Week by week our Antrim Development Squad progresses! Several of our girls weighed in to support ‘the Saffrons’ as they came up against a Down team who had issued a heavy defeat to them only a few weeks ago.
How a little time changes things! Playing in windy conditions at St Colman’s in Newry, the Antrim girls quickly made it clear that they were not going to lie down for anyone as they harassed and harangued the strong and physical Down midfield. Amy Finnegan was tasked with disrupting their key midfield general and she did this with great vigour. All our girls supported the attack and dug in when needed. With the wind in our faces, we held the score to 0-4 to 0-2 at the break with a visibly shocked Down suddenly realising that this was not going to be the repeat of a few weeks ago.
The second half started the same way as the first, with each side trading blows and looking for an opening. Strangely enough, with the wind behind them, the Antrim girls started to ‘over cook’ a few of their passes and this allowed Down to capitalise on some naive defending with two quick ‘gifted’ goals. Undismayed, the girls in yellow continued to work to their game plan and as the game closed out, some fine scores from Darcey Smyth and Sorcha McGarvey again raised the stakes. The pick of the points came from Rebecca Doyle, (returning from injury), who having stepped away from her marker on the 21 yard line, nailed a catch and preceded to put the ball over the uprights, the keep net, and clean out of the ground!
Final score Down 2-6 to Antrim 0-5 but what a performance from our girls! The Down coaches were highly praising of our girls and what can only be described as one of the best fought games in this mini tournament came to an end. That match was played in a fair and spirited manner and all players should be proud. Should be interesting come the next round of games if we continue to improve at this rate.
Well done to all the girls with particularly strong performances from Debbie Lee Burns, Niamh Webb, Ellie Martin, Amy Finnegan and Rebecca Doyle.
