Down girls beaten but stay unbowed

17 July 2013

WITH temperatures reaching 25 degrees, Celtic Park, Derry, was the hot venue for the 2013 TG4 Ulster Ladies’ Intermediate Football Championship final on Sunday.

The first five minutes were dominated by a Down side eager to put their mark on the game.

Although Fermanagh made the opening attempt on scoring with a short range wide, it was Down who looked most likely to score and when Orla Fegan side-stepped two Fermanagh backs and with the keeper off her line, it looked a certain goal. However, a slight slip at the last second by Fegan and the ball just skimmed the outside of the post.

Down won the kick-out and again a goal looked on when Sinead McNamee lobbed the ball over the keeper, but it cruelly came off the cross bar and was hurriedly cleared.

The ball was scooped up by the Down midfield and again a Down attack was building when a back was fouled and a free awarded. Grainne McClean (inset) stepped up to put the ball over the bar and open the scoring for Down.

Fermanagh regained their form ten minutes in and a wide by the Erne girls was quickly followed by a goal two minutes later.

At the other end Down stalwart Kyla Trainor looked like hitting the back of the net when she received a good ball from Clara Fitzpatrick, who had made a blistering run through midfield.

However, Trainor’s shot skimmed the outside of the post.

Down were left to rue their chances in this quarter — they hit two further wides — but it was 18 year-old Lauren Cunningham who came storming through for Down, after Monaghan referee Paul Swift played the advantage when Down captain Sinead Fegan was pushed in back, and at the same time laid the ball off to Cunningham, who hit a tremendous point under immense pressure from the Fermanagh backs.

It was a critical score and went some way to steady the ship for Down. Within minutes the Ballymartin youngster was back on the score sheet with another fine point from play, which was the culmination of a Laura Sharvin clearance on the Down back line, the ball being worked up to the forward line for Cunningham to pop it over, bringing the score to Fermanagh 1-1 Down 0-3. A pointed free followed from Grainne McClean and Down looked the better side.

But disaster struck for Down and in an unprecedented 2 minutes of play Fermanagh scored an amazing three goals and one point. Down looked shell-shocked. To concede 10 points in what was literally only seconds, would be hammer blow to any team, even the comeback queens.

But Down weren’t about to go into the break with their heads down and in the closing minutes of the half they showed great composure and resilience. Clara Fitzpatrick showed the way with a great point from play and Down went in at the break with a nine-point deficit.

Down came out fighting in the second half. Sinead Fegan dispossessed a Fermanagh player and gave a pinpoint punt pass to Cunningham, who in turn laid it off for Trainor to put it over the bar.

At this stage Natasha Ferris also took a great point from play followed by one from Orla Fegan and her sister Sinead scored a fine point also. Down looked in control and although they were chasing the game they looked like they could pull back the deficit.

Further scores followed from Megan Doherty, from play, and Lisa Morgan, who was playing in her second Ulster final for Down, having played in the 2000 final as a teenager. It looked like Down might just have enough guile to pull off another of their famous comebacks.

With the travelling Down support outnumbering the Fermanagh support, the fans did their best to get behind the girls. Clara Fitzpatrick again showed why she was on the Tesco HomeGrown Team of league 2013 with superb play, running at the backs and using her height and experience to get another point, which reduced the deficit to four.

However it wasn’t to be Down’s day. Fermanagh scored two quick points in quick succession, and then let the seconds tick away to become the deserved Ulster champions.

Down’s downfall, no doubt, came with the three quick goals within a couple of minutes. Try as they might, they couldn’t bridge the gap.

What if Down hadn’t conceded those killer goals? What if Down had took their scoring chances in the opening minutes? But what ifs don’t win you Ulster titles.

They only give you something to work on, and knowing these Down girls, work on it is what they will do. They will work on it and put the defeat behind them and look instead to their forthcoming All-Ireland campaign.

Counties up and down the country have now sat up and taken note of Down’s resurgence in ladies’ football. Down can no longer fly under the radar. Being the Division 3 winners and Ulster finalists doesn’t allow you the privilege of the underdog tag.

When an official commiserated with the Down ladies after the match he was told: “Bring on the All Ireland.” These girls may have just played the biggest game of their lives so far, but they aren’t going to let one defeat determine their legacy.

Down have more to give, this year and next. When Fermanagh were giving their acceptance speech they too alluded to Down’s re-emergence on the big stage. Praise indeed from the champions and a clear indication from Down’s peers that they are considered a force to be reckoned with.

Down: Christine McCarthy, Cora McKibbin, Laura Sharvin, Orla Boyle, Eiméar Kane, Niamh McGowan, Sinead Fegan, Clara Fitzpatrick, Grainne Kelly, Meghan Doherty, Grainne McClean, Orla Fegan, Lauren Cunningham, Kyla Trainor, Natasha Ferris, Katie Farrell, Hannah Murray, Hazel Jordan, Sinead Brannigan, Emer McKay, Ciara McArdle, Clare Fitzpatrick, Nicole Mulholland, Amy Nicholson, Sinead McNamee, Ciara O’Higgins, Coleen McShane, Sinead Ennis, Lisa Morgan. Management: Benji Ward. Coaches Mark Copeland, Ryan McShane, Lochlainn Leneghan. Selector: Kevin Leneghan. Physio: Niamh Canavan.

Fermanagh 4-8

Down 0-14

ULSTER LADIES IFC FINAL

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder