St Peregrines GFC, Dublin

The Down Girls U16 team stormed into the All Ireland B Championship semi finals with a blistering second half performance against Kilkenny in Dublin.

Playing against a bigger and stronger team, the Down girls went behind early on to a trio of Kilkenny points.  Down eventually got on the scoreboard when Saval player, Lorraine Havern hit the back of the net to bring the teams level.  Despite this, Kilkenny came back to restore their lead, hitting two quick goals including one from a penalty after Down ‘keeper Christine McCarthy was judged to have fouled the oncoming forward.  While Down maintained their workrate, they went into the halftime break facing a seven-point deficit and with a lot to think about if they were to salvage their All Ireland hopes. 

 
Goal Scorer Grainne Kelly - she hit 5-2

Down made a number of changes at the break, bringing on Courtney Linden, Catherine Digney and Natashya Lennon and swapping Catherine Boden to the corner back slot.  Both teams started the half brightly, with Grainne Kelly hitting Down’s opening score.  However once the game hit the half way point, the Down team really hit a purple patch with Grainne Kelly hitting four goals in ten minutes.  The speed of the Down half forward line caused substantial problems for their bigger opponents, with Natashya Lennon, Lorraine Havern and Orla Fegan zipping through the Kilkenny defence at will.  Castlewellan’s Cara Laverty was also impressive hitting a point amid Kelly’s scoring spree.  Other points came from Orla Fegan, Natashya Lennon and dual County player, Paula Gribben, who hit a tremendous strike from 35 yards out.  While Kilkenny did hit a number of further scores including a goal, the damage had been done.  The final whistle saw shouts of delight from the Down team and their many supporters as the county secured their first ever All Ireland semi final spot for the first time.  Final score Down 6-7  Kilkenny 3-6.

Managers Noel Haughey and John McCarthy couldn’t hide their delight at the end of the game.  Noel Haughey commented “ it was a tough, tough game against a bigger and stronger team, but the second half performance showed just how well these girls can play.  The speed with which we moved the ball was the difference between the two sides in the end.”  With a fortnight to wait before the semi final, Down can reflect on a game well won.  The performances of Paula Gribben in the half back line and goal scorer Grainne Kelly make them impossible to split for the player of the match award.  It is the overall  second half performance by the team though that bodes well for the likelihood of a big day out in September

Down team:                                                                                                        

Christine McCarthy, Grace Cole, Niamh McGowan, Ciara McArdle, Roisin Torney Paula Gribben, Catherine Boden, Clara Fitzpatrick, Sinead Fegan (capt), Sheena Kelly, Grainne Kelly, Orla Fegan, Lorraine Havern, Eimear McKay, Cara Laverty.  Subs used:           

Natashya Lennon, Catherine Digney, Courtney Linden

Scorers: 
G Kelly 5-2  O Fegan 0-2  C Laverty 0-1  P Gribben 0-1         N Lennon 0-1     L Havern 1-0