Young Down teams blitz their way to Ulster Championship wins

Reports by Paul Devlin

Ulster Ladies U16 Championship 2024

Tier 2 Round 2: Erin’s Own Lavy Knockcloughrim

Derry 2-9 (15) v Down 3-8 (17)

DOWN U16 ladies secured a second win in the Ulster Championship, this time away against Derry. After racking up 28 points, that included five goals, against Cavan last time out, things would prove to be a lot tighter in this second round match against the highly rated Derry side.

Down had the wind in the first half and took full advantage with three well taken goals, two from Aghaderg’s Clodagh Simpson and one from Clan na Banna’s Annie McEvoy, putting them into a commanding 10 point lead at half time, 3-6 (15) to 1-2 (5).

But Down found scores much harder to come by in the second half as Derry started to chip away at the lead. Now with the wind, Derry hit another goal to get the Oak Leaf county right back into the game and pressed on for the win.

However, Down’s management will be delighted with the resilience shown by their defence and midfield, to stand strong and work hard to close out this game. A narrow two point win away, in a highly entertaining game was a great result for the Mourne ladies.

Down scorers: C.Simpson 2-3, A.McEvoy1-3, Z.Kelly 0-1, E.McHugh 0-1

Down Team: Cadhla Faloon, Lucy Elmore, Helen McGeough, Farrah May Morgan, Ava McArdle, Erin Daly, Rebecca McDonnell, Grace Gordon, Cliodhna McGrath, Cara Connelly, Anne McEvoy, Isa McCarron, Orla Owens (C), Clodagh Simpson, Evie McHugh, Mia McCann, Niamh Napier, Eloise Austin, Maisie Quilton, Hannah Cassin, Ellen Farrell, Emma O’Kane, Maia Murdock, Lily Magee, Lauren Devlin, Orlaith Mulholland, Tara Ryan, Zara Kelly, Cassie McAloon, Anna McArdle.

Ulster Ladies Minor Championship 2024

Tier 2 Round 3: Bawnacre, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh

Fermanagh 4-4 (15) v Down 10-15 (45)

A devastating five goal haul in a four minute spell by Down’s impressive forwards set the tone for a goal fest in Irvinestown.

An early Fermanagh goal had put the Ernesiders ahead in the game, but that was quickly wiped out, with goals from Dundrum’s Maebh Coughlan and Carryduff’s Cara Donnelly who cut the Fermanagh defence open several times to find the back of the net. Donnelly was almost unplayable in this spell and is another amazing talent coming through at underage level, finishing the game with a total of 4-4. Down kept up the pressure with Lucy Connell, Niamh McElroy, Aine Catney, Coughlan and Donnelly all pointing for the Mourne ladies in the first half which ended Down 6-12 (30) to Fermanagh 1-2 (5).

Down continued to play some great football in the second half, as the goals and scores kept coming. Castlewellan’s Eve Rice was following clubmate and senior star Niamh King’s form with a stellar performance of her own, getting three goals. However it was not all one way traffic as Fermanagh battled right to the final whistle with three second half goals of their own.

Another amazing display from this Down Minor team who made it two wins from two and on this form will be hard to stop.

Down scorers: Áine Catney 0-1, Lucy Connell 0-2, Méabh Coughlan 2-3, Ciara McLornan 0-1, Cara Donnelly 4-4, Niamh McElroy 1-4, Eve Rice 3-0

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