Reilly Reflects On Hard-Fought Aberdeen Win

Kirsten Reilly was pleased with Hibernian Women’s reaction in the second half of their 3-0 victory over Aberdeen - stating she and her teammates were not “sticking to the game plan” well enough in the first 45.

The sides went into the half-time interval level following a cagey first half in Aberdeen. However, the deadlock was broken by an outstanding goal from range by Kathleen McGovern in the 66th minute.

Hibs then scored two more in the final ten minutes, with McGovern doubling her tally in the 80th minute and Tiree Burchill rounding off the afternoon with a strike on the stroke of full-time. 

“In the first half, we all knew that we weren't happy with how we were performing and playing," Reilly told Hibs TV. “We weren't really sticking to the game plan as such, but we spoke at half-time about how we could change that.

“I think you could see in the second half we came out flying; the intensity lifted. Like all the little things we weren't doing right in the first half, we rectified that in the second half and got the goals from it too.”

After a goalless first half, in which Hibs dominated but failed to capitalise on, Joelle Murray’s team talk in the dressing room at half-time was always going to be an important one, with Reilly noting the side's first half performance as “too predictable” by the interval. 

“We said that we were being too predictable and the intensity of play wasn’t good enough, and we knew ourselves that we could really increase that, so I think the intensity increased tenfold in the second half, and it just helped us. 

“We were moving it; we were moving them and creating the spaces that we needed.”

Reilly has missed a large chunk of football this season through injury, with the midfielder only being able to start nine matches this season, but she captained the side in today’s victory, which she described as a “proud moment”.

“It means a lot (captaining the side). Obviously, I've been out for a lot of weeks this season; basically, I missed the whole first half through injury, so to come back and be captain, it's been really nice and a proud moment for me and my family.”

Hibs Women's victory at the Balmoral Stadium was their final match before the split, with the experienced midfielder stating she and her teammates need to “focus on each game as they come” for the remainder of the campaign. 

“We just need to focus on each game as it comes, as cliché as it is, but the objects will be different every game.

“Obviously, we want to win each game, get points from it and climb higher up the table because we're not really happy with where we are right now. We've got a wee break first, so we'll come back flying hopefully.”