Confidence key for Down victory

Down captain and Double Soaring Star winner Fionnuala Carr believes that renewed confidence in the squad helped them to overcome Antrim in Sunday’s NWP Recycling Ulster Championship Semi-Final. Aided by a stiff breeze Antrim went in ahead at the break however some fantastic defending by the Down rear guard meant that the Saffrons didn’t add to their scoring tally in the second half. Fionnuala was proud of the effort her teammates displayed in Ballycran on Sunday

‘ We were on top at the start of the game but then we let in two really poor goals and missed a lot of chances in the first twenty minutes. Antrim then got some crucial scores to go ahead at the break. We had played well enough in the first half but their two goals came from really bad mistakes on our behalf. Sometimes we don’t realise our own ability and wait for other teams to start but at half time we were saying that we were as good as Antrim’.

At half time Antrim led 2-7 to 1-3 but Down were going to be playing with the breeze at their back and along with some more intelligent play the Clonduff woman felt they could claw the deficit back.

With Down securing their place in the Ulster Final on 15 ^th  June the Mourne girls can turn their focus to their potential opponents with Armagh hosting Derry in the other Semi-Final. Although Fionnuala wouldn’t right off Armagh they also do not fear a potential game against Derry following last year’s Ulster Semi-Final Extra-Time defeat to Derry.

’ I wouldn’t right Armagh off and we respect them as they are in the same All-Ireland grade as ourselves however if it will be Derry we face then we won’t fear them. We should have beat them last year, they scored two late goals in Extra-Time to win and had that bit of experience over us. This year we are starting to get some injuries cleared up and are boosted by the success of last year’s Minor team who won the All-Ireland C grade. There’s a good mix in the squad and we will concentrate on our own game and look forward to the Final’.                                                                                                                                                           

The NWP Recycling Ulster Finals will be played on 15 ^th  June in Owenbeg, Co. Derry