INTERMEDIATE CUPOMAGH LADIES SECONDS 1DONAGAHDEE LADIES FIRSTS 2AFTER their first-round success over Ballynahinch back in September, Donaghadee Ladies’ 1st XI travelled to Omagh to face their 2nd XI in the next stage of the Intermediate Cup on Saturday.
With a number of the first team squad missing for a variety of reasons, three members of the seconds stepped up to help out. Right from the first whistle, Donaghadee were on the attack and the home side spent most of the opening quarter defending deep in their own half.
Attacks were coming from all across the pitch as Jess Moore, Kerry Kennedy and Jordan McWilliams fought for supremacy in midfield, but despite attack after attack threatening the Omagh goal, a superb performance by the home ’keeper saved her side time and again, with five shots and a penalty corner all being beaten away.
The home team struggled to get a foothold in the game and only twice made it into the Donaghadee circle where Paige Reilly and Kathryn Cunningham in the heart of defence kept them well away from the goals.
Quarter two continued in much the same vein but the home side now managed to defend higher up the pitch. They reduced ’Dee to just four shots, and with more pressure up front from Omagh, one attack down the left saw the home side cut into the circle and after a smart cross was cut out ’keeper Faith McMillen, a forward was on target to score very much against the run of play.
Donaghadee continued to push forward but despite a penalty corner in the final minute they couldn’t find the net and at half-time the home side held a one-goal advantage. The first 10 minutes of the second half saw Omagh enjoying much more of the ball, though despite this the excellent defensive effort from Rachelle Pearson and Kathy Sinnamon generally kept them away from the goal and a single shot off target was their sole reward. Donaghadee clawed their way back into the game as the quarter went on and started to assert themselves on the match.
Ellen Campbell replaced Moore on the right side and the defensive efforts also released Helen Herron and Pearson to push further forward. With just seconds left in the quarter, a scramble in the Omagh circle saw the ball fall to Kerrie Turtle for her to smuggle it over the line and make it 1-1.
The final quarter saw Donaghadee throw everything forward and attack after attack was well defended by the home side as they fought to hold on. Two penalty corners early in the quarter were well saved by the excellent goalkeeper and as time went on it looked like things were heading for the dreaded run-ins, until another penalty corner to the visitors saw Leanna McGimpsey-Young fire home to get Donaghadee in front with 10 to go.
Both sides traded attacks late on with no clear chances, but with just 20 seconds remaining the home side won a penalty corner to ramp up the drama. After two retakes due to infringements, a superb, determined clearance by the Dee defence saw the final whistle blow and Donaghadee through to the quarter-finals – due to be played on December 20.Thanks go to Mike Smyth for umpiring and Caroline Davison for travelling as an unused substitute.
Kerry Kennedy was awarded player of the match and congratulations to Kerrie Turtle whose goal was her 100th for the club. The 1st XI are next in action this Saturday, away to Rainey with a pass back time of 1pm.
