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The Down
Girls Minor team had a successful first outing in
the 2006 Ulster Championship as they overcame
Fermanagh in a highly entertaining and skilful game
in Teconnaught, which the match official later
remarked was a pleasure to officiate, given the
attitude and application of both teams.
Neither team
appeared dominant in the competitive opening quarter
as they matched each other score for score.
Fermanagh forward Natasha Donnegan shone for her
county with a number of scores in quick succession,
as did her team mate Enniskillen player Ciara
Byrne. Star of the half for Down was Grainne Kelly,
one of the youngest players on the field. Playing
at corner forward, the Annaclone girl secured all
but one of her team’s scores in the half with the
other coming from Down Senior player, Kyla
Trainor. Down stretched away from their opponents
late into the half and but for the heroics of erne
keeper Roisin Gleeson, Fermanagh would have been
further behind than the four point deficit they
faced going into half time.
Grainne
Kelly
The half time team talk seemed to have the desired
effect for Fermanagh as they came out all guns
blazing for the second half, subjecting Down to a
sustained period of pressure with their two ‘man’
full forward line reaping rewards with three points
and a goal from Natasha Donnegan to put Fermanagh
into the lead. Facing into the last ten minutes
down by three points, the Down back line regained
their composure, with Rachel O’Hare and Aine Crozier
particularly strong, driving the ball up the field.
Great running and strength in the middle of the
field from Michelle Cousins and Bredagh player,
Polly Moane gave the Down forwards ample
opportunities to regain control of the game, and
while there were a number of wides, forwards Niamh
Rafferty (1-0) and Kyla Trainor (1-5) in particular,
did take their chances Additional points from
Caroline O’Neill (0-1), Michelle Cousins (0-1) and
Grainne Kelly (1-6) saw Down overtake Fermanagh in a
flurry of scores to win by six. Final score 3-13 to
3-07. Managers John McCarthy and Noel Haughey will
have been pleased with what was a good tough win for
the Down girls, particularly the nature of the play
with only two points in the game coming from frees.
Next for the Mourne girls is an away trip to
Monaghan on Tuesday 11th April when they
will hope to continue their good form.
Kyla Trainor
Down Team: Aisling Trainor, Shauna McKevitt, Elaine
Rooney, Aine Crozier, Jade Heath, Rachel O’Hare,
Louise Baker, Michelle Cousins, Polly Moane,
Caroline O’Neill, Kyla Trainor, Frances O’Connor,
Cara Laverty, Niamh Rafferty, Grainne Kelly. Subs,
Jenny Fitzsimmons, Sinead Carthy, Natasha Dairyier. |
