02 July 2003 Tyrone Ladies get ready to tackle Down Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Tyrones Senior Ladies commence what will hopefully be an extended Championship run when they tackle their Down counterparts at Ballinascreen (3.30pm). Under new manager Kevin Mc Crystal, the Red Hand girls appear to have made good progress since their league campaign ended at the quarter-final stage to Galway. A number of new faces have been introduced to give an added impetus to the squad, and coupled with the emergence of young players such as Kelly-Marie Mc Crory and Grainne Kelly, Tyrone have every right to approach the tie in buoyant mood. Tyrone defeated the Mourne girls comfortably at this stage last season, but they are sure to face a much sterner test to their credentials on this occasion. Key players such as the Downey sisters, and Castlewellans Lisa Morgan, who opted to spend last summer in the States, have opted to remain this year and help down return to the kind of form which saw them clinch the All-Ireland Junior title in 2000. Since then, they have failed to progress in the manner Tyrone did following their Junior success, and the influx of a new generation of young players to the panel should bring with it a renewed hunger and appetite for success. Tyrone will once again look to experienced Championship campaigners such as newly-appointed captain Lisa Mc Girr, All-Ireland Combined Colleges player Siobhan Mc Garvey, former Allstar recipients Lynnette Hughes and Claire Mc Garvey. Badoneys Caitriona Daly, Maeve Mc Gurk of Kildress and Trillicks Teresa Mc Nabb can all provide Mc Crystal with additional options if called upon. Perhaps the key factor for the Red Hands will be whether their defence can maintain its usual degree of miserliness. Anchored by full-back Maura Kelly, the Tyrone rearguard has proven watertight against some of the most potent attackers in the country. Big performances will also be required from fellow defenders Martina Doyle and Seana Keenan if Tyrone are to succeed. The midfield battle will be crucial to the outcome of the game, with Lisa Mc Girr and Nuala Mc Garvey coming up against a physical and experienced Down midfield. The Tyrone girls will hope to provide forwards Briege Daly, Michaela Doherty and Shauna Mc Girr with the kind of service they can transform into goals. Should Tyrone progress on Sunday, they could come up against Down once more in the Ulster Final, as the losing side on Sunday will face Monaghan in the second semi-final. On paper at least, Tyrone appear to have too much talent and experience to fall at this first hurdle, provided they guard against complacency. But this is Championship football after all, and anything less than a top-drawer performance by the Red Hand Ladies could see an upset even at this early stage. Share this Article 0 0