TG4 Ulster Ladies’ IFC round one
Down 2-10 Cavan 0-6
DOWN set up a semi-final meeting with champions Antrim in two weeks’ time after proving too strong for Cavan in yesterday’s Ulster IFC clash at Pairc Esler.
The home side led from start to finish with Niamh King’s 19th-minute goal helping them to a 1-5 to 0-3 lead at half-time.
Viv McCormack and captain Meghan Doherty each pointed to give last year’s All-Ireland junior champions an early advantage, with Zara Fay opening Cavan’s account in the sixth minute.
A King brace extended Down’s lead to three before she struck for the game’s first goal to make it 1-4 to 0-1.
Deirbhile McCaffrey got Cavan’s first point in 14 minutes, which was replied to by Laoise Duffy, before the final score of the half came courtesy of McCaffrey to leave five between them at the break.
Niamh McCorry pointed for Cavan six minutes into the second half to halve the deficit as Down had to wait until the three-quarter mark to add to their tally through Paige Smyth.
Cavan responded but Eimear Fitzgerald’s 49th-minute goal, making it 2-6 to 0-5, all but sealed Down’s place in the last four.
Kayla Boyle got Cavan’s final point in the 51st minute but Down finished strong with unanswered points from McCormack, Niamh Rice, Fitzpatrick and Orla Boyle.
For a young Cavan side, this will have been another point on the learning curve and they now must wait until the All-Ireland championship begins in June.
Scorers
Down N King 1-2; E Fizpatrick 1-1; V McCormack 0-2; M Doherty, L Duffy, P Smyth, N Rice & O Boyle 0-1
Cavan D McCaffrey 0-3; Z Fay, N McCorry & K Brady 0-1
