Senior 3: Holywood 1-2 DLHC 1XI

Donaghadee Ladies’ 1XI took one step closer to a promotion playoff position on Saturday thanks to a 2-1 victory over neighbours Holywood.

With league leaders Club KV playing their final match of the season against Cookstown knowing a win would take them beyond Donaghadee’s reach, Donaghadee were aware that the final league positions were not entirely within their own control, but with a second place playoff position firmly within sight, there was still much to play for in their two remaining games, starting at Holywood away on Saturday.

Holywood started the more brightly of the two sides, on the attack from the start and pressing Donaghadee back but yet another reshaped defence which saw Chloe Ferguson dropping in beside captain Jodie MacLaren, flanked in the wide defensive positions by Row Moore and Kathy Sinnamon, coped well with all that was thrown at them. 

Donaghadee took advantage of their pace going forward with Jordan McWilliams and Jess Moore both causing lots of problems on the counterattack, although neither side was able to capitalise on their shots on target to take the upper hand; Faith McMillen in the Donaghadee goal and her Holywood counterpart both made smart saves to keep the score goalless at the quarter mark.

Donaghadee started quarter two on the attack and within two minutes an attack down the left saw Vicky O’Neill combining with Jess to get a ball into the Holywood circle which  midfielder Hannah Younge gladly accepted, firing home for Donaghadee to lead 1-0.

With the game now flowing from end to end, both sides were playing some good attacking hockey as they searched for the next goal. Unfortunately one Holywood attack from the right saw a lifted ball strike Row on the head and she had to go off for a check. That meant a bit of a reshuffle of personnel, with Kerrie Turtle joining the fray to play on the left side of midfield – the forward doing well in the different role asked of her!

Donaghadee continued to probe and a break by Tasha McGimpsey – swapping on for sister Jess – on the right saw the ball fired across goal but Leanna McGimpsey-Younge shot wide.

Half-time score a very close 1-0.

Into the second half and a quick start from the Dee won them a penalty corner within minutes. Hannah initial shot was saved, Leanna followed up with Jess sneaking in at the back post to bundle the ball over the line to double Donaghadee’s lead.

There followed lots of end to end play with the game becoming stretched as both teams looked to break forward. The hosts shaded the momentum in the final quarter but were constantly thwarted by the Dee defensive effort, Helen Herron dominating the space in front of Donaghadee’s defence to break up any threatening moves that Holywood looked to put together.

In Donaghadee’s attacking circle, forward Carolyn Scott had a shot well saved by the Holywood keeper before a goalmouth scramble at the other end saw Holywood force the ball home to get back into the game, their only shot on target of the quarter, making it 2-1 in the final stages.

Just close enough to make things slightly nervy for Donaghadee and their quest for 3 points but neither side added any further to their tally and the final whistle went at 2-1 win for Donaghadee. Thanks to Nicola Patton for umpiring and congrats to Hannah Younge for her Player of the Match performance.

Having now completed their league matches, Club KV finish with an unassailable 36 points, having lost only 1 game all season, with second place to be decided on Saturday, the final day of the league programme. Donaghadee are on 32 points, three points clear of third-placed Kilkeel (29 points) so will be looking to get something from their final game on Saturday against PSNI (24 points). Pass back is at 1pm at BGS and all support will be very welcome as Donaghadee look to reserve the promotion play off spot.

Junior League 10

Donaghadee 2s welcomed Limavady to BGS on Saturday. Despite being a fairly evenly matched game, it was Limavady who scored first – a one-on-one between Dee keeper Janice McVeigh and a Limavady forward went the way of the visitors, giving them a 1-0 lead. The visitors made sure of their victory in the final quarter when they doubled the advantage thanks to a goal from a short corner.

Thanks to Debs Gilmore for umpiring and to Elevate Storage Solutions for sponsoring the match ball.

The 2XI have a midweek trip to Dromore for the next round of the Junior Plate tomorrow (Tuesday) night before heading on their travels again, away to Larne on Saturday, pass back there 4pm. 

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