Sizzling Down lift All-Ireland title

1 May 2019

A VIRTUOSO attacking display from Sorcha McCartan and a defensive masterclass from team captain Blanaid Savage enabled Down to lift the All-Ireland B Shield at a cold and wind-swept Inniskeen Grattans, Monaghan, on Saturday afternoon.

The final scoreline was a bit rough on a game Meath outfit and two goals from the predatory Saoirse Sands, in as many minutes just before the break, proved the difference between the sides.

Down started in a hurry with midfielders Megan O’Boyle and Anna McKee seeing plenty of the ball and they wasted no time in getting their forwards involved.

As early as the second minute, Down were awarded a free on the 21m line.

Everyone thought that McCartan would just pop the sliotar over the bar for an easy point, but she had other ideas and blasted a fiercely-hit shot to the back of the net.

Down continued to ask all the early questions, but two minutes later they were found wanting at the back and when their defence failed to deal with a Jessica Potterton free, Ciara Foley swooped to bring the sides level with an instinctive finish.

McCartan edged Down back in front with a well-taken point, but two unanswered scores, one from the diligent Potterton and one from Sonia Leonard gave Meath a 1-2 to 1-1 lead after 12 minutes.

That lead didn’t last long as the inspirational McCartan effortlessly lofted over a 45’ to level the scores yet again with 14 minutes gone.

Meath were wining a lot of ‘dirty ball’ in the engine room, but superb defensive play from Savage and Orlaith O’Rourke kept them at bay.

However, Potterton converted another free in the 21st minute to give her side a 1-3 to 1-2 lead and when Emer Fagan stretched that lead to two points, Down suddenly looked vulnerable.

With 28 minutes gone Bredagh’s Aoibhinn Brentnall reduced the leeway before sizzling Sands stunned Meath.

Her first goal came in the 29th minute after the Meath ‘keeper was unable to clear a lofted effort from Beth Fitzpatrick. Sands struck with all the stealth and power that her dad Noel displayed for Down hurlers for many years as she beat Katie Smith all ends up with a clinical finish.

Meath were now on the ropes and Sands delivered a second knock-out blow a minute later when she again ghosted in to direct a McCartan pass to the net and give down a 3-3 to 1-4 interval lead.

Meath had the wind advantage after the break, but it was Down and the unrelenting McCartan who took centre stage.

Two sensational points from the Castlewellan teenager, a daughter of former Down All-Ireland medal winner Greg in 1994, stretched Down’s lead to seven points with only five minutes of the second half played.

All credit to Meath, they steadfastly refused to throw in the towel and a Foley point left them trailing 3-5 to 1-5 after 43 minutes.

It wax at this stage that Savage played a real captain’s role from her central half back role. She was simply imperious, plucking the sliotar out of the air and then sending it forward for her team-mates to chase.

Meath went close to giving Down a fright in the 53rd minute when an explosive shot from Fagan rattled off the crossbar and was cleared to safety, but other than that, little got past Savage.

McCartan and Leonard swapped points as the game drew to a close, but Down had no intention of relinquishing their grip on the game and refused to give Meath any more scores.

Down: Niamh Sharkey, Orlaith O’Rourke, Hannah Toner, Alice Coulter, Isabella O’Hare, Blanaid Savage, Niamh Dempster, Megan O’Boyle, Anna McKee, Cerys Clarke, Sorcha McCartan (1-5, 2f, 1x45’), Saoirse Sands (2-0), Gerra McGrattan, Aoibhinn Brentnall (0-1), Beth Fitzpatrick. Subs: Aimee Mallon for Toner, Toner for O’Rourke, Alanna Hagan for McGrattan, Colleen McConnell, Bronagh Donaghy, Olivia Blaney, Eden Casey, Hannah Duffy, Roisin McPolin, Niamh Burns, Chloe McConville, Caitlin Fitzpatrick, Aoife McCann.

Meath: Katie Smith, Caitlin Hamilton, Abbye Donnelly, Sophie Healy, Kate Smith, Aine Cooke, Hazel O’Reilly-Higgins, Ellen Brogan, Jessica Potterton (0-2f), Sonia Leonard (0-2, 1f), Emer Fagan (0-1), Rachael Fraughan, Ellen O’Hara, Ciara Foley (1-1, 1f), Taylor Stack. Subs: Andrea McBride for Brogan, Francesca McKenna for Fraughan.

Down 3-6

Meath 1-6

ALL-IRELAND MINOR B SHIELD FINAL

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