Senior 3: DLHC 1XI 3-0 Cookstown

Donaghadee 1s were back to winning ways thanks to a 3-0 victory away to Cookstown on Saturday.

Donaghadee headed for mid-Ulster and a 4.15pm pass back with a number of players unavailable for a variety of reasons, with the usual defence hit particularly hard and requiring those playing to step into several unfamiliar positions. In stark contrast to the feast of 30-odd players being available for the double header at home the previous week, it was hitting famine stakes with both teams playing away, and special mention should be made of Chloe Ferguson and Vicky O’Neill who managed to pass through all six counties on their travels, playing first for the 2s against Raphoe in Strabane before hot footing it to Cookstown to make the later pass back for the 1s. 

Cookstown had started the post-league-split half of the season with a couple of excellent results on the road, so Donaghadee knew this was not going to an easy game. Indeed the home side were quickly on the front foot and challenging the Dee defence but some excellent work by Vicky, Kathryn Cunningham, Chloe and Row Moore kept them from troubling Dee keeper Faith McMillen. 

While Donaghadee managed to restrict Cookstown to a single off-target shot, the home side did earn a number of penalty corners to keep the pressure on Donaghadee, with the home side enjoying more possession in the early stages. Going forward the Dee midfield of Molly McKee, Kerry Kennedy and Jordan McWilliams did their utmost to break up play to feed the ball through the home defence to allow Leanna McGimpsey-Young and Carolyn Scott in on goal but the home keeper made a couple of smart saves to keep the game scoreless.

Into quarter two and it was more of the same: the home side looked threatening but again they were restricted to a single shot wide of goal as Kathryn marshalled her fellow defenders well, with Helen Herron operating just in front of the back four winning ball after ball in the defensive part of the pitch to thwart the Cookstown attacks.

Seven minutes in and a break through the centre – somewhat against the run of play – saw Leanna feed the ball to Carolyn; the latter’s rocket of a shot going straight through the onrushing keeper’s legs to give Donaghadee the lead. With play becoming much more evenly spread across the pitch, both sides fashioned good chances but there were no further goals and half time arrived with Donaghadee just 1-0 to the good.

For all that the first half had been relatively close between the sides, the second half showed a return to a more dominant display from the visitors as Donaghadee started to take control as they searched for their second goal.

Dee created a number of well-worked opportunities with midfield and forward combining: Katie McKee found space on the left to interact with Kerry and her shot was turned away, then Jordan fired in from the right with a cheeky scoop that was only just above the crossbar, Leanna was thwarted by the keeper and Carolyn saw a shot slid just wide: it was certainly no lack of effort which left the score still only 1-0 at the three-quarter mark.

The final quarter was only a minute old when Kerry broke through to the top of the circle, and her shot went through a number of players and found the inside right of the net to finally double the advantage for Donaghadee.

Cookstown started to throw everything forward and while Donaghadee’s defending was frantic at times, it was also very effective: despite all their efforts the mid-Ulster side was limited to just a single shot on target and another wide of the goal, with Donaghadee blocking attack after attack.

But with all of this desperation to get back in the game the home side struggled to contain Donaghadee who soaked up the pressure and turned defence into attack, Kerry breaking out of defence on multiple occasions to feed it forward for Leanna and Carolyn to counter attack, though some last ditch defending kept the Dee out.

The game was put to bed in the final minute as Kerry broke in from the left and the ball crossed the circle to Jordan at the back post and her tap in sealed the 3-0 win in a match that was closer than the score-line suggests, but these valuable three points take Donaghadee back up to second in the league, just a single point behind KV with two league games left to play. 

Huge thanks to Mike Smyth for umpiring and congratulations to Helen for an exhausting end-to-end performance that rightly earned her Player of the Match. There is no match this weekend, the 1s returning to action in the Plate on 21st February away to Parkview.

Junior 10: Raphoe 1-0 DLHC 2XI

Saturday past was a road trip for Dee Seconds when they headed off to play Donegal side Raphoe at Strabane Academy. With unavailability playing a big part all week, those confirmed as travelling spent much of the week unsure what the team make up would look like, so they were delighted at having 11 players at the final hour but also slightly apprehensive making the journey to meet the team sitting at the top of the league Raphoe.

Initially feeling a little on the back foot thanks to the long drive, Donaghadee started the match with a few understandable nerves and Raphoe put pressure on the visitors from the first whistle. Keeper Janice McVeigh and the defence of Caroline Davison, Natalie Jamieson, Lisa HIggins and Lauren Niblock worked hard together to clear the continual pressure. 

 To say the match was a combination of long and short corners against Donaghadee would be no exaggeration, and the end of the first quarter was a welcome break to regroup and enjoy a collective pat on the back for a 0-0 scoreline.

Donaghadee began the second quarter with more confidence and the clearances from the defensive circle out to Chloe Ferguson, Erin Hamilton, Emily Morris and Vicky O’Neill gave the defence a few welcome breaks to allow Kerrie Turtle and Anna Aitken up front to put pressure on the home team. Raphoe did not give up the fight and were very persistent with targeted balls forward and dangerous movement into the Dee circle but Janice was brilliant at instructing her defence, and with great man marking, the home team just could not get the ball over the line. The score line defiantly remained 0-0 at half time.

Unfortunately, early in the third quarter a Raphoe penalty corner was initially saved by Janice but despite best efforts, the defence just could not get the ball cleared from the danger zone. Following a scramble in the goal mouth, Raphoe were able to get their longed for first goal to make it 1-0 to the home team.

Despite tiredness and no subs, Dee refused to admit defeat. There was good communication and players shuffled positions as required, for a ‘slight’ rest or an opportunity for a break. They got one great opportunity for an attacking penalty corner but unfortunately the home side cleared the threat. Another break up the left hand side, cause a ball to deflect off sticks, hitting Kerrie just below her cheekbone. The trooper played on but the incident was a timely a reminder of the importance of gum shields! Happy to report that Kerrie is fine, although now sporting a lovely purple moustache!

The final whistle blew on that stubborn 1-0 scoreline but what a proud performance from the Dee players: the number of long and short corners defended and cleared by the team needed to be seen to be believed, and to come away with only one goal against was almost as good as a win in itself and evidence of a team who pulled together, despite the odds stacked against them. Lisa was voted Player of the Match this week for her tireless work in defence.

Thanks to Raphoe for providing an extra umpire and the lovely surprise of sandwiches, crisps, chocolates and drinks which was gratefully received and enjoyed by the Dee girls.

The 2s are in action this Saturday against Saintfield, pass back at Saintfield Sports Club 12.45pm.

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