Goals from Power and McGrath give The Downs a winning start

The Downs 2-8, Mullingar Shamrocks 1-5

On a beautiful summer evening in Springfield last Thursday, the ladies of The Downs started their season perfectly with a victory against the home side, Mullingar Shamrocks, in front of a large attendance.

The Downs controlled the game for the most part, while their opponents tried to limit their scoring chances and created very few of their own. Despite a dour struggle with defences on top, there was no doubting the better team won, though Shamrocks had their opportunities, especially in the first half. Missed chances proved costly for Shamrocks, and The Downs capitalised after the break. Two late penalties for Shamrocks, one converted and one not, summed up the game. Lucy Power’s dominance in the second half ensured The Downs were worthy winners, possibly deserving an even larger margin of victory. Shamrocks’ late adjustments came too late, as The Downs showed great patience and resilience to break down their resolute defence and claim the spoils.

The first half was extremely cagey, with Shamrocks adopting a blanket defence and hoping to catch The Downs on the break. Karen Hegarty opened the scoring for Shamrocks, but a speculative ball collected by Sheila McGrath netted an excellent goal for The Downs just seven minutes in. Chloe Smullen replied with a point for Shamrocks, which could have been a goal, but The Downs responded with two Brittney McNamee frees. Smullen again replied with a superb point from a narrow angle, but Shamrocks missed at least three scoring opportunities before Downs goalie Shauna Conneely made a super save from the same player, and Chloe Swarbrigg was unlucky with the follow-up.

The score read 1-2 to 0-3 in fervour of The Downs at the short whistle after a hard-to-watch first half.

The Downs emerged more energised on the resumption, taking the game to their hosts with pointed frees from McNamee and Beth Maguire, following a long delay for an injury to Shamrocks’ Smullen. Anna Jones pulled one back slightly against the tide, but then it became the Lucy Power show. She picked off a beauty from long range, set up Maguire for a lovely point, and then netted a brilliant second goal after starting the move on her own 21-yard line and finishing with an unstoppable shot.

This goal as good as sealed the win for the visitors, especially when Francesca Walsh added a superb team point. Anna Jones did pick off a beauty for Shamrocks in that period, but it merely stemmed the tide. Power looked to have put the result beyond all doubt with a marvellous solo effort from play on 27 minutes, but The Downs had to withstand a late Shamrocks rally. Olivia Glynn was sin-binned for a foul on Smullen, Karen Hegarty’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Conneely, and a second Shamrocks penalty by Anna Jones was thwarted by Conneely again, though Jones netted on the rebound. Ultimately, it was mere window dressing as The Downs eased to a richly deserved victory.

Scorers - The Downs: Lucy Power 1-2, Brittney McNamee 0-3 (all frees), Sheila McGrath 1-0, Beth Maguire 0-2 (1 free), Francesca Walsh 0-1.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Anna Jones 1-2, Chloe Smullen 0-2, Karen Hegarty 0-1.

The Downs: Shauna Conneely, Aisling Egerton, Aoife Rowan, Emily McNamee, Gillian Ferguson, Niamh Nolan, Lucy Power, Megan Dowdall, Francesca Walsh, Olivia Glynn, Annie Corcoran McDonald, Niamh Rowan, Beth Maguire, Sheila McGrath, Brittney McNamee. Subs: Holly Dowdall for McNamee (45 mins), Gemma Faulkner for Aoife Rowan (51 mins), Ciara Dolan for Ferguson (56 mins).

Mullingar Shamrocks: Lauren McCormack, Rosie O’Grady, Siobhan McDonnell, Sophie Hegarty, Anne Marie O’Reilly, Melek Fagan, Sinead Sweeney, Rachel Cheevers, Anna Jones, Zara Corroon, Chloe Smullen, Emma Morris, Mairead Newman, Karen Hegarty, Chloe Swarbrigg. Subs: Grace Daly for Newman (51 mins), Sarah Geoghegan for Smullen (59 mins).

Referee: Mick Gordon.