SUNDAY 06 MARCH 2005 – RESULT
DOWN 5-11 MAYO B 0-2

Irvinestown was the venue for Sunday’s Suzuki National League Division Three game between the Down Ladies and Mayo B. Playing against what proved to be a very defensive Mayo team, the Mourne girls emerged victorious with a crushing 5-11 to 0-2 win.

The physical Mayo side approached the game from the start with a defensive formation, playing their full forward as an extra centre half back. As a result, the Down team were slow to get their first scores on the board, with Michaela Downey eventually getting proceedings underway with a point following a sideline ball from her sister Aoibheann. However, as the game progressed, the Down team got to grips with the extra player and started to widen the gap between the sides. A high ball into Michaela Downey in the forward line was flicked on to Lyndsey Cunningham who set Castlewellan woman Lisa Morgan through for a well taken goal. A second goal was scored by Karen Keown (2-2) following good interplay between the forwards. Three further points from Down, including two from the Downpatrick player saw Down lead 2-3 to 0-0 at half time.

The second half saw the Mourne county continue their dominance, helped greatly by the performance of the full back line in particular. Centre full back Aine Keary, effectively acting as a sweeper, given the curious departure of her marker to the back line, was excellent in dealing with the few Mayo forays into the Down half. Her full back colleagues, Sinead Murphy and Michelle Fearon also performed well. The strong midfield partnership of Aoibheann Downey and Denise Maguire helped Down capitalise on their dominance with additional scores from Lisa Morgan (1-1), Michaela Downey (1-5) and Emma O’Reilly (1-3). Mayo’s only two scores of the game came from the reversal of a Down free out for taking the kick from the wrong position and one other additional free.

The extent of the Down Ladies win, which represents their fourth successive victory in Division Three, will have encouraged them in their aim to get out of this Division. However, they face a step up in class in what will undoubtedly be their toughest challenge to date, when they face Fermanagh ladies next Sunday.

Down Team: Elaine McCourt, Sinead Murphy, Aine Keary, Michelle Fearon, Eilish McConville, Bronagh McCorry, Patricia McKibben, Aoibheann Downey, Denise Maguire, Karen Keown, Michaela Downey, Lyndsey Cunningham, Emma O’Reilly, Lisa Morgan, Kyla Trainor - Subs Used: Jenna Connell, Geraldine Campbell, Niamh Lennon, Orla McKibben.