Impressive Down camogs

Impressive Down camogs

21 February 2024

AFTER winning the All-Ireland intermediate title in December 2020, Down introduced a second team into competitive camogie with the idea of giving younger players experience so that they could then come through to join the senior panel.

In that sense it was relatively successful with most of the current senior team gaining enough experience with the second team to more easily make the transition into the senior squad.

However, results for the second team in general were very poor and on a couple of occasions they had to be withdrawn from competition.

This season, under new manager David Coffey, who is also the minor manager, the group assembled is almost exclusively U-20 with minor players coming in to expand the panel. 

In such circumstances it was a bit of a surprise for them to have to give up home venue (Ballycran was declared unplayable on Friday evening), travel to Belfast and still come away from An Spórtalann at Coláiste Feirste with a four points’ victory on Saturday.

The manager, however, had a solid defence with Aoife Sherry safe in goals and Orla Brown and both Katie Morgan from Clonduff and Katie Morgan from Aghaderg impressive in defence. 

Ellen Shields and Cara McEvoy did well in midfield while Niamh McGrath and Amy Morgan were strong up front. 

What brought Down over the line, however, was the boost they got from the subs. 

Coffey brought on six players during the course of the second half, four of them minors, and three of those minors delivered points each. 

In a closely fought and competitive game, those scores were crucial to the outcome.

The teams exchanged points before Down hit a run of three in-a-row before the 15th minute from Tierna Savage, Niamh McGrath and Amy Morgan. 

Antrim hit back with two 45s from Córa Henderson and a fourth point from Niamh Neeson.

However, scores during the final five minutes from Morgan and McGrath had the Down girls ahead by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.

Orlaith Sharkey came on at half-time and Caitlin McGrattan five minutes later. Both hit the target in response to Clodagh McPeake narrowing the gap with a quick score for Antrim.

Ellen Shields then stretched Down’s lead with two points in quick succession to open up a lead of 0-10 to 0-6. 

Her team was now in control with all the subs putting their shoulder to the wheel. A third sub Ria O’Toole tagged on a point before Antrim pulled a score back at the end.

While this was a landmark win for Down at this level, there will be tougher challenges ahead, starting on Saturday when they travel to Cappaghmore to take on Limerick.

Limerick lost by a single point, 3-7 to 1-14, to Dublin on Saturday. Dublin will host Antrim in round two at Blanchardstown, also on Saturday.

Meanwhile, there is another Down v Antrim encounter closer to home this Saturday with the senior teams meeting in the first round of games in Division 1B.

Antrim will start favourites to beat a much changed Down, but this Division 3 result should give the senior side a boost.

Down: Aoife Sherry, Áine Breen, Katie Morgan, Orla Brown, Claire Morgan, Katie Morgan, Eve Mullan, Ellen Shields (0-2), Cara McEvoy, Niamh McGrath (0-3), Aimee O’Hanlon, Niamh Burns, Corra Croskery, Tierna Savage (0-1), Amy Morgan (0-2).

Subs: Sarah Malone for K Morgan (Clonduff), Orlaith Sharkey (0-1) for A O’Hanlon, Caitlin McGrattan (0-1) for T Savage, Ria O’Toole (0-1) for Co Croskery, Cara Savage for C Morgan, Sarah Gorman for N Burns

Antrim: Colleen McAvoy, Alice Convery, Sophie Erskine, Ceara Carelton, Emer Vallely, Sarah Fyfe capt., Siantelle Boyd, Ciara Maguire, Eireann Boyd, Dearbhiale McGivern, Clódagh McPeake (0-2), Córa Henderson (0-4f), Laurne McFarlane, Aideen McCambridge, Niamh Neeson (0-1).

Subs: Aoibh Vallely, Sarah Kennedy.