Derry deny Down girls

Derry deny Down girls

20 June 2018

TWO weeks on from Down’s sensational Ulster Championship final win over the same opponents, the sides locked horns again in the All-Ireland Series at Portaferry on Saturday evening.

As expected, there wasn’t a puck of a ball between the sides with Derry snatching a share of the spoils in added time. This game did not disappoint and both teams put on a great show for those in attendance.

Down showed two changes from the Ulster final with Saoirse Sands coming in for Aimee McAleenan and Lizzie Wilson started in place of Maria Higgins. 

Down were the first to score when Niamh Mallon continued on from where she finished two weeks ago, terrorising the Derry defenders. Derry hit back and took control, scoring the next three points. 

Down fought back with another score from Mallon, but Derry then struck with a goal straight from a long distance free to go five points clear.

Down suffered a blow when Sara Louise Carr had to leave the pitch with what looked like a hamstring injury after scoring a great point. Clonduff’s Clara Cowan came on in her place and showed no sign of nerves or being overawed at all. She was always available for a pass and played really well. 

The Down players all stepped up and took the game to Derry and the half-time score was Down 0-10, Derry 1-09

The second half was equally entertaining and the game was end to end stuff, with both teams giving their all.

Derry got their noses in front and went up by five again midway through the second half, but Down dug deep and team captain Fionnuala Carr scored two massive long range frees to narrow the gap.

Mallon then scored point from a free before Dearbhla Magee scored a fine individual point to narrow the gap to the minimum. Niamh Mallon scored another free to level the match and almost immediately was fouled again and she stepped up to put Down one up with time almost up on the clock. 

Almost two minutes into injury time the referee awarded Derry a free which in all honesty could have gone either way. Grainne McNicholl stepped up and scored her fourth point of the day to bring the sides level. 

Down can take a lot of positives from this game. On two occasions they went down by five points and they continued to battle for every ball, next up for Down in the All-Ireland series is Carlow on Saturday.

Down scorers: Niamh Mallon (0-11), Paula O’Hagan (0-2), Fionnuala Carr (0-2), Cassie Fitzpatrick (0-1), Dearbhla Magee (0-1), Sara Louise Carr (0-1).

Down 0-18

Derry 1-15

ALL-IRELAND SERIES