Down & Fermanagh Provide cracking Ulster Championship Opener

Down 1-13 Fermanagh 2-7

Down and Fermanagh served up a cracking game in the opening match of the 2014 Ulster championship. Down enjoyed the majority of the possession but dogged defending by the Erne girls meant that at the final whistle only three points separated the teams. Down now advance to the final however all is not over for Fermanagh. They meet Antrim next with the prize a place in the Ulster decider.

Despite having Aisling Moane sin binned in the first half it was Fermanagh who led at the break 2-2 to 0-6. Both Fermanagh goals came from Caroline Little, the first a penalty while it was the free taking of Lisa Morgan which kept the Mourne girls in touch. The second half was also a tight affair. Fermanagh had two goals correctly disallowed, one for a square ball and the other for a direct fist into the net. The all important score from a Down point of view was a late goal from midfielder Clara Fitzpatrick.

Caroline Little finished top scorer with 2-4. Fermanagh do need some other forwards to step up to the plate if there are to have any chance moving forward. Clara Fitzpatrick contributed 1-2 for Down while Lisa Morgan and Aileen Pyers fired over 4 points each.