Match Report by Angela Mulhern

Down Camogie Division 3 Championship Final Replay - 2nd September 2011

Ballyholland IIs 1-6 (9) Darragh Cross 3-3 (12)

The replay at Park Ruiseil, Downpatrick, last Friday night proved every bit as entertaining as the previous encounter. In the end the experience of Darragh Cross was the difference between the two teams. That and the shoot-out between the two Number 11s, Ballyholland's Colleen Murtagh (1-5) and Darragh Cross's Fianait Mageean (1-3).

Ballyholland made a cracking start with three unanswered points from Colleen Murtagh (one free) and it looked like Darragh Cross were in trouble. However, they stuck to the task at hand and Fianait Mageean brought her side very much back into it with a score from play and one from a free. Darragh Cross midfield, Noreen and Meabh Mageean, were now starting to find their feet and a superb cross field ball from Louise Greer found full forward Fiona Douglas who rifled to the net. Ballyholland struggled at this stage and Aisling McClements increased the Darragh Cross lead when she too fired to the roof of the net to put the Crossgar side in the ascendancy. However, Ballyholland and their never say die attitude fought back and Colleen Murtagh, who was on song, scored a further 2 points to leave only 3 points the gap at half-time.

In the second half each side scored only one goal and one point each but this did not reflect the excitement of the occasion. Ballyholland through Colleen Murtagh found the net to even things up and when Darragh Cross's Number 14 was brought down and a penalty awarded it was felt that Darragh would kick on. However, a poorly taken shot went wide and this seemed to spur Ballyholland on. After a fabulous run by Colleen Murtagh she took a superb score to give her side a slender lead. This set the scene for a grandstand finish and a point from Fianait Mageean left an awful lot of nervous supporters on both sides in the ground.

There then followed what many classed as the goal of the season. A high ball into the Ballyholland box hit the crossbar and bounced out to the 14 yard area. Fianait Mageean caught the ball in a half-volley and the ball hit the net with speed and a plumb. The whistle went to scenes of great celebration in the Darragh Cross camp.

This had proved an epic battle between two determined teams over two hard fought games. Darragh Cross won because of their experience yet Ballyholland's young side stuck to their task and will have learnt from this experience.

Ballyholland: Danielle McCourt, Denise Havern (Joint Capt), Nicola O'Gorman (Joint Capt), Sinead McGarry, Kelly-Louise Franks, Cliona Murtagh, Cathy Keenan, Lauren Watterson (0-1), Louise Campbell, Annemarie O'Hare, Colleen Murtagh (1-5), Ciara Tinnelly, Laura Devine, Jennifer Devine, Katrina Fegan, Eve Loughran, Monica McGivern, Orla McParland, Orla McGlogan, Rebecca Fegan, Helen Murtagh Manager: Joe Baldwin Selectors: Therese Kelland, Cathy Mulholland, Karen Tinnelly, Caroline Poland

Darragh Cross: Una McClements, Caitriona McCulla, Donna Mullan, Judith Boyle, Sarah Jayne Miskelly, Kate McMahon, Jan Miskelly, Noreen Mageean, Meabh Mageean, Kerry McMahon, Fianait Mageean (1-3), Louise Greer, Christine Miskelly, Fiona Douglas(1-0), Deirdre McClements, Aisling McClements(1-0), Caroline Lecky, Jill Gordon, Aine Hamill, Emily Scullion, Marie Claire Canavan, Catherine McKinley, Claire McStay, Nicole McGrath (RIP) Managers: Joe McStay and Tom McMahon

Match Report by Roisin Rogers

Ulster U14 Camogie Championship Semi-Final - Saturday 3rd September 2011

Down v Derry

Down travelled to Newbridge GAC, Co Derry, on Saturday past to take on Derry in the Ulster U14 Camogie Championship Semi-Final.

Down came out of the starting blocs at fast pace and opened the scoring with Petrina Lively pucking the sliotar between the uprights followed shortly by Anna Rogan netting for the Red and Blacks. However, Derry soon settled down and struck 3 goals and a point without reply. But Down kept their heads and were soon rewarded with a goal from Petrina Lively. Down continued to work hard for the ball with Lisa McAleenan, Beth Toner and Nuala Carvill covering a lot of ground but while they found it hard to get the supply to their forwards Derry made the most of their possession scoring a further 3 goals and 5 points before the half-time whistle.

As at the start of the first half, Down came out and went straight into action with Niamh Rogers recording a goal when a high ball in from her slipped just under the bar. Then Down's Courtney McComb added another goal to their score sheet and it looked like the visitors were back in the match but this was not to be. While Catriona Caldwell and Dearbhla Magee were superb in the Down defence the visitors just couldn't curtail a strong, physical Derry side who went on to score a flurry of goals. Anna Rogan did snatch back a point for Down which she duly deserved for her terrific efforts throughout the match and Amy Freer also recorded one from a free but this was to be the total tally for Down and Derry finished comfortable winners at the final whistle to book a place in the final on 17th September.

Down: Niamh Brown, Caitriona Caldwell, Sian Crawford, Dearbhla Magee, Lisa McAleenan, Tierna Moorehead, Deidre McCabe (Capt), Nuala Carvill, Amy Freer (0-1), Anna Rogan (1-1), Beth Toner, Niamh Rogers (1-0), Keeva O'Prey, Petrina Lively (1-1), Molly McMullan, Ella Durkan, Elizabeth Wilson, Chloe McCusker, Courtney McComb (1-0), Abbie Craft, Neisha McCullough , Megan McGivern, Megan Sloan, Shaneen Owens, Silin Murphy Manager: Noreen Keown Selectors: Ann, Roisin and Slim Rogers


Gaelic Game Sportswear Down Camogie Fixtures (Tue 6 Sep - Tue 13 Sep)



Sat 10th Sep (at Dundrum GAC)

U16 Championship Final

4.00pm Ballygalget v Liatroim


NATIONAL FIXTURES

Sun 11th Sep (at Croke Park)

* All Ireland Premier Junior Championship Final in association with RTE Sport

12.00pm Down v Waterford
(Referee: Walter Cole, Cork)

* All Ireland Intermediate Championship Final in association with RTE Sport

2.00pm Antrim v Wexford
(Referee: John Dolan, Clare)

* All Ireland Senior Championship Final in association with RTE Sport

4.00 pm Galway v Wexford
(Referee: Mike O'Kelly, Limerick) Tweet

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