Board Gais Energy N Football League Division 3 Down V Limerick

Down V Limerick

Down Ladies played their first home game in the Board Gais Energy N/F League game on Sunday at the Saval venue. The opening minutes saw Down attack with Aileen Pyres cutting through only to be denied by an excellent reaction save from the Limerick keeper.

In these early stages Limerick looked the more composed and pressure on the Down back line resulted in a penality being conceded. Dympna OBrian gave Katie Farrell no chance as she drove to the corner of the Down Net. With further pressure Limerick ladies increased their lead with a well worked point.

It was not until the tenth minute that Down got on the scoreboard with a Cara Cunningham point.
On the Down half Back line Sinead Fegan was playing strongly and getting good support from Colleen Magee and Aine McCurry.

Down’s Paula Gribben was very influential around the centre while the strong running of Kyla Trainor was opening up gaps in the Limerick defence. The Down ladies start to assert themselves and with good linkage play between Aileen Pyres, Grainne McClean, Kate McKay, and Eimear Kane scores started to come. Points from Chara Laverty, Kyla Trainor and Sinead Fegan put the Down ladies into the lead.

In goals Katie Farrell had a steady game and got good support play from Hannah Murray, Emma Mulhern and Kerianne McGee. After Limerick’s Ladies initial burst the Down rearguard limited their scoring to a single point for the remainder of this half.

Closing in on the interval, Kyla trainor lobbed over a point and minutes later the same player sent a pile driver to the top corner of the Limerick net to leave the half-time score Down 1-4 Limerick 1-2

The Down ladies dominated most of the second half and Limerick fouls were punished by the accurate boot of Aileen Pyres who struck five this half , three from frees.

Early in this half the sin-binning of Hannah Murray didn’t influence the game as the Mourne Ladies upped their work-rate and kept control. Aine McCurry was steady at in her new role at centre back.

For Down, Sinead Fegan covered acres, Kerraine McGee , Kyla Trainor and Paula Gribben won a lot of possession and this group players had a big influence on the outcome of this game. Grainne McClean scored a long range point to add to the Down tally.

Chara Laverty was getting back into her stride on her return from injury which kept her out for most of last season, and it was also good to see the introduction of the dedicated Ciara OHiggins also returning from a long-term cruciate knee injury. Substitute Cassie Moan played well in the final stages . In Goals Katie Farrell dealt well with the few shots that came her way this half.

Limerick pressed hard but the sin-binning of one of their best forwards Dympna O’Brian in the closing quarter effectively put an end to their challenge.

The Down management will be pleased to get this first win under their belt and the overall team’s display should serve as encouragement to the future progress and building of this young Down side.

Final Score

Down 1-11 Limerick 1-5