Derry make winning start

Derry make winning start to National League.

The first round of the Suzuki National League for Ladies Football  took place on Sunday 3rd Feb, with Limerick travelling to a rain-soaked and windswept Ballinascreen to play Derry.  Underfoot conditions were reasonably good considering the weather but the surface was quite slippery, especially in the second half which was played in heavy rain.

Scoring was slow in the first quarter with the first score, a point to Derry, taking 11 minutes to arrive but then both teams found their shooting boots and by halftime a further 3 goals and 8 points were scored.
The halftime score was Derry 1.06 Limerick 2.03,  all square at this stage.

The second half opened with a goal and a point from the fast moving number 10 for Limerick and things looked decidedly ominous for the Oakleaf girls but they rallied and 2 points  from Ursula Mullan’s trusty left boot and goals from Shauna McCallion and Victoria Mallett put Derry into a 4 point lead.  Limerick soldiered boldly to the finish but could only manage 1 further point against a stubborn Derry defence.  Final score was Derry 3.08 Limerick 3.05.

Derry team:  Briegeen Cassidy, Nuala Doherty, Nuala O’Hagan, Emma Kelly, Dervla McMaster, Una Harkin, Aisling Moore, Michelle McAteer (0.02), Mary Angela Conway, Kathy Conway (0.02), Ursula Mullan (0.03), Shauna McCallion (1.00), Louise Glass (1.01),  Aine McCusker,  Shauna Vallelly.
Subs: Aisling Kealey for Shauna Vallelly,  Naomi McMullan for Emma Kelly, Victoria Mallett (1.00) for Mary Angela Conway,  Clare Lagan for Aisling Moore, and  Julie McLaughlin for Shauna McCallion.