Senior League 3: Ballynahinch 2-2 DLHC 1XI
With Donaghadee’s 2XI having no match due to the withdrawal of Castle 4XI from Junior 9A, the 1XI were able to travel to Ballynahinch with a full squad last Saturday and it was also terrific to see Leanna McGimpsey-Young back in red and green after a spell away from the pitch due to injury.

The two teams are sitting side by side mid-table in Senior 3 and there was little between them for long spells of this match. Paige Reilly was back from holiday to bolster the defence and indeed the Dee rear guard were called into action straight from the first whistle when Ballynahinch mounted an early attack to earn a penalty corner. Rachel McClatchey was quick off the line as first runner to snuff out the first shot, with Jan Morrow clearing the follow up strike to safety. 

Having weathered the early storm Donaghadee began to put together some lovely phases of attacking play, with Kerry Kennedy and Helen Herron both linking beautifully with Kerrie Turtle who, time and again pulled out wide left to exploit the space left by a high-pressing defender. Kerrie was a constant thorn down that side, making considerable ground and getting several shots on target from the wide angle.

One such attack led to the penalty corner that opened the scoring for Donaghadee, with Paige getting the final touch to bundle the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble. Donaghadee doubled their advantage with a second strike from another penalty corner, this time a clean strike for forward Carolyn Scott. The Dee looked to increase their lead with good work from Catherine Armstrong down the right, but the Hinch defence held strong to leave the score 2-0 at half-time.

It was a rejuvenated Hinch side that came out in the second half, and Donaghadee needed the fresh legs of Chloe Ferguson, Row Moore and Emma McGimpsey-Young in midfield as Donaghadee looked to maintain their advantage. With the home side threatening, Dee keeper Nicola Patton was called in to action to make a couple of smart saves before Hinch reduced the deficit following a penalty corner strike of their own. 

Sarah Hooks did a great job of steadying the ship at the heart of defence for the remainder of the third quarter, and it looked as though Donaghadee were going to hang on for the win until a home strike in the final quarter levelled the score at 2-2. The Dee defence did exceptionally well to clear a penalty corner right at the death. With the final whistle blown, every outfield Hinch player descended on the Dee circle in an attempt to keep the ball alive, but Rachel did a magnificent job in getting to the striker and clearing the ball off the side line to ensure the match finished with a point in the bag for Donaghadee.

Kerrie Turtle was voted deserved Star Player by her team mates and she thanked Deborah Gilmour for umpiring. The Firsts welcome Derg Valley to BGS on Saturday, pass back at 2pm, while the 2XI head down the A1 to play Banbridge 5XI, pass back time 1pm.

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