the second period.
She also saw a second-half penalty saved by the Shamrock Ladies keeper and passed up on another penalty attempt to add to her remarkable tally.
“I’ve always played as a striker and I think I once scored six or seven in a junior game, but this is the most I’ve ever scored in a game,” said Megan.
“It was incredible and everyone was congratulating me afterwards, but I was just really thankful to my team mates. It was a really good team performance.
“I may have scored a few goals, but my team mates provided some great passes and I managed to get on the end of the chances they created.”
In addition to scoring nine, Megan teed up Ella McDowell to score on her debut, while Laura McKillen, Danielle Winter and Chelsea Millar were also on the scoresheet.
The only downside to the teenager’s day was missing out on double figures when the Shamrock keeper denied her from the spot in the second half.
“To be fair, the keeper made a good save,” she smiled. “I was also fouled for another penalty, but I told Chelsea to take that one and she scored which was great!”
Megan, a former pupil at Ballymena Academy, has spent the past five years with Ballymena United Women and was elevated to the senior squad three years ago.
So far this season, she has scored an impressive 11 goals in three games following the NIFWA’s return to action last month.
“We were all missing football during lockdown, so it’s great to be back playing games again,” she said.
Congratulating Megan on her nine goal haul on the club's Facebook page, Ballymena United chairman John Teggart wrote: "Incredible Megan! Well done ladies."
The NIFWA Championship club is playing in Division 1A this season due to a restructuring of the leagues because of the coronavirus crisis.
Ballymena's next game is against Lurgan Town Ladies at the Lurgan Town Arena on Wednesday night.
