Down set themselves up nicely for clash with Fermanagh

Irvinestown was the venue for Sunday’s Suzuki
National League Division Three game between the
Down Ladies and Mayo B. Playing against what proved
to be a very defensive Mayo team, the Mourne girls
emerged victorious with a crushing 5-11 to 0-2
win.

The physical Mayo side approached the game from
the start with a defensive formation, playing
their full forward as an extra centre half back.
As a result, the Down team were slow to get their
first scores on the board, with Michaela Downey
eventually getting proceedings underway with a
point following a sideline ball from her sister
Aoibheann. However, as the game progressed, the
Down team got to grips with the extra player and
started to widen the gap between the sides. A
high ball into Michaela Downey in the forward
line was flicked on to Lyndsey Cunningham who
set Castlewellan woman Lisa Morgan through for
a well taken goal. A second goal was scored by
Karen Keown (2-2) following good interplay between
the forwards. Three further points from Down,
including two from the Downpatrick player saw
Down lead 2-3 to 0-0 at half time.

The Down Ladies Panel

The
second half saw the Mourne county continue their
dominance, helped greatly by the performance of
the full back line in particular. Centre full
back Aine Keary, effectively acting as a sweeper,
given the curious departure of her marker to the
back line, was excellent in dealing with the few
Mayo forays into the Down half. Her full back
colleagues, Sinead Murphy and Michelle Fearon
also performed well. The strong midfield partnership
of Aoibheann Downey and Denise Maguire helped
Down capitalise on their dominance with additional
scores from Lisa Morgan (1-1), Michaela Downey
(1-5) and Emma O’Reilly (1-3).

Mayo’s only two scores of the game came from the
reversal of a Down free out for taking the kick
from the wrong position and one other additional
free. The extent of the Down Ladies win, which
represents their fourth successive victory in
Division Three, will have encouraged them in their
aim to get out of this Division. However, they
face a step up in class in what will undoubtedly
be their toughest challenge to date, when they
face Fermanagh ladies next Sunday.

Down Team: Elaine McCourt, Sinead Murphy,
Aine Keary, Michelle Fearon, Eilish McConville,
Bronagh McCorry, Patricia McKibben, Aoibheann
Downey, Denise Maguire, Karen Keown, Michaela
Downey, Lyndsey Cunningham, Emma O’Reilly, Lisa
Morgan, Kyla Trainor –
Subs Used: Jenna Connell, Geraldine Campbell,
Niamh Lennon, Orla McKibben.