The Down Ladies team
bowed out of the Ulster Championship
following defeat by an excellent
Tyrone side in Breffni Park on
Saturday. The game was sealed by a
sensational five-minute Tyrone goal
blitz in the first half, with the
resulting score difference too much
for Down to close. The team will
now have to regroup for the three
game qualifier series which starts
on July 21st.
Both teams started
the game brightly but Tyrone were
first on the score sheet with a
point from midfielder Lucy Meehan.
Down responded quickly from a free
as corner forward Sonya McGaw was
pulled down on the right wing after
a strong solo run. Annaclone player
Aileen Pyers duly floated the free
over the bar to bring the sides
level. Tyrone took the lead again
though on the five minute following
a tremendous individual solo run
down the left wing from Gemma
Begley. The corner forward was
fouled twenty yards out and Errigal
Ciaran’s Sarah Connolly kicked the
resulting free. Tyrone’s accuracy
in front of goal saw them extend
their lead to two points as Begley
pointed from an acute angle. Down
interrupted Tyrone’s dominant spell
with two excellent scores. The
first, a fine long range point from
play by Downpatrick’s Kyla Trainor
and the second, a free from Michaela
Downey from wide on the left.
With the scores tight
up until the half way mark, the game
was to turn with a textbook display
of movement and finishing from
Tyrone. Captain Ann Dooher, who was
her side’s best player, hit the top
corner of the net after some
excellent passing and support play
by the Tyrone girls. With the
spirits buoyed by their first goal,
Tyrone hit two in the next two
minutes of equal quality. The first
from full forward Sarah Connolly
following a strong run from Cathy
Donnelly was sweetly struck inside
the right post, giving Down ‘keeper
Elaine McCourt no chance. The
second was another thumping drive,
again from the excellent Dooher.
With half time approaching, Down did
strive to come back into the game.
A solo forward and shot from captain
Eilish McConville was saved by
‘keeper Elaine Mallaghan but she
could do nothing about the rebound
which Annaclone’s Aileen Pyers fired
into the back of the net. Despite
Down’s comeback, Tyrone kept the
score ticking over with points from
Connolly and Begley, who pointed
after an excellent point blank goal
save by Down ‘keeper McCourt. A
further goal in the last few minutes
of the half from Tyrone’s Katrina
Murphy saw them extend their
sizeable lead further and while Down
got points in the dying seconds from
Kyla Trainor and Lisa Morgan, the
damage had been done. The teams
headed for the changing rooms with
Tyrone having a seemingly
unassailable eleven point lead.
Half time score Down 1-4, Tyrone
4-6.
Kyla Trainor
The second half
didn’t live up to the first in terms
of goals but it did see Tyrone
maintain their grip on the game.
Midfielder Lucy Meehan hit their
first point of the half before
substitute Claire McAlliskey fired
home goal number five after a great
ball through the middle put her one
on one with the ‘keeper and she
finished very convincingly.
Tyrone’s prowess in front of the
posts wasn’t as good as in the first
quarter and they spurned several
point chances. Down to their credit
again pushed back and secured reward
for their hard work with a goal from
Michaela Downey after good interplay
with Kyla Trainor. With the game
entering the final quarter, the
teams traded points with Aileen
Pyers hitting two excellent scores
for Down from difficult angles.
However, the scoreline always gave
Tyrone a comfortable cushion and
they played out the clock, hitting
two further points from Jolene
Donnelly and Katrina Murphy. Final
score Down 2-8, Tyrone 5-12.
Michaela Downey
Credit must go to
Tyrone for their semi final win.
The speed with which they moved the
ball was excellent and the strength
of players coming through the middle
caused problems for Down’s defence
all day. Their defenders also take
considerable credit as they harried
from start to finish and targeted
Down’s key playmakers. The mourne
girls will no doubt be disappointed
with their performance as they are
capable of much better but the
strength of Tyrone across the field
didn’t give them any leeway at all.
They now have to regroup for the
qualifier series where the open draw
could throw up a few surprise
opponents. While there were some
positives with good performances
from Kyla Trainor and Michaela
Downey, they will aim for a much
improved team performance on July 21st.
Cumann Na Bunscoil who played at
half team
Down Team:
Down
Team: Elaine McCourt, Geraldine
Campbell, Colleen McShane, Aveen
McAvoy, Sinead Fegan, Sinead Murphy,
Kerrie O’Neill, Aine Keary, Cora
McKibben, Kyla Trainor, Michaela
Downey, Eilish McConville (capt),
Aileen Pyers, Lisa Morgan, Sonya
McGaw
Subs used: Lyndsey
Cunningham, Niamh Lennon, Bronagh
McCurry, Niamh McGowan
Management: John
McCarthy, Noel Haughey, Sean O’Hare,
Gabriel McCaffrey
