Second half goals help The Downs to emphatic win

The Downs 4-15, St Joseph's 1-12

A powerful second-half performance with the elements in their favour helped The Downs record an emphatic victory over a tenacious St Joseph’s side in the Westmeath Ladies SFC at The Downs on Thursday evening.

It was all square at half-time - 1-8 apiece - but the home side pressed on impressively after the break and three second-half goals saw them stretch well clear by the final whistle. The Downs looked strong and efficient and will certainly be major players in the latter stages of the championship, while defeat means St Joseph’s do not qualify.

While 12 points was the margin in the end, the Streamstown girls were well in touch for long spells and led by 0-5 to 0-1 after a promising opening 10 minutes. Their direct approach paid off as Caoilinn Elliffe fed the ball inside to Sile Kearney, who pointed. The game changed when The Downs earned a penalty after the lively Lucy Power was fouled; Britney McNamee’s shot was saved, but Olivia Glynn gathered the rebound and manoeuvred in to find the net.

The Downs were soon level when Britney McNamee pointed (0-5 to 1-2), and they then took the lead courtesy of Lucy Power, whose industry and pace caused St Joseph’s serious problems. When she added another minor, it was 1-2 without reply for the Black and ambers.

The Downs had pushed four points clear when Olivia Glynn shot over in the 26th minute, but St Joseph’s finished the half in positive style. Caoilinn Elliffe pointed and then swopped for her side’s only goal in the final minute to leave the teams deadlocked at the break.

The visitors went ahead again on the restart as Laura Conlon set up Karen Keegan for a point, and they were dreadfully unlucky not to find the net when Sile Kearney claimed the ball from an opposing kickout and saw her effort come off the upright with ‘keeper Ellen Taite stranded. That would have given them a four-point cushion.

After that, The Downs scored 2-5 without reply to stamp their authority on the match. Judicious use of the handpass was a feature of their attacking play, underlined when Lucy Power put Sheila McGrath through and she managed to scramble the ball over the line for a goal despite being grounded.

They quickly added a third major as Mary Lynam rifled a shot to the roof of the net. Michelle Bohan brought a prolific spell to an end with a point in the 50th minute, and the lead was 10 points by that stage.

St Joseph’s couldn’t engineer the goals they clearly needed to get back into the match, and The Downs added to their tally as Sheila McGrath and Britney McNamee notched minors. A second goal from Sheila McGrath was the icing on the cake.

Cliona Cox, Karen Keegan and Sinead Robbins combined for the latter to point, giving St Joseph’s the final say of the evening. However, there was little doubt about the superior team overall, and no one will treat them lightly when the knockout stages get underway.

Scorers - The Downs: L Power 0-8, S McGrath 2-1, O Glynn 1-2, M Lynam 1-0, B McNamee 0-3, M Bohan 0-1.

St Joseph’s: C Elliffe 1-4, S Robbins 0-5 (1f), S Kearney 0-2, K Keegan 0-1.

The Downs: Ellen Taite; Aisling Egerton, Amy Dagg, Emily Rose McNamee; Francesca Walshe, Lauren Guilfoyle, Ciara Dolan; Cara Finnegan, Gemma Faulkner; Niamh Nolan, Lucy Power, Olivia Glynn; Beth McGuire, Britney McNamee, Michelle Bohan. Subs used: Mary Lynam, Sheila McGrath, Niamh Keogh.

St Joseph’s: Emily Nally; Leanne Daly, Keelin Robbins, Niamh Kearney; Megan Quinn, Kayla McDonnell, Eleanor Conway; Claire Conlon, Ciara Daly; Lauryn McDonnell, Caoilinn Elliffe, Laura Conlon; Sile Kearney, Karen Keegan, Sinead Robbins. Subs used: Joyce Conway, Cliona McCormack, Mollie Conlon.

Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).