Individual Post

• Down Senior Ladies County Team 

The Ladies next game is the Final of the Ulster Championship on Friday 30th June 2017 at 7pm, venue Silverbridge GAC, Armagh. #MourneLadiesRising 

 

• Down U15 Ladies Development Team

U15 girls continue their preparations for Ulster semi-final away to Antrim this weekend, which will take place on Sunday 14th May at 12.30pm in Musgrave, Belfast. Training session on Friday 12th May at 7.30pm in Saval GAC. Good luck to the U15 girls in their quest to continue with their impressive campaign, please try and get out to support the girls this weekend! 

 

• Down U14 Ladies County Team 

The U14 team played their final Ulster championship against Tyrone on Saturday. The result was disappointing with Tyrone getting a much better start to the game and maintaining that advantage throughout the match. Next Saturday the u14 panel travel to Portlaoise to take part in the All Ireland Blitz competition. This has always been a very enjoyable day and provides the opportunity to play against different Counties from outside of Ulster. The mentors would like to thank all the players, parents and clubs for their commitment and support this year at U14 level. 

 

• Down U13 Ladies County Development Team 

Down U13 girls played their last Ulster league game against near neighbours Armagh in RGU Downpatrick on Saturday afternoon, in wonderful conditions. Down lost the toss and had to face a stiff breeze in the first half. The girls rushed into an early lead with well taken goals from Caroline Kennedy and Niamh King, before the visitors settled into the game picking off a few points with the wind at their backs. Jenna McMahon and Erin Byrne were having a real battle with their opposite numbers at mid-field with no quarter asked or given. This allowed Down to break forward on occasions to pick off three points and two further goals from the inside players of Caroline and Niamh. with the Orchard county securing two goals also before the break. Ciara McCullough, Anna Mulholland and Lily McKee in the half-forward line were proving a very effective link when going forward. However, the Down backs swept up a lot of ball with Enya Quinn acting as a very effective sweeper assisting our secure full back and captain today, Shauna O’Higgins and centre-half back Aoife Doyle both of whom were having a serious battle with their markers. Down went in at the break three points up leading 4-3 to 2-6. The second half started off in the same vein as the first with the game proving tight. Down scored a point first through Caroline before Armagh picked off another point and followed it up quickly with a well taken goal to level matters, after 12 minutes. At this stage, Nora Maguire in nets was keeping Down in it with a solid pair of hands and super kick-outs down the wings. The corner backs of Una Fearon and Sinead Scullion and wing half backs Ellen Shields and Caoimhe McKeown were working very hard at this stage to break up the Armagh attacks, with the support of Aoife and Shauna. After a sensible water break from the referee, the girls pushed on with further scores from Caroline and Niamh as a result of excellent balls being put in from our midfielders and half backs, with great support from our half forward line. Una Fearon was putting in a serious shift at this stage with some powerful solo runs down the wing and delivering some great balls to the forwards. The introduction of Caoimhe Quinn also helped to shut down any chance of a comeback by the visitors, as Down powered forward with the introduction of Eveagh Kelly and Aoibhin Dougan who freshened it up to stretch the Armagh defence further. The final goal for the Red and Blacks came from Anna Mulholland which was a great reward for her efforts today. Down ran out winners on a scoreline of 7-8 to 3-7, as a result of a late surge. This was a hard -working powerful performance today. The Mentors would also like to acknowledge the efforts all season of all the other girls on this excellent squad, who made valuable contributions in other games this year, namely Ellie Carr, Emily Fitzpatrick, Lauren Devlin, Ciara McEvoy Ireland, Neva Louden, Orlaith Lynch, Colleen McClean, Maeve Haigney, Rihanna Wojcieszak, Katie Convie, Rhian Boal, Sorcha McCullagh, Ellen McKay, Emily Magee, Aoife Trainor and the currently injured Rosie McCann. Best wishes Rosie!

 

Thank you to all the parents for their support and supply of refreshments when requested, and providing lifts to training and matches throughout the season. Thanks also to RGU Downpatrick for the use of their facilities today.

 

Big thanks also to our main sponsors Vanilla Restaurant and Strangford Fuels and all those who made sizeable financial contributions to support the girls. A fun day is planned for Saturday 20th May, with a possible friendly game still being looked at for next Saturday, if there is another County squad available to play.