Down Ladies are queens of Ireland after dramatic final

16 August 2023

DOWN senior ladies were draped in All-Ireland glory once again as they overcame a tough Limerick outfit at Croke Park on Sunday.

The old adage goals win matches was proved tenfold as Mourne super sub Orla Swail raised the only green flag of the contest to help Down to another historic victory in Dublin.

Down’s ability to find the back of the net was contrast to Limerick’s flailing missed efforts in front of goal which ultimately proved crucial in hindsight.

Notable chances fell to the Shannonsiders midfielder Roisin Ambrose and sharpshooter Caoimhe McGrath, whose personal return of 0-4 on the day wasn’t enough to help Limerick over the line.

Those moments were pivotal in the outcome and perhaps Down were guilty of falling asleep in the build-up, but that doesn’t matter now.

The Mourne ladies will now return to intermediate football, a year after suffering relegation to the junior ranks. The rebuild has been swift and with purpose.

The Down eagerness was on show from the first whistle, with the reliable Natasha Ferris kicking over a close range free to open the scoring.

Limerick’s McGrath replied with three points on the bounce, two of which were frees, before a foul on Down’s Laoise Duffy allowed team-mate Ferris to convert her second score of the contest.

McGrath uncharacteristically kicked wide a free that she was expected to put between the posts and the red and black outfit took advantage of this with Ferris notching her third free soon after.

With the scores deadlocked at three apiece, two goal chances would fall the way of Limerick but neither would have the Shannonsiders’ desired outcome.

Firstly, Limerick captain Ambrose collected a welcoming pass from team-mate Deborah Murphy before lashing her effort into the side netting.

With 22 minutes played and Down still rattled, a lovely reverse pass saw McGrath with the goal at her mercy, but her effort cannoned wayward as onrushing Down ‘keeper Amy McGivern did just enough to unsettle the number 15.

McGrath did manage to kick over a point from play but a mammoth Aimee O’Higgins score brought the sides level once more.

This was followed up by Ferris’ fourth point of the game to give the Mourne team a slender one-point advantage.

There was enough time left before the half-time whistle for Limerick to launch one more attack but Karen O’Leary’s pass was fantastically intercepted by Down defender Orla Boyle and the chance went begging.

Half-time: Down 0-5 Limerick 0-4.

As the second half commenced Limerick came firing out of the traps, kicking over twice in swift fashion before Laoise Duffy’s effort at the other end bounced off the post and generously into the path of team-mate O’Higgins, who fired her effort over the bar.

And then, the key moment. The Down management of Caoibhe Sloan and Peter Lynch introduced Orla Swail to the fray from the bench.

Almost immediately this move paid dividends, as a short free found Swail, who jinked her way sharply past the Limerick defence before firing low into the bottom corner, sparking a thunderous roar from the elated Down support.

Further points were traded with Ferris knocking over Down’s final point of the contest and despite a late rebuttal, Limerick just couldn’t find the elusive major which they had craved throughout.

As the full-time whistle sounded, scenes of pandemonium unfolded as the Mourne team jumped for joy and the Star of the County Down sounded over the tannoy.

Following the conclusion, Down captain Meghan Doherty reflected on the enthralling final.

“The game went right down to the wire,” she said.

“We knew it was going to be a tough day.

“Limerick played a brilliant game and we have no doubt they will come back stronger and they’ll be back here at Croke Park next year.”

Down: A McGivern; A Greene, C Byrne, O Boyle; N McKibbin, M Doherty (capt), O Duffy; A Laverty, A Brogan; N Scullion, V McCormack, L Duffy; E Fitzpatrick, N Ferris (0-5, 0-2f), A O’Higgins (0-2)

Subs used: C Mulvenna for McCormack (h-t), O Swail (1-0) for Fitzpatrick, P Smyth for Laverty (38), K McKay for O’Higgins (41), E Martin for Doherty (57).

Limerick: C Bateman; A Quaid, Y Lee, M MacNamara (0-1); G Lee, L Walshe, L Ryan; R Ambrose (capt), F Bradshaw; D Murphy (0-1), K O’Leary (0-1), C Mee; L Coughlan, A Ryan, C McGrath (0-4, 3f).

Subs used: K Heelan for Bradshaw (32), I Kennelly (0-1) for Ryan (39), A O’Sullivan for McGrath (51)

Referee: Angela Gallagher (Dublin).

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