Pól O'Brollachain [paulbradley@carryduffgac.com]

On Saturday evening Carryduff ladies passed another historic milestone when they competed for the first time in senior ladies football. This young Carryduff team took on Newry Shamrocks at the Newry venue in the first match of the Down ladies junior league. There was much debate earlier in the year as to the wisdom of entering a team at this level so soon after the formation of the ladies juvenile Gaelic football at the club. If the commitment and display by these ladies on Saturday night is anything to go by then any doubts of competing at this level were quickly dispelled.
The Carryduff team dominated the exchanges in the first half with the Shamrocks pinned in their own half. Good attacking play from the half-back Donla fisher and well-timed running from Aine Molloy continually split open the Newry defence. Unfortunately Carryduff were not able to translate their dominance into scores as numerous easy chances were missed.

The second half was a much closer affair with the Newry girls playing a closing down game. Carryduff were to regret the many missed chances as they ran out close losers with a score line of 2-5 to 1-4.

All the girls put in a great effort and outstanding on the night were Donla Fisher, Antonia O’Kane, Aine Molloy, Kathryn Rooney and the youngest player on the Carryduff team, Eimear McKay proved that she was more than capable of holding her own.

Congratulations Carryduff ladies on your first display at this level and I have no doubt you eagerly await the return fixture when maybe you will bring your shooting boots with you.

The players line out for this historic first game were:

Kathryn Rooney

Nieve Dawson Siobhan O’Grady Rhiannon McBay Doherty

Emma Swail Donla Fisher Antonia O’Kane

Nuala Small Claire Adams

Suzanne Baxter Susan Irvine Jemma Mulligan

Eimear McKay Aine Molloy Deirdre Swail