Down Ladies book their place in Suzuki Quarter-finals

SUZUKI
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
Derry 0-4 Down 7-11

The Down Ladies team booked their place in the
Division Three playoffs with a convincing win
over Derry on Saturday 26th March. In what proved
to be a game of two halves, Derry matched Down
well in the first period before being outplayed
in the second. Emma Madine (0-1) got Down off
the mark with a low hit point after four minutes.
This was followed by another point from midfielder
Michaela Downey after good work by Karen Keown.
Some poor shooting from Down and strong defence
by Derry saw them hold the Down girls for long
periods of the first half. However, Down finally
broke through with a punched goal from Jenna Connell
near the end of the half. A long ball in from
Karen Keown left Bryansford woman Connell in a
race for the ball with the Derry goalkeeper, which
she duly won. Derry fought back with two well
taken points from long distance but a further
point from Michaela Downey saw the Mourne county
go into the break up 1-3 to 0-2.

Whatever manager Gregory McGonigle said at half
time obviously had the desired effect as a more
determined Down team emerged from the dressing
rooms. The Derry girls were first to score in
the half but it proved to be one of their few
forays into the Down half as the Down forwards
opened the floodgates. Kyla Trainor (1-0) scored
first low to the keeper’s left following a through
pass from Michaela Downey. Downey then hit the
net herself as a scoring effort from 40 yards
sneaked in under the bar. Derry scored one further
point amid a stream of Down scores from Eliza
Downey (0-1), Lyndsey Cunningham (1-0), Eliza
Downey (0-1), Michaela Downey (2-5), Jenna Connell
(3-0) and Karen Keown (0-4).

Down will have been encouraged with the way in
which they killed the game off in the end, but
will know that such a performance in both halves
will be necessary against any playoff opponents.