LIDL NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2
Tyrone . . . 1-08
Donegal . . . 3-09
Donegal’s excellent start to the new Lidl Ladies Division Two campaign continued on Sunday with an impressive win against Tyrone in Aghyaran.
Two second half goals from Katie Dowds helped Donegal to a seven point win on a day when they showed no end of grit and determination to overpower their opponents.
Tyrone had racked up two bit scoring totals in their opening wins over Westmeath and Monaghan. However, in what was their first home game of the new season, they were second best.
They actually started well and kicked the opening score four minutes in through Niamh O’Neill.
But Donegal responded almost immediately with an equaliser from Susanne White’s free.
A determined Sorcha Gormley holds firm despite the close attentions of Sophie McFeely and Nicole Gordon.
The first goal of the contest came on 11 minutes, scored by the visitors. Eva Gallagher was fouled close in and when Ciara McGarvey grabbed the ball and took a tap and go, she was in on goal and hammered her shot to the back of the net.
The first half was pretty event and both teams engineered some fine scores – the best of which was kicked by Dowds just before half time after fine approach play by Feena McManamon while for Tyrone, Claire Canavan and Emma Convoy also scored good points.
But for all their possession and fine approach play, Tyrone could only manage four points in the first half as Donegal’s well organised defensive approach worked a treat.
Leading by 1-06 to 0-04 at half time, Donegal brought in Nicole Gordon for the second half and the Urris player made an immediate impact, setting Dowds up for a second goal to leave it 2-06 to 0-05.
The same two players were involved again when Donegal pounced for a third goal on 44 minutes – Dowds shooting home after a wonderful flowing move which was started by Tara Hegarty’s interception in defence.
Donegal were able to make changes in the closing minutes and while Tyrone scored a late goal of their own through Niamh O’Neill, Donegal were never going to be pegged back and they fully deserved their third win from three games.
Claire Canavan uses her pace to get away.
Teams
Tyrone: Amelia Coyle; Jayne Lyons, Caitlin McCallion, Eimear Quinn; Claire Canavan (0-01), Meabh Corrigan, Meabh Mallon (0-1); Caitlin Campbell, Aobhinn McHugh; Emma Conroy (0-01), Aoife Horisk (0-2, 2f), Emma Jane Gervin; Niamh O’Neill (1-02, 1f), Maeve Maxwell, Cara McNamee. Subs: Emma McCanny (0-01) and Sorcha Gormley for Campbell and Maxwell (half time), Katie Rose Muldoon for Gervin (48 mins), Aine Gromes for Conroy (50 mins).
Donegal: Claire Friel; Niamh Carr, Evelyn McGinley, Sophie McFeely; Tara Hegarty, Feena McManamon (0-1), Ava Caulfield; Clodagh Brennan, Roisin Rodgers; Blathnaid McLaughlin, Katie Dowds (2-01), Niamh Boyle; Susanne White (0-4, 3f), Eva Gallagher (0-1), Ciara McGarvey (1-01). Subs: Nicole Gordon for Eva Gallagher (half time), Ulitah Boyle for Brennan, Cait Gillespie for Caulfield and Jodie McFadden (0-1, free) for White (48 mins), Abigail Temple Asokuh and Shauna McFadden for Carr and Hegarty (54 mins).
Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan)
