Down Ladies Fixtures/Results and Round-up

Congratulations to Carryduff who have won the Down U-14 A league title. Well done to the players and mentors.

Round-up

Mid-week

In the Senior League, Bredagh increased their advantage as Rostrevor were unable to field and forfeited the points. Annaclone battling for survival put in a determined performance which nearly paid dividends but in the end Bryansford had just enough in the tank to pull away and claim the points. Over in Saval, Clonduff succumbed to another league defeat. Both sides were missing a few regulars but wayward shooting didn’t do the Hilltown girls any favours. Saval were probably the better balanced of the two sides and fully deserved the win. They had good performances from Niamh Lennon, Lyndsay Cunningham while Clonduff’s top performers were Fionnuala Carr and Karen Gribben who made her return to action for the yellows. These two sides meet again in the semi-final of the senior championship in August in what promises to be classic encounter. A much weakened Downpatrick side simply had no answer to the power and directness of Castlewellan as they fell to their biggest defeat of the season.

In the Intermediate league, Ballymartin were made to work right up to the final whistle against Burren only managing to scrape through with a single kick of a ball separating the two sides. This was a great game of football and credit to both sides for the manner in which it was played. Loughinisland very nearly broke their duck when they met Bright and only for some wayward shooting they could have caused an upset.

Saturday Night – Clonduff got back to winning ways when they made the short trip to Annaclone. The big game however was the meeting of Bredagh and Castlewellan at Cherryvale. Despite Castlewellans best efforts in an entertaining match they were unable to cause the upset needed to make the league run-in interesting. This win all but guarantees the Belles the league title. In the Intermediate league Carryduff overcame a gallant Ballymartin side to retain their 100% record. One more win will guarantee the league title and more importantly Senior football in 2010. In the Junior league Saul had an enthralling encounter against the Fin. The Fin just had too much experience for this young side and they pulled away to secure the points.

Championship

In the Intermediate championship Q/F replay Bright overcame Burren to set up an S/F meeting with Bredagh II in August. This was a high scoring match which could have went either way. Bright managed to hang in and secure the scores that were needed to send them through. In the Junior Championship Tullylish disposed of St. Johns in a very one-sided game. The win sets up a semi-final clash with Mayobridge.

Week Ahead

On Wednesday evening the U-16 B league continues. Saul travel to Castlewellan and must win in order to force a play-off situation with Annaclone and Clonduff. A loss will put them completely out of the running. Castlewellan have been putting in steady performances all year and they look well placed to take the points and at the same time end Saul’s league aspirations. Rostrevor and Bright should be a close game with Bright the slightly more balanced side it should be enough to see them through. Shamrocks make the short journey to Saval and there really is very little separating both these sides. Saval to advance but only narrowly

In the Senior league, Saval entertain Rostrevor and this should see them gain another valuable two points as they look to keep the pressure on Castlewellan who are currently holding second spot. Meanwhile Annaclone travel to an in-form Castlewellan and they will be weary of the journey given the Town girls recent showings. Annaclone on the other hand have shown a renewed determination to make up the ground on fellow strugglers Rostrevor but it might be a case of too little too late as a victory here is probably beyond them. Bryansford travel to Bredagh in a re-match of the championship Q/F. Bredagh dominated that game from start to finish and Bryansford will need to be at their best if they are to make any kind of a stance against a rampant Bredagh outfit.

In the Intermediate league, Ballymartin meet Bright to complete a tough ten days of football for them. The last encounter ended in a draw and this one could be more of the same. Bredagh travel to Shamrocks and the South Down side should have enough experience to see them though against the Belles second string.. Burren welcome Kilcoo to St. Marys Park and if both teams have all their personnel available to them then this game is going to go to the wire with a draw a distinct possibility. Kilcoo haven’t had a steady run of games behind them for different reasons and purely on form I am siding with Burren to sneak through by a point or two.

In the Junior league, St. Johns make the journey to Tullylish and having lost heavily in the championship Q/F the previous week, it won’t be a journey they will be relishing. Tullylish are still in the mix and I can’t see them faltering on Saturday evening. Aughlisnafin make the short journey to Drumgath and a victory should be the end result at the long whistle. Teconnaught travel to meet Saul knowing that Tullylish are breathing down their neck waiting on any kind of slip-up. Saul in their first year of adult football have been an improving side but I don’t see them causing an upset on Saturday evening. Mayobridge travel to meet Clonduff in a must win game for the sky-blues. I see this game as a possible banana skin for them as the yellows have a canny knack of lifting their game against the top teams. There could be a possible upset on the cards with a few nervous moments along the way.

Fixtures

U-16 League

Wednesday 1st July @ 7:00pm

Saval v Shamrocks (D Kearns)

Rostrevor v Bright (P. McClorey)

Castlewellan v Saul (P.Cairns)

Saturday 4th July @ 7:00pm

Senior

Castlewellan v Annaclone (O. Burke)

Bredagh v Bryansford (F. McMullan)
Saval v Rostrevor (R. Barry)

Intermediate

Ballymartin v Bright (P. Gelston)
Shamrocks v Bredagh (E. O’Hare)
Burren v Kilcoo (M. O’Rourke)

Junior

Tullylish v St. Johns (D Kearns)
Aughlisnafin v Drumgath (G. Brannigan)
Saul v Teconnaught (C. Reynolds)
Clonduff v Mayobridge (P.J. Cunningham)

Sunday, July 5th: @ 530pm
Senior League
Clonduff v Downpatrick (B. Andrews)

Results

Intermediate Championship Q/F

Bright 4-16 Burren 4-10
Junior Championship Q/F
Tullylish 6-17 St. Johns 0-05

Senior:

Clonduff 2-04 Saval 2-07
Annaclone 1-11 Bryansford 3-12
Castlewellan 5-14 Downpatrick 0-01
Rostrevor D/F Bredagh W/O
Bryansford v Saval Off
Annaclone 0-08 Clonduff 4-15
Bredagh 3-14 Castlewellan 3-03
Downpatrick v Rostrevor no result

Intermediate

Ballymartin 3-13 Burren 3-11
Loughinisland 2-04 Bright 1-10
Shamrocks v Kilcoo off
Carryduff 6-10 Ballymartin 1-09
Loughinisland v Shamrocks no result

Junior
St. Michael’s v Drumgath no result
Saul 2-07 Aughlisnafin 4-09
Teconnaught v Clonduff no result

U-16

Bryansford W/O Teconnaught D/F
Annaclone W/O Rostrevor D/F
Shamrocks v Carryduff B off
Saval 2-04 Castlewellan 5-07
Bright 0-07 Clonduff 3-09

Carryduff B v Clonduff off