TG4 Ulster Ladies’ IFC final
Down 2-9 Monaghan 0-14
DOWN had to withstand the ultimate fightback from Monaghan in a pulsating Ulster Intermediate Championship Final at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones on Sunday.
Last year’s All-Ireland Junior champions led by 10 points a minute into the second half when Laoise Duffy found the back of the net to put them 2-8 to 0-4 ahead after an impressive first half display had given them a 1-8 to 0-4 half-time lead, player of the match Eimear Fitzpatrick with 1-3.
However, the Mourne County would only add a further point, that a Natasha Ferris free, in the 49th minute, but it proved to be crucial, as it was that which separated the sides at the end of a breathtaking match, played in extremely warm conditions.
Monaghan will look back on what certainly could have been. They had two great chances to possibly win or at least force extra-time right at the end, but Darren Greenan could not have asked for anymore from his side in that second half.
Monaghan dominated the second half, playing with such intensity that Down really struggled to get any foothold in the game after they had dominated the first half.
The winners laid the foundation for victory with a superb opening half as they moved the ball quickly from defence to attack.
Eimear Fitzpatrick found the back of the net on 13 minutes when referee Oliver McKenna played a good advantage and while she didn’t get the best of connections, it crept under Orna Kelly, to leave it 1-5 to 0-3.
Monaghan, too had a glorious goal chance on eight minutes but Leanne Maguire was denied by Maeve Deery.
Duffy gave Armagh the dream start on the resumption but what was to follow was a spirited Monaghan performance.
They pressed Down but Deery was excellent under severe pressure at times to find teammates, but Monaghan were hungrier and turned over possession.
The introduction of Chloe McBride also had a huge impact while both Jennifer Duffy and Casey Treanor excelled.
They rattled off seven unanswered points, to suddenly reduce the deficit to a one score game.
Enter Ferris to a huge Down roar and a lift they badly required at that stage, and she converted a much needed free.
Monaghan, were not done yet and McBride, with three in-a-row, left one between them and they had their chances but Down held firm to edge home by the minimum and secure back-to-back Ulster titles.
Down joint manager Peter Sloan was delighted to get over the line knowing they were hanging on at the end.
“Monaghan threw everything at us in the second half. They are a serious outfit. A lot of those players would have come in to Monaghan when they were still a senior outfit and playing at a high grade,” he said.
“Our thing is to progress and catch up with the stronger teams in Ulster and beyond, so today is a big day for Down. It shows that we belong on this stage and we want to push on to better things.
“The last time we won an Ulster intermediate, there were only ourselves and Fermanagh in it, this time we had to beat Cavan, we beat Antrim, we beat Monaghan, so I suppose it carries more weight that way, that we came through a hard avenue to win it.
“We are delighted for the players and all the people involved.
Down M Deery; A Greene, C Byrne, P Smyth; C Mulvenna, N McKibbin, O Duffy; M Doherty (capt), E Fitzpatrick (1-3); E Sands, N King, L Duffy (1-1); N McClory (0-2), S Dougherty (0-2), V McCormack
Subs N Scullion for Sands, A McAlea for Greene (35), N Ferris (0-1 free) for McCormack (38), A Laverty for McClory (38), N McGrath for King (52)
Monaghan O Kelly; A Bannigan, N Cohan, K Nolan; A Garland, M Monaghan (capt), A Loughman; J Duffy, E Carolan; S Tierney (0-2), E Sherry (0-3, 0-2 frees), C Treanor; L Maguire (0-2 frees), J Drury (0-1), L Garland (0-1)
Subs C Nally for Carolan, C McBride (0-5, 0-4 frees) for Maguire (h-t), J McQuillan for Tierney (49), N Flanagan for McQuillan inj (51)
Referee Oliver McKenna (Tyrone)
