Senior League 3: DLHC 1XI 3-0 Newry
In great form after their 3-1 victory in Kilkeel last week, the 1XI of Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club were ready for their first home game of the season when they welcomed Newry to BGS on Saturday.

It was a somewhat scrappy opening quarter and, with the majority of play in the middle of the pitch, shots on goal were hard to come by for either side. Good pressure from Donaghadee resulted in several penalty corners however with no conversions, the first quarter ended 0-0.

The second quarter saw Donaghadee lift the pace and put a lot more pressure on the Newry defence. Numerous chances were created from some excellent play between Dee’s midfield players and the forwards, with Jessica Moore cutting in from the right and firing home in the 28th minute to give the hosts the lead. 

With a further seven shots on target and a saved penalty corner, Donaghadee continued to challenge the visitors. Breaking into the circle and narrowly avoiding a wipe out from the onrushing Newry keeper, Carolyn Scott linked up well with Kerrie Turtle, however their efforts were thwarted by a cleared ball off the line by a scrambling Newry defence. 

With so much territory and possession, Paige Reilly and Chloe Ferguson were able to drive forward in support but no more goals arrived and the halftime score was 1-0.

Into the second half and with Row Moore replacing the hard-working Rachel McClatchey on the left and Catherine Armstrong returning on the right, Dee continued to dominate. Some exceptional movement and quick passing repeatedly tore apart the Newry defence and chance after chance arose, but with no luck in adding to the 1-0 scoreline. 

Halfway through the quarter an amazing run from Kerry Kennedy and a skilled reverse shot from the midfielder looped over the Newry keeper’s head and doubled the Dee’s lead. Donaghadee kept pressing as they looked to extend the lead and after being fed a great pass from Emma McGimpsey-Young, Catherine Armstrong made a run down the right, firing the ball across the face of the goal, with Kerrie Turtle just unable to get her touch on target at the back post. 

Into the final quarter, chances were created in the middle of the pitch, with some lovely work from Helen Herron, Jordan McWilliams and Paige in the centre. A penalty corner resulted in an excellent strike from Carolyn rebounding plum off the base of the left hand post, before a break from centre saw Kerry add her second with a more conventional shot from the right to make it 3-0. 

On a day when Helen, Carolyn and Kerrie had a number of chances with last minute saves from Newry, and Catherine smashing the ball into the keeper’s pads, Donaghadee were unlucky not to increase their lead further.

Missing captain Jan Morrow this week, it was up to Jodie Ingham to lead from the back. With some good defensive work and penalty corners saved by keeper Nicola Patton, Donaghadee managed to keep a very pleasing clean sheet at the other end. 

A final score of 3-0 meant Donaghadee claimed their second win and three points in a really promising start to the season. Next week Donaghadee hope to continue their streak, facing Club KV at BGS, pass back 2.30pm. With thanks to Mike Smyth for umpiring, to Burgess Performance Training for the match ball sponsorship, and congratulations to Catherine for her Star Player award this week.

Junior League 9A: Saintfield 1-1 DLHC 2XI
The 2XI travelled to Saintfield on Friday night without a couple of their defensive regulars, but it looked like that wasn’t going to be a problem with newcomer Kathryn Cunningham and ‘second time around’ newcomer Claire Horne slotting into the back line with Row Moore and looking like they were right at home.  

The first quarter was a bit of a frantic affair, with both teams taking a while to settle and lots of ball turnovers, but the calm heads of Natalie Jamieson and Zoe Turtle in midfield helped to compose the team.  Although the Dee had the better of the opening exchanges with a couple of penalty corners and a few shots on target, they couldn’t take advantage and the quarter ended scoreless.    

With Row going off for a blood injury, Alex Mawhinney slotted into a defence which continued to be largely untroubled by the opposition. The Dee ladies grew in composure and confidence: Johneena Brown provided fresh legs in midfield, and both Emily Morris and Dawn McDonald – another player making a welcome debut for the team – looked dangerous in attack but time and again were thwarted by the Saintfield keeper and her defence.  

Just as it was starting to look like the Dee dominance would have no reward, Lisa Higgins intercepted a pass in her own half and fired a pass up to her forwards. After a great stepover dummy from Emily (we will never know if it was by accident or design!) the ball fell to Molly McKee who took it perfectly in her stride and smashed the ball past the keeper to give the Dee the lead at halftime.  

Whatever was said by the Saintfield coach at halftime must have put a rocket up them, because they came out firing on all cylinders at the start of Q3 and Faith McMillan in the Dee goal was quickly called into action for virtually the first time, having to make a number of saves in quick succession.  

Conceding their first PC of the match, the Dee defence held up well against a barrage of shots until a wayward clearance fell to a Saintfield forward at the right-hand side of the circle and she made no mistake with her shot back across the keeper and into the net. The quarter ended 1-1, and it’s fair to say that Coach Willie McAdam was disappointed that the Dee weren’t able to hold on to the lead. 

The final quarter was end-to-end at times, but again the Dee’s dominance grew, helped by a determined performance from Erin Hamilton – stepping in as Captain for the first time – and the tireless running of Katie McKee. Along with Row, they dominated possession on the right-hand side, working the ball up the pitch and providing a number of crosses which only needed a finishing touch.  

Lisa and Emily were having similar success on the left, and there was some wonderful interplay across the front line between Dawn, Molly and Katie which culminated in Molly – capping her Star Player performance – breaking in from the left and skimming the far post with a reverse stick shot.

Saintfield’s forays into the Dee circle were becoming increasingly rare, but when they did, Claire and Kathryn snuffed out any threats with ease and cleared the ball back upfield, where the forwards were peppering the goal but without success.  

As the Saintfield defence held firm, the game ended 1-1; the first goal and first point of the season for the Seconds, but with a sense of disappointment at what could have been more.

Many thanks to Catherine Armstrong, both for stepping into the umpiring role, and for lending enough spare kit to clothe one of the new girls too!

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