Picture parade and reports from weekend of double delight for Down LGFA teams

BY PAUL DEVLIN

DOWN teams scored double weekend success with wins over Derry (1-6 1-3) in the Ulster Ladies Minor Championship, Tier 2 Round 1, and 3-12 1-11 over Antrim in the Lidl National Football League, Division 3 Round 4.

John Mackin Park, Newry was the venue for the Minor match as Down hoisted Derry and terrible conditions faced both teams as torrential rain lashed the pitch, making ball handling and shooting especially difficult throughout the match.

There was little to separate either team at the beginning of the first half, with midfields and defences giving little chances. Derry twice took the lead and twice Down levelled, trading points over the bar.

However, as the half went on it was the visitors who were on the front foot and won a penalty in the 21st minute. Unfortunately for Derry, this penalty was missed, as the Derry forward’s powerful shot came back off the crossbar and was cleared to safety by the covering Down defenders.

Derry were denied another goal a few minutes later. Aine McAllister did well to get to the ball first and get her shot away, only to see the ball hit the bar again. Derry did reclaim the lead with a well taken score when Magherafelt’s Anna Donnelly put the ball over after a good handpassing move created the chance.

With the half drawing to a close, Down created a great chance as they opened the Derry defence. As Meabh Coughlan raced through on goal, she was brought down and, after a brief check with the umpires, the referee gave the penalty. This was dispatched into the bottom corner to give Down a two point lead right on the stroke of half time, 1-2 to 0-3.

The second half saw no let-up in the rain, but this time Down looked the stronger side. A good hand pass move resulted in a Lucy Connell point. Derry then got right back into the game with their second penalty of the match, Aine McAllister making no mistake this time from the spot to draw level.

Down were playing some great football in the conditions as their defence and midfield never let Derry get a foothold in the second half.

Clonduff’s Emily Bingham Abbot was a standout performer for Down. Her pace and ability to be in the right place at the right time caused so many turnovers, but in truth it was an overall team display that would have been pleasing for the Down management team. Two unanswered points from the impressive Meabh Coughlan of Dundrum moved Down clear but the game was never comfortable as Derry fought til the end.

Carryduff full forward Cara Donnelly was another who had a great game, securing the win with a late point, extending the lead to three.

An extremely hard fought win for Down. Derry will rue missed chances and curse the Down crossbar.

Final score: Down 1-6 Derry 1-3

Down: Erin Gough, Kara Trainor, Cora Byrne Convery, Aine Catney, Anna Downey, Phoebe Richards, Emily Bingham Abbott, Roisin McKenna, Niamh McConville, Ciara McLornan (C), Meabh Coughlan, Niamh McGinley, Lucy Connell, Cara Donnelly, Molly Tumilty, Caoimhe Lavery, Anna McDonagh, Anna McParland, Aoife Hanna, Eve Rice, Kate Smith, Katelyn Magee, Katie Havern, Eimear Napier, Ellie Sergeant, Ezara Morgan, Lara Heaney, Niam Madine, Naimh McElroy & Rachael McAteer

Derry: Teagan McAdams, Shannon McCorriston, Hannah McEldowney, Dararose McElhinney, Grace Loughran, Anna Henry, Duvessa Quinn, Rhianna Doherty, Eve Convery, Aoife Gormley (C), Kate McCann, Sarah Loughran, Shona Fullerton, Aine McAlister, Anna Donnelly, Caoimhe Mullan, Catherine O’Kane, Eva Moran, Orlaith Doherty, Molly McGuinness, Orla Martin, EllaRae Devine, Shannon Gallagher, Ava Bradley, Lily Hurl, Erin McDonald, Amber McGroary, Leanne McCullagh, Shannon McCartney & Ciarrai O’Kane.

In the NFL game, Down quickly got into gear, with the impressive Niamh King creating some great chances. Natasha Ferris converted a free after a King run was halted by a foul. Down missed a good goal chance when Aine Smyth raced through on goal only for the Antrim keeper to make a great save. Antrim levelled the scores when midfielder Lara Dahunsi put the ball over from distance.

Laoise Duffy put Down back in front after a good run from captain Meghan Doherty. Down were awarded a penalty after 14 minutes when Doherty again drove into the Antrim defence and played in Niamh McClory. However as the Annaclone forward was about to shoot, the goalie was adjudged to have made a foot block. Natasha Ferris dispatched the ball into the net from the spot to give the Mourne ladies a four point lead.

Two more Natasha Ferris scores and a Niamh King point were answered by a single score from Antrim’s Ciara Brown, getting a lovely score from distance. Down were well on top now with Clara Mulvenna and Aoife Laverty driving them on in midfield.

Down’s second goal soon followed. Fantastic work on the right wing from King and Ferris, cut through the Antrim rearguard and Orla Duffy had a simple palmed finish from King’s pass to further extend the lead.

Antrim, who were struggling to contain the Down kick out, now pressed forward causing the Down defence problems. A Blaithin Ni Cahail free for Antrim was quickly followed by another two Brown scores.

However, when the highly impressive Antrim midfileder Dahunsi was shown a yellow five minutes before half time, momentum switched back to the visitors and Down soon had another penalty awarded to them when Vivienne McCormack was hauled down in the box. However, Antrim were relieved when the normally deadly Ferris put the ball wide of the post, in what was the last action of the half which ended Antrim 0‐5 Down 2-5.

As the wind picked up in the second half, Antrim would have been hoping to use this in their favour. Rostrevor’s Niamh Scullion was working hard for Down, making up an extra defensive player when needed but the Down back line of Green, Boyle and Smyth never put a foot wrong throughout the game and were exceptional on the day.

Down forward Ferris got the first point of the half, doing well to get a quick shot away after pressure from three Antrim defenders.

King got another score, collecting a great pass from Meghan Doherty. Laoise Duffy then scored again this time from a tight angle on the right.

Antrim fought back with Lara Dahunsi having a great impact on the game and cleared the bar three times from distance. Vivienne McCormack kept the scoreboard ticking over for Down. Two more Antrim points were cancelled out by two Natasha Ferris frees to keep Down well on top.

Antrim did get the goal their display deserved and it was the best goal of the match. Fast interchanging hand passes from the O’Neill sisters opened up the Down defence for the first time in the match and was finished in style by Clara McKenna.

The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for substitute Sarah Dougherty, back from a serious injury having had surgery 359 days ago. This was her first game, and she completed the scoring for Down from the penalty spot in the dying seconds. Antrim’s Dahunsi scored another point with the last kick of the match but it was little consolation for the Antrim team. Down played their best football of the season and will be looking to continue this good form when they face Offaly next time out.

Final score: Antrim 1-11 Down 3-12

Down: A McGivern, A Greene, O Boyle, P Smyth, N McKibbin, Meghan Doherty (C), O Duffy, C Mulvenna, A Laverty, N Scullion, N King, L Duffy, A O’Higgins, N Ferris, N McClory, K McKay, E Fitzpatrick, E Sands, K Howlett, N Loudon, V McCormack, C Byrne, A Cull, A Smyth, C McGeough, N McGrath, N Rice, E Sloan, S Dougherty & S O’Neill.

Antrim: S Murphy, D Coleman, E Ferran, N McArdle, C McKenna, C Brown, H Donaghy, A Mulholland, L Dahunsi, A Sheehan, L Agnew, C Logan, B Ni Cahail, E Rogers-Duffy, E Murphy, L Adams, A Kelly, C Finucane, N McKinley, G McGroarty, S Tennyson, M O’Neill, S O’Neill, C Austin, G Shannon, G McAllister, N McAllister & E Daye.

Pictures by Olivia McConaghy and Gareth Carville