Down Ladies secure All-Ireland Semi-final with extra-time win over Monaghan

Down Ladies booked their spot in the TG4 All-Ireland Football Championship Semi-finals with a 0-18 to 2-7 win over Monaghan after extra-time on Sunday afternoon.

Down got off to the worst possible start, as Monaghan won the throw-in, worked the ball down the field and found the back of the net in the opening 30 seconds of the game via Cora Courtney.

However, the Mourne Ladies responded well and after Eimear Fitzpatrick (free) and Monaghan’s Chloe McBride traded scores, they rattled off the next four points.

The direct running of the Down forwards led to Monaghan conceding a succession of frees, and Fitzpatrick punished them by converting three in a matter of minutes. Then, Eva Hicks put the hosts into the lead for the first time on 19 minutes, as her powerful shot cleared the crossbar by a matter of inches.

Monaghan were almost in for a second goal when Jodie McQuillan got in one on one, but the Down defence did well to crowd her out and force her to overcarry. A fifth Fitzpatrick free put Down two points ahead, but the Farney didn’t have to wait too much longer to raise their second green flag.

Jennifer Duffy played the ball in for Aoibhin McCormack, and she slotted low past Maeve Deery to put Monaghan ahead by one. A Rosemary Courtney score from distance had the visitors 2-2 to 0-6 ahead at the half-time whistle.

Down started the second half well with points from Niamh King and Niamh McClory getting them back on level terms. Monaghan edged back in front through a McQuillan score, but Down substitute Niamh Rice made an immediate impact, pointing from range with her first touch of the ball.

It was end to end at this stage, and Monaghan’s Muireann Atkinson saw her point cancelled out by an impressive score by King. Midway through the second half, Down got their noses back in front when Fitzpatrick converted another dead ball to get her sixth point of the game, and put her side into a 0-11 to 2-4 lead.

Down had a goal chance then when Rice got free of her marker and was bearing down on goal. She spotted Cristin Brown to her left and looked to put the ball on a plate for her to finish, but Monaghan corner back Kerry Nolan read it perfectly and got her hand in to intercept.

The Mourne Ladies went two ahead when McClory got her second of the game, but Monaghan kept battling and were back on level terms going into injury time following a Rosemary Courtney point and a free from Leanne Maguire.

Injury time was a tale of two frees, with both Monaghan’s Maguire and Down’s Fitzpatrick having chances to win the game for their sides. However, each player shot wide and thus the sides headed into extra-time.

Down struck first in the extra-time period, with McClory picking up from where she left off, as she got her third of the game. However, at the other end, Monaghan pulled themselves level through a Maguire free.

The home side then had a goal chance when Rice played the ball into Fitzpatrick. She aimed for the roof of the net, but missed by a matter of inches, crashing her shot off the crossbar. Thankfully for Down, the chance stayed alive and substitute Cara Donnelly slotted over on the rebound to put them one point ahead at the half-time break.

Down were the better side in the second period of extra-time and three further frees from Fitzpatrick – the second of which came after a yellow card sinbin for Monaghan’s Lauren Garland – had them 0-17 to 2-7 ahead.

A late score from team captain Laoise Duffy put the icing on the cake, and the referee’s full-time whistle sparked scenes of celebration.

Colm Donnelly’s team will meet fellow Ulster side Fermanagh in the All-Ireland Semi-final in two weeks’ time.

MATCH STATS

Down: Maeve Deery; Neva Loudon, Erin Sands, Aimee Greene; Niamh Edgar, Orlagh Blaney, Niamh McClory (0-3); Meghan Doherty, Katie Howlett; Aoife Laverty, Laoise Duffy (0-1), Niamh McGrath; Niamh King (0-2), Eimear Fitzpatrick (0-9, 9f), Eva Hicks (0-1).

Subs: Niamh Rice (0-1) for McGrath (36), Cristin Brown for Hicks (44), Roisin McKenna for Edgar (ET), Cara Donnelly (0-1) for King (ET 8), Shauna Fettes for McClory (ET 20+3).

Monaghan: Orna Kelly; Eimear Traynor, Aine McQuaid, Kerry Nolan; Amy Garland, Amy Jo Kierans, Lauren Garland; Jennifer Duffy, Jodie McQuillan (0-1, 1f); Aoibhin McCormack (1-0), Rosemary Courtney (0-2), Casey Treanor; Chloe McBride (0-1), Muireann Atkinson (0-1), Cora Courtney (1-0).

Subs: Leanne Maguire (0-2, 2f) for McBride (41), Niamh Flanagan for McQuillan (49), Aoife Burns for McCormack (54), McBride for Atkinson (ET 5), Caoimhe Ward for Kierans (ET HT), Katie McAdam for Maguire (ET HT), Alison Gilland for A Garland (ET HT).

Referee: Ray McBride (Dublin).