Down bow out to a strong Dublin team

DUBLIN 3-11 DOWN 1-4

The Down Ladies team bowed out of the Suzuki Ladies National Football
League Playoffs after defeat by a strong Dublin team in Portmarnock
on Sunday. Down made the perfect start with some good early attacks
by Kyla Trainor and Lyndsey Cunningham. They capitalised on their
possession in spectacular style on the five minute mark when captain
Eilish McConville fought hard for a 50-50 ball before a pinpoint
pass to Michaela Downey who duly surged forward and planted the
ball low to the keeper’s right. Down capitalised on this a minute
later as Bredagh player Kerrie O’Neill played a tremendous long
ball into Downey in the right corner. She subsequently turned
her marker before fisting the ball over the bar for a four point
lead.

The good start made by Down was to come to an end as the Dublin
team came back into the game. They got onto the scoreboard just
before the half way mark with a point from half forward Karen
Hopkins. The score marked the beginning of a purple patch from
the Dubs as the points reigned in from All Star Mary Nevin and
a goal in the top left hand corner from full forward Amy McGuinness.
Down regained their composure to fight back and were unlucky when
a Kyla Trainor strike from fifteen yards was palmed wide by the
excellent Dublin keeper Cliodhna O’Connor. Dublin promptly surged
up the field to hit two sucker punch goals before half time, both
from Mary Nevin who caused multiple problems for the Down defence
all afternoon. A final point from Ballyboden player Fiona Corcoran
left the half time score, Dublin 3-4 Down 1-1.

The second half didn’t provide the excitement of the first as
Dublin sought to consolidate their lead. However, they did extend
their lead through the excellent Karen Hopkins and the former
Down starlet was to notch 1-3 for her afternoon’s work. Down hit
further scores from Grainne McClean (0-1) and Michaela Downey
(1-3) but the damage had been done in the first half. Dublin’s
short passing game was tremendous throughout and their finishing,
while sometimes wayward, was more than enough to see them through
to the semi finals. The mourne girls will have been disappointed
with the extent of the defeat, which was accentuated by a number
of Noelle Healy scores near the end. However, they did show glimpses
of their potential and competed right until the end, with top
performances given by Michaela Downey and midfielder Aine Keary.

Down team: Emma Madine, Bronagh McCurry, Niamh McGowan, Niamh
Lennon, Eilish McConville (captain), Sinead Murphy, Sinead Fegan,
Kerrie O’Neill, Aine Keary, Grainne McClean, Kyla Trainor, Michaela
Downey, Lyndsey Cunningham, Maeve McConville, Geraldine Campbell.
Subs Used: Aileen Pyers, Lisa Morgan, Aveen McAvoy

Management: John McCarthy, Noel Haughey

On a positive note for Down, the Minor team defeated Cavan by
3-15 to 3-7 in the Ulster Championship. The result signified tremendous
progress for Down as they have never defeated Cavan at that age
level before. Star performers for Down included Grainne Kelly,
Sinead Fegan and keeper Christine McCarthy. The game was a text
book display of fast moving football and the young team will be
hoping to continue their good form into the next round robin game.