Mallon hoping Down can get back to winning ways against Antrim

Niamh Mallon has focused on the positives despite Sundays defeat in the National League Division Two Final. Down were defeated by Cork at the weekend and haven’t had long to dwell on that game as they now face Antrim in the NWP Recycling Ulster Senior Championship Semi-Final on Sunday in Portglenone.

‘We never set our sights out to the win the league and it was more so used  just to try players out and for management to get to know the team. When we got on a run you do want to win it but it wasn’t to be and we’ve straight on now to put the focus on Antrim this weekend.  We hopefully bounce back quite quickly and it won’t be easy. We’ve been going well this year but only beat Antrim  by a point in the league and it’s never an easy game against Antrim. The game was close the whole way through as it is every time you face Antrim’.

Down were missing a couple of their more experienced players against Cork which in previous years would have caused big problems but such is the strength and depth in the squad it hasn’t affected the Mourne girls so far this year.

Lisa McAliskey missed last week through holidays will hopefully be back this weekend and Sara Louise who has been out so far will be back soon from injury but we still have a large squad with over 30 girls out training. Having the Intermediates train with us has been great and to be honest no one really knows who could be playing on Sunday. We have young players like Aoife Keown, Anna Rogan, Aimee McAleenan pushing for places so it is keeping everyone on their toes. Those girls are minors are well capable of playing.

Down defeated Antrim at home last year to set up an Ulster Final against reigning champions Derry in Owenbeg. On a miserable day last June Derry ran out very comfortable winners. Niamh missed that game as she was recovering from the dreaded cruciate injury and wants to make sure she can help her side make amends as they have the potential of playing in front of their home crowd in Pairc Esler in Newry on 1 ^st June.

‘Last year against Derry was a bit of an embarrassment in the Ulster Final on a horrible day. Hopefully we could get to the Final but we’ll not be looking past Antrim at this stage. If we don’t win this weekend then we would have about 6 weeks until our next Championship so we want to get as many quality games as possible. Antrim will provide that tough game ’.

It takes time for a player to recover from the cruciate ligament injury however Niamh is eager to make amends for her spell on the side-lines which could spell danger for her opponents later this year.

I feel good so far and last year I only got back late so I’m starting to feel 100% again. I haven’t had a reaction from the injury. I hope the best is still to come and performances can keep getting better.

NWP Recycling Ulster Senior Championship Semi-Final

Sunday 11 ^th May- Portglenone 2.30pm

Antrim v Down