"This has been one of the finest Finals in year's" were the words that
Uachtarán Liz Howard used to describe the magnificant Division 2 League
final in O'Moore Pk. Portlaoise on Sunday between the winners Waterford
who overcame Down 1-18 to 2-13.
The result of this game was in doubt until the very last minute, the
teams having being level nine times in the course of the game. However,
it was the Mourne side girls who got off to the better start with a Karen Gribben goal after just three minutes following a perfect pass
from half forward Orla Maginn. The Déise girls who won the Division 3
Final last year for the first time responded immediately with a point from Karen Kelly followed rapidly by a second from Pauline
Cunningham.
From there in the supporters of both sides knew they were in a for a
thrilling game from both sides. Twice in the opening half Waterford
missed goal opportunities, but by half time they had made up for that when the 2006 All-Star
nominee Áine Lyng found her corner forward Trish Jackman on sight who
handpassed the sliotar to the back of the net to leave
it, Down 2-7 to Waterford's 1-9 at the break, the second Down goal having
come midway from the first and only Down All- Star, Máirin Mc Aleenan
who struck a sweet ball from underneath the stand.
Waterford were in no hurry out from the dressing room at half time, but
it appears that harsh words were spoken as they trodded out to the pitch
in a very determined manner and were first on the score-board with an
Áine Lyng forty five. Máirin Mc Aleenan responded rapidly with a free
and after that we were treated to one of the best ever second half games
with both sides exchanging scores
on a fast basis.
The winning of this game for Waterford may have come with seven minutes remaining when the stylish Áine Lyng, daughter of
Manager Paul sent over 0-3 in the space of two minutes (one from a
free). They added a further three points before the Down star Máirin Mc
Aleenan sent over the final score of the day but with that went referee Damian
Noble's whistle and so for the first time in history the Division 2
League title was on it's way to the banks of the Suir.
Referee: D Noble, Dublin.
Down’s
Player of the Match Mairin McAleenan
TEAMS:
Down:
T Mc Gowan; (cpt),C Mc Crickard, M Maginn,P Green; K Mc Mullan, F Carr, D
Kelland; J Hugh, C Mc Govern; R Mc Cann, K Gribben, O Maginn; L Mc
Crickard, C Mc Gourty, M Mc Aleenan.
Subs: K Tinnelly for R Mc Cann 50mins, S L Carr for O Maginn, 59mins.
Scorers: M Mc Aleenan 1-5 (0-3f),K Gribben 1-2, C Mc Gourty, J Mc Hugh 0-2
each,F Carr 0-1f, C Mc Crickard 0-1.
Waterford: F Ni Chadhla;A Kelly, S O'Grady(cpt), N Ryan; J Simpson, A
Raher, J O'Grady; G Kenneally, C Raher; Á Lyng, P Cunningham,Á Breathnach;
K Kelly, N Morrissey, T Jackman.
Subs:V Gaffney for A Kelly, 32mins,E Hannon for Á Breathnach 38mins,T
Morrissey for N Morrissey 57mins,M Murphy for T Jackman 63mins.
Scorers: T`Jackman 1-0,Á Lyng 0- 12 (0-4,0- 4'45), K Kelly0-3,P
Cunningham, N Morrissey, T Morrissey 0-1 each.
