Down defeat Derry in Division 3A

Down
Ladies National Football League Division 3A
Down 4-10 Derry 1-15

Down Ladies got their 2004 campaign off to a flying start
at Burren on Sunday, with a great win over a very much fancied
oakleaf side. Down playing with the breeze in the first
period settled quickly and Kyla Trainor had the ball in
the net as early as the 4th minute, Victoria Mallet replied
with a good individual point but Down countered with a fantastic
Lyndsay Cunningham goal after fine build up work from Jenna
Connell and Kyla Trainor.

Down’s Lisa Morgan and Derry’s Aishling Keely exchanged
points as we reached the mid point of the first half with
Down leading 2-01 to 0-02. The next 5 minutes belonged to
Derry as they knocked over 4 unanswered points from Dervla
McMaster, Ciara Moore(2) & Ursula Mullen to leave only a
point between the sides. Down dug deep to hold off the Derry
onslaught and in a fantastic 5 minutes purple patch before
the break they had points from Lisa Morgan(2), Marianna
Devlin, Kyla Trainor and another Down goal by Jenna Connell,
with the ever dangerous Victoria Mallet knocking in a Derry
goal to leave the Half-time score Down 3-06 Derry 1-06.
Derry now with the breeze on their backs started the 2nd
period brightly with points from Aishling Keely(2) and Ciara
Moore and Derry appeared to be in the ascendancy at this
point.

However the turning point in this very competitive match
was another Kyla Trainor goal after 8 minutes after some
neat build up work from Bronagh McCorry and Lisa Morgan.
This score appeared to deflate the Derry girls, as Down
had scores from Aileen Parr(2), Patricia McKibbin and Lisa
Morgan with only a single Aishling Keely point in reply
to give Down a 9-point lead with only 6 minutes left on
the clock. Derry did tag on 4 final unanswered points but
Down had done enough to pick up their first points of 2004.
Down had excellent performances from Helen Rice who made
at least 5 or 6 top class saves, In defence Aveen McAvoy,
Niamh Lennon and Michele Lively caught the eye, whilst upfront
Kyla Trainor, Lisa Morgan and Jenna Connell were impressive,
along with Aileen Parr who took 2 great scores after her
late introduction.

Down team and Scorers: Helen Rice, Aveen McEvoy,
Elisa Downey, Niamh Lennon, Maeve McConville, Bronagh McCorry,
Michele Lively, Marianna Devlin(0-01), Patricia McKibbin(0-01),
Orla McKibbin, Kyla Trainor(2-01), Lyndsay Cunningham(1-00),
Sinead McEvoy, Jenna Connell(1-00), Lisa Morgan(0-05) Sub
used: Aileen Parr(0-02).

Next game is away to Monaghan B on Sunday 22nd February.