Down dominate Cavan in a blowy day up the Mournes!!

Ulster Minor Championship Cup 2015

Down 5:18 Cavan 0:02

Down hosted Cavan in An Riocht in the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship Cup over the weekend. This was Cavan’s first time in the Cup competition after dominating the Shield at U14 and U16 for the past few years. Down got off to a quick start with an Eimear Rushe goal. A Derbhla Magee free from midfield was carefully placed into the hand of Anna Rogan who stuck the ball over the bar.

Petrina Lively had a shot on goal only to be saved by the Cavan goalie, Annie Smith. Erin Hagan from Down sent the ball back in to the Down forwards only for the Cavan defence to safely defend their goals. A mishit from a Cavan free was punished by Clare Greenan who sent the ball into sharp shooter Anna Rogan who efficiently sent the ball over the bar for Down. Down’s Anna Rogan sent a great ball across the forward line into the hands of Petrina Lively who was quickly closed down on the Cavan goal line.

The Down midfield line consisting of Cassie Fitzpatrick and Lizzie Wilson were out in front of their markers ensuring that all puck outs were returned to the Down forward line. There was a quick succession of passes and points from a number of the Down players.  Cavan’s first attack on Down came when midfielder, Shannon Maguire drove the ball long into the hands of Ciara Finnegan. Finnegan sent the ball into the Down backline where Caoimhe Byrne got a touch on it and it bounced on into goalie, Lauren Clarke who safely returned it outfield. A foul outfield was then punished when Niamh Reilly got Cavan on the scoreboard with a point.

There was a fabulous display of catching, passing and striking on display from the Down girls prior to half time, particularly from Anna Rogan who was causing all sorts of problems for the Cavan defence notching up two goals to give Down a convincing lead of 3-12 to 0-01 going into the break.

Down continued their good run into the second half. Goals from Petrina Lively and Celine Murphy ensured there was no way back for Cavan. On a day when Down’s backline never really got tested, Down’s forwards showed they were able to take scores from all angles and showed they are a real threat in this competition. I’m sure the Cavan girls are disappointed with the result but for their own long-term development they need to be playing against the likes of Down, Antrim and Derry to improve.

Thanks to Grainne Coulter for the report and Jane Eakins for the fantastic pictures.

Down: L Clarke, D McCabe, C Greenan, C Byrne, A Fearon, D Magee, C Fitzpatrick (0-05), L Wilson, S O’Rourke (0-02), S Murphy (0-01), N McCullough (0-01), P Lively (1-02), A Rogan (2-05), E Rushe (1-03) Subs: P Mathews, N McBurney, N McDonell, E Fitzpatrick, M Deery

Cavan: A Smith, C Shalvey, S Cusack, K Reilly, L Fitzpatrick, R Fitzsimmons, L Murtagh, S Maguire, A Finnegan, M Leddy, C Finnegan, S Bagnall, N Reilly (0-02), E Fitzpatrick, K Boyle, Subs: L Ellis, A Creggan, S O’Flynn