Camogs secure status

Camogs secure status

19 July 2023

WHEN the Down camogie panel and management sat together at the start of the year, they probably had three realistic targets to reach – retain their Division 1 league status, win back the Ulster title and maybe reach the quarter-finals of the Glen Dimplex senior championship.

They managed to hit the first two targets but the draw for the senior championship was cruel, putting them in the same group as league finalists Cork and Galway, who incidentally will face each other this weekend in the senior championship semi-final. 

Only two would progress from the group and Down simply did not have the experience or personnel to trouble two of the top teams. 

A relegation battle was always on the cards and it came to a head in a final in Abbottstown on Saturday afternoon against Offaly. 

Down were safe after Sara Louise Graffin scored the only goal some 15 minutes in. 

It opened a gap of 1-4 to 0-1 and Offaly simply did not have the physicality nor the skill to close that gap. Down had secured a fourth successive season in top flight camogie.

The playing conditions were difficult after the heavy rain during the week and again overnight and they worsened further during the course of the game.

This resulted in a number of shots ping short for Down, a total of 14 wides while moves broke down. 

Offaly fared worse because they were out-muscled by the Down players who fought hard for possession, overturned it easily and built up decent moves. 

Down goalkeeper Catherine McGourty didn’t have to make one save during the game although she did her usual job of keeping the defence on their toes and in the correct formation.

After the game, the Ballycran player, who features outfield for her club and played most of her long inter-county career either in midfield or up front, called time on her Down career. 

She first joined the senior squad during the 1999 season when Down reached the senior semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Tipperary.

Down dropped through the grades soon after and found it difficult to climb back up. It is fitting though that a player who has given so much to the county cause would finish her career with Down still in the senior championship for the new season.

Sara Louise Graffin, another long-serving player, opened the scoring after 12 seconds when she ran off the shoulder of Lauren Clarke who had burst forward with possession from the throw-in, took the pass and nailed the opening point. It was a statement of intent.

Down dominated the next ten minutes but added just two points from Niamh Mallon. They also dropped around four shots into the arms of the Offaly keeper and registered five wides. 

All this happened before Clodagh Leahy pointed from a free to open Offaly’s account.

Niamh Mallon immediately replied with her third point from play and then was involved in a neat exchange of passes with Sara Louise 

Graffin that set the Clonduff forward through one-on-one with the Offaly goalie and she made it count.

Although Faye Mulrooney responded with a second point for Offaly, that was to be their final return for the first half, while Down, through a Mallon free and Graffin brought their total up to 1-7 at half-time. 

Offaly managed to keep pace with the Ulster champions for the duration of the second half, responding to each of Down’s first four points. 

But that had more to do with Down’s poor use of possession up front and the sodden pitch.

There was a clear goal chance early in the half when Lauren Clarke broke from the centre and put Ciara Fitzsimons through for a shot. 

However, Flannery was equal to it and turned the shot away for a 45. Down didn’t get their second goal, but they got what they came to Abbottstown for – a win that secures senior status for another year.

McGourty in her final outing again commanded her back line. In fairness though all the defenders were up to the task and Offaly struggled to get anything going at all.

Pairing Lauren Clarke and Deirbhile Savage together at midfield around six weeks ago turned out to be an inspired move from management and they again turned in a good hour of work, while up front Niamh Mallon and Sara Louise Graffin caused all kinds of problems with only Saoirse Sands with a point keeping them from running up all the scores for Down. 

The season has ended with senior league and championship camogie again on the horizon for next year. 

The return of the Ulster title to the county in May has added the gloss to another good season among the top teams.

Down: C McGourty, I O’Hare, A Mallon, Alannah Savage, C McGilligan, D Magee, R Smyth, D Savage, L Clarke, A McAleenan, SL Graffin (1-4), S Sands (0-1), C Fitzsimons, N Mallon (capt, 0-7, 2f), S McGrath

Subs: O Boyle for A McAleenan (45), B Savage for Alannah Savage (52), Aoife Savage for I O’Hare (54), C O’Connell for S McGrath (54), D Coleman for R Smyth (54)

Offaly: S Flannery; L Mannion, A Liffey, S Moore; S Walsh, S Killeen, H Feenane; C Leahy (0-4, 3f), G Dolan (capt); A McLoughlin, C Maher, N Killeen; L Glynn (0-1), R Brennan, F Mulrooney (0-1).

Subs: K Guilfoyle for N Killeen (57), C O ‘Donovan for F Mulrooney (57), R Ryan for A Liffey (58).

Referee: P McDonald (Cavan).