Sports DNA

NATIONAL LEAGUE DOWN 3-12 OFFALY 1-07

Words…PRO Down LGFA Pictures: Brendan Monaghan

Down ladies were back to winning ways on Sunday, beating Offaly by eleven points.

Offaly, without a without a win in the league this year, will now be hoping that Down do them a favour and beat Carlow in the final league game of the season next week to give Offaly any chance of getting off the foot of the table.

Down set the pace straight from the throw in with Laoise Duffy and Eimear Fitzpatrick getting early scores.

But dispite Down being in control for the first ten minutes the Mourne ladies found themselves behind afrer a classic quick break counter lead to a goal for Offaly.

A brace of converted frees increased Offaly’s lead as they started to put pressure on the home side.

Down’s Eimear Fitzpatrick is in the form of her life, and is one of the stand out performers for Down this season. The Burren forward rattled off four scores over the bar to get the home side back on track.

Down seemed to step up a level, their tempo increased and now were fully in control.

Meghan Doherty showed she is one of the best players in the Country. The Carryduff player bossed the midfield, driving Down forward. Twice in this spell she overturned the ball and set up goal scoring chances for Natasha Ferris and Aisling Cull, only to see Offaly keeper, Lauren Dunne pull off two great saves. When the inevitable Down goal did arrive it came with a huge stroke of luck. Niamh King’s long range shot just fell sort of the posts, but took a wicked bounce off the pitch and flew past the Offaly keeper into the back of the net. This was a massive turning point in the game and in truth Offaly never really recovered. Another Fitzpatrick score, this time from a free was the last action of a close enough half and seen the home side lead 1-7 to 1-2.

Offaly converted another two frees early in the second half, but these were quickly wiped out when Niamh King got her second goal of the match. Eva Hicks found the Castlewellan forward with a super ball over the Faithful County’s defence and King calmly rolled the ball off her right boot and past the keeper.

Down were the much more dominant side the second half. Teconnaught’s Aimee Greene was outstanding at full back for Down. Her pace, power and reading of the game, never allowed Offaly a chance to get back into the match and Colm Donnelly’s 

Down team turned possession into scores. Fitzpatrick, Smyth & Hicks stretching the home sides lead. 

Down made multiple changes in the second half, showing what a tallented panel this is. One of the stand out subs coming on, was Meabh Kelly who showed a great bit of skill to beat three Offaly defenders before fisting over the bar.

This was a very young Offaly side who fought till the final whistle with midfielder Amy Gavin Mangan being their star performer. Mangan capped off her display with a lovely score from distance. Offaly converted another couple of frees towards the end of the game but these scores were again cancelled out with points from Down’s Eva Hicks. Down were well worth their eleven point win and face Carlow next in the last league game of the season before eyes turn to the Championship.