Down U-14s impress at Liatroim

Down U-14s impress at Liatroim

23 March 2022

DOWN U-14 girls came into their third competitive match weekend looking to bounce back from two defeats in match day two. 

Playing at home in Liatroim gave the local girls and management a great incentive to get back to winning ways.

The opening game of the weekend against Tyrone played out in dry but windy conditions. Down looked to take advantage of playing with this wind in the first half and were getting good scores on the board. 

However, Tyrone stayed in the game with two goals to leave the half time score 3-4 to 2-0 in favour of Down.

Tightening up the midfield at half-time and with Down now playing against the wind, the Mourne side took the game to Tyrone. The match was very open and for every half chance that went in for Down, Tyrone missed theirs. 

In the end, Down ran out deserved easy winners. Final score: Down 7-6 Tyrone 2-3.

Scorers for Down were Grace McMullan (1-3), Anna McArdle (1-1), Isa McCarron (1-0), Clodagh Simpson (1-0), Orla Owens (1-0) and Annie McEvoy (2-2).

Good performances all-round the pitch. Best performers for Down were Annie McEvoy, Holly Donnelly, Anna McArdle, Eloise Austin, Isa McCarron, Grace McMullan and captain Orla Owens but it was Zara Kelly who took the player of the match award.

In the next contest against Monaghan, Down played against the wind in the first half. Making 15 changes to the starting teams from the Tyrone match meant all 30 girls in the panel got starting a game.

The match was very tight from the off and was a very low scoring affair with very little clearcut goal-scoring opportunities. 

In a tight first half, Down were happy to come in at the interval with a score from Cliodhna McGrath, who notched a great point from open play.

In the second half, the Mourne side introduced a few fresh legs again as they aimed to take advantage of the wind. 

Although Down initially outscored their Monaghan counterparts 0-5 to 0-2, the visitors stayed in the match and continuously looked for goals. 

Some frantic defending and some very solid goalkeeping kept Monaghan out and in the end the local girls came through with a 0-5 to 0-4 win. 

The tightest of wins but well deserved on the day. Scorers for Down were Holly Donnelly (0-2), Lucia Keane (0-1), Grace Kelly (0-1) and Cliodhna McGrath (0-1).

Again a solid effort from all the girls in this match, but the best performers were Zara Greenan in nets, Ellen Farrell, Helen McGeough, Daire O’Shea, Hannah Cassin, Evie McHugh, Lucia Keane and captain Aoife Wolfe. 

However, it was Grace Kelly who took the player of the match award. Two good wins, six more points on the board but most importantly, another couple of solid performances from the squad.