Heartache for Down Ladies in All-Ireland semi-final

17 July 2024

DOWN senior ladies reached the end of their All-Ireland journey following a courageous effort against Tyrone which ended in defeat at Clones on Sunday.

The Mourne girls weren’t expected to make the final four stage at the beginning of their campaign but a fantastic run of form and never-say-die attitude put them in position for a semi-final clash against Ulster rivals Tyrone.

Down, who had won the All-Ireland junior competition last year, pushed the Red Hands all the way and it was clear from the outset that this was destined to be a nip and tuck encounter.

With 15 minutes gone the teams shared two points apiece with a

Natasha Ferris free and Niamh McClory effort cancelling out an early double from Tyrone’s Chloe McCaffrey.

However, Down faced their first real adversity when just a minute later Tyrone registered their first goal of the afternoon, courtesy of Aoife Horisk, who collected a pass from team-mate Maria Canavan and made no mistake with her effort.

Tyrone continued to keep the scoreboard ticking as McCaffrey landed her third point of the match but Down kept themselves to within an arm’s length with scores stemming from another Ferris free and a Niamh King point.

Tyrone ended the half strongest with a couple more points and Down were left with a big job to do having only managed four scores by the interval.

Half-time score: Tyrone 1-6 Down 0-4.

But, as what has been the case for the Down ladies lately, they refused to admit defeat with ease.

McClory kicked over before King chipped in with a brace of points to claw back a large portion of the deficit and the Mourne outfit began believing again.

However, a crushing blow was dealt to Down when top scorer of the match Maria Canavan struck Tyrone’s second goal in the 49th minute.

This stacked the odds heavily against Down but there was still hope when substitute Eimear Fitzpatrick netted for the Mourne ladies, which in hindsight helped add to her inspired performance from the bench.

Fitzpatrick kicked over the bar

on two more occasions, but one of her late frees landed agonisingly wide.

Down and Tyrone continued to trade points but at the full-time whistle it was Mourne hearts which were shattered and the Red Hands now eye a final showdown with Leitrim.

Tyrone: A Coyle; J Lyons, J Barrett, E Quinn; C Campbell, M Corrigan, C Daly; Á Grimes (0-1), A McHugh (capt); E J Gervin, A Horisk (1-1), E McNamee; M Canavan (1-4, 2f), E Conroy, C McCaffrey (0-5, 2f).

Subs: C Gormley for E Conroy (35), M Mallon for E McNamee (38), E Mulgrew for C Daly (41), K R Muldoon for J Lyons (59), S Byrne for A Horisk (59).

Down: A McGivern; A Greene, C Byrne, E Sands; C Mulvenna, N McKibbin, O Duffy; M Doherty (capt), A Laverty; A McAlea, N McClory (0-2), L Duffy (0-1); S Dougherty, N Ferris (0-2f), N King (0-3, 1f).

Subs: Vivienne McCormack for S Dougherty (40), E Fitzpatrick (1-2, 1f) for N Ferris (49), P Smyth for C Mulvenna (49), A Smyth (0-1) for N King (55).

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).

Tyrone 2-11

Down 1-11

LGFA ALL-IRELAND IFC SEMI-FINAL

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder