Senior 3: Kilkeel 1-3 Donaghadee LHC
The 1XI of Donaghadee Ladies Hockey club travelled to Kilkeel on Saturday as the first round of the 2023/24 season got underway. 

The South Down side came down from Senior 2 at the end of last season so it would be a good test for Donaghadee, given their good showing in the league last year.

The initial stages were fairly cagey as both teams got up to the speed of competitive match action before Kilkeel opened the scoring midway through the first quarter. Donaghadee had begun to settle however, with the team working well as a unit. 

From back to front there was good cohesion and a fluidity of play that enabled the Dee to put together a number of well worked opportunities, one of which earned them a penalty corner as the quarter drew to a close. 

Kerry Kennedy took full advantage with a great shot which bypassed the prone Kilkeel keeper to draw Donaghadee level just before the quarter time whistle went. With renewed vigour Donaghadee – and Kerry – doubled the score when Leanna McGimpsey-Young, thanks to a super drive down the right, found a ball inside which Kerry took without breaking stride to unleash an unstoppable shot just inside the keeper’s near post.

Finding themselves behind, Kilkeel began to exert more pressure on the Dee defence, with Dee keeper Nicola Patton making a couple of vital saves, Jodie Ingham tackling everything in a maroon shirt that moved and Row Moore clearing a penalty corner off the line. Good communication from Captain Jan Morrow and Paige Reilly both helped steady the ship as Donaghadee looked to close out the half with the score at 2-1.

With the luxury of subs, coach WIllie McAdam brought on fresh legs for the second half, with Caroline Davison coming on to give the hard-running Helen Hooks a break in midfield, while it was great to see Abbie Brown coming on to make her competitive debut for Donaghadee.

It was Emily Morris who provided a super ball down the right hand touch line to link up with Leanna who cut inside to finish the run with the goal it deserved: 3-1 to Donaghadee. 

With further pressure coming from the home team it was Chloe Ferguson, sitting just in front of the defence, who put in a tremendous shift shuttling back and forwards across the pitch to prevent attacking ball reaching the circle, as Donaghadee looked to keep the home side out. 

With Kilkeel pressing forward in search of a goal, play became stretched with plenty of space appearing for the Donaghadee forwards to run in to. One ball high from Emma McGimpsey-Young found Kerry who turned provider for Carolyn Scott, the striker shooting just narrowly wide after receiving the ball with her back to goal.

With the clock ticking towards zero, Kilkeel piled forward in an effort to reduce the deficit, winning several short corners in quick succession but Donaghadee withstood the pressure to keep the scoreline at 3-1, with three points in the bag to get them off and running.

A wonderful team performance from absolutely everyone in a Donaghadee shirt, and the girls will be looking to continue this when they welcome Newry to BGS on Saturday, pass back 2.30pm. With many thanks to Ryan B for umpiring.

Junior League 9A: DLHC 2XI 0-1 Bangor
The 2nd XI season-opener against local rivals Bangor was a very soggy affair after a day of torrential rain – a far cry from the 28 degree heat of the pre-season friendly the previous week. 

Donaghadee were under pressure from the off against a young, skilful opposition, with the defensive quartet of Floss Patton, Natalie Jamieson, Lisa Higgins and new recruit Laura Hamilton called into action from the start. 

Having dealt with a flurry of early forays into the circle, helped out by Caroline Davison and Emily Morris putting in their defensive duties, Bangor were first to react to a wayward hit out towards the end of the first quarter. The resulting strike evaded all Dee sticks and nestled in the far left corner of the net to put Bangor 1-0 up.

Shaking off the disappointing start, Donaghadee grew into the game, with the pace of Katie McKee, Molly McKee and Erin Hamilton providing an attacking outlet, supported by another Dee newbie, Johneena Brown, but despite their best efforts, Dee couldn’t trouble the Bangor keeper. At the other end of the pitch, the Bangor attacks kept coming, with Dee’s new keeper, Faith McMillan, looking like a star signing for the season, making a number of important saves and blocks.

Deborah Gilmore and Alex Mawhinney gave the Dee some fresh impetus going forward, and the subs bench was well needed, with injuries to Johneena and Laura either side of halftime, and Molly’s game ended in the 3rd quarter with a blow to her leg.  

With a quarter to go, Bangor thought they had doubled their lead from a penalty corner, but the goal was disallowed. There was no let-up in their attack right up to the final whistle, but some excellent defensive work and a couple of super saves by Faith kept the score to 1-0.

Thanks go to Nicola Patton for umpiring in horrible conditions when she could have been at home in the warm and dry! And congratulations to Faith being voted star player for her debut with the Dee!

It’s another Friday night match for the 2nds this week, away at Saintfield and the 1st home to Newry, PB 230pm. All support welcome.

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