DOWN                       ANTRIM
4:08                             2:05 

Down travelled to Antrim last Sunday as they were unable to get a pitch within the County. The match itself was under threat of not being played but Antrim’s Rossa came through and made available their pitch for the game at the last minute.

Down were extremely slow in getting started and found that Antrim to be  a strong physical side. The game itself was extremely tough with both sides fighting for procession. Downs Kelly O’Higgins scored the first point of the game and this was followed by another from Jenny McHugh and followed up by a goal from Catriona McCrickard. The Mourne ladies displayed a flow of interrupted hand passes that enabled them to bring them to score yet again. Down received a wake up call when Antrim’s Jane Adams and Orla McCoy scored again and again in the last 10 mins of the game.

At half time the score was Down 2:05               Antrim 2:03

With the first half over both sides entered the second half of the game with the attitude to push forward and try to score. I say try as both Antrim and Down missed several opportunities to make their mark.

Down made four key changes with Karen Tinnelly, Orla Maginn, Cathy Mulholland and Emma Keith, at this interval.

Jane Adams scored Antrims only two points of the game. For Down Katherine McGourity in the last minutes of the game made her presence truly felt as she made a fine run before the ball found the back corner of the net. With the added confidence of obtaining a goal, enhanced Katherine to score another impressive goal thus furthering Downs lead.

If Down found this game hard their next opponents will be even more so as they will be facing a strong Clare Downs next match is against Clare and will be played as a Double Header in Offaly on 25 March 2007.Referee John Pender (Kildare).

Final Score Down:        4:08  Antrim 2:05.

Referee:                        Malachy MacToal (Derry)

Player of the Match:      Katherine McGourity (Down)

Downs Panel:               Theresa McGowan, Ann Morgan, Moya Maginn,

Deborah McClelland, Grainne O’Higgins, Fionnuala Carr, Karen McMullan, Mairin McAleenan Ciara McGovern Caitriona McCrickard (1.3), Karen Gribben (0.1), Cathy Mulholland, Aoibheann O’Neill, Kelly O’Higgins (0.3), Karen Tinnelly, Clare Quinn, Roseleen McCann, Claire Trainor, Emma Keith, Orla Maginn (0.1), Jennifer McHugh (1.0), Sara-Louise Carr, Coleen Grant Katherine McGourty (2.0) and Pauline Green