Tyrone impress as they overcome Down in Ballyholland
Tyrone put on a classy second half performance to overcome Down in the NWP Recycling Ulster Intermediate Championship Semi-Final Replay in Ballyholland. Tyrone raced into a 1-03 to no score lead early on before Down only trailed by one point at the half however two quick goals at the start of the second half proved to be decisive as Down couldn’t get the scores their pressure possibly warranted.
Following a draw in Stewartstown the two sides had to meet again and it was the more experienced Tyrone side led by impressive performances from Shauna Jordan, Julie Lagan and Niamh Gavin who will now go on to face Cavan on Sunday in Pairc Esler. Tyrone manager Jackie McKendry was delighted with her side’s performance.
‘I’m delighted with the result and I knew after Sundays game that it was going to be a tough game in the replay. Our defence were very calm and settled and we knew Down were going to come back at us after we went six points up at the start of the game. I’m delighted with the way we started in the first and second half’.
Shauna Jordan breaks out to score a massive point for Tyrone
Down substitutes Dearbhla Magee and Nicola O’Gorman provided attacking support for Anna Rogan and Karen Gribben however despite spending much of the second period in the Tyrone half they couldn’t get the scores to close the gap. McKendry believes some great play including the score of the match from Shauna Jordan sealed the game for her side as they ran out winners on a scoreline of 3-08 to 2-05
‘Down were attacking for a large part of the second half and we managed to break out on a couple of occasions and Shauna Jordan ran about 70 yards with the ball to take a fantastic point near the end which probably clinched the game for us’.
Tyrone now face Cavan on Sunday and McKendry hopes her side are starting to click after two tough games but has concerns over midfielder Niamh Gavin who sustained a nasty ankle injury in the second half.
‘This extra game will give us a great boost going into the Final on Sunday and the girls are getting more comfortable with each other and that showed with the performance tonight. We won’t be underestimating Cavan ahead of the game on Sunday. We have a big worry over Niamh Gavin who had to get an x-ray but we’ll have fingers crossed that she may be available’ .
NWP Recycling Ulster Intermediate Championship Final
Sunday 1 st June- 1pm, Pairc Esler Newry
Cavan v Tyrone
