Intermediate Cup: Omagh 1-2 DLHC 1XI
After their first round success over Ballynahinch back in September Donaghadee Ladies’ 1XI travelled to Omagh 2s in the second round of the Intermediate Cup on Saturday.

With a number of the first team squad missing for a variety of reasons, three of the 2s stepped up to help out. Right from the first whistle Donaghadee were on the attack and the home side spent most of the opening quarter defending deep in their own half. Attacks were coming from all across the pitch as Jess Moore, Kerry Kennedy and Jordan McWilliams fought for supremacy in midfield, but despite attack after attack threatening the Omagh goal, a superb performance by the home keeper saved her side time after time, with five shots and a penalty corner all being beaten away.

The home team struggled to get a foothold in the game and only twice made it into the Donaghadee circle where Paige Reilly and Kathryn Cunningham in the heart of defence kept them well away from the goals.

Quarter two continued in much of the same vein but the home side now managed to defend higher up the pitch, reducing Dee to just 4 shots, and with more pressure up front from Omagh, one attack down the left saw the home side cut into the circle and a smart cross cut out Dee keeper Faith McMillen, with the home forward on target to give Omagh the lead, very much against the run of play.

Donaghadee continued to push forward but despite a penalty corner in the final minute they couldn’t find the net and at half-time the home side held a one goal advantage. The first ten minutes of the second half saw Omagh pushing forward and having much more of the ball, though despite this the excellent defensive effort from Rachelle Pearson and Kathy Sinnamon generally kept them away from the goal and a single shot off target was their sole reward. 

Donaghadee clawed their way back into the game as the quarter went on and started to assert themselves on the match. Ellen Campbell replaced Jess on the right side and helped the forward momentum, and the defensive efforts also released Helen Herron and Rachelle to push further forward. Finally with just seconds left in the quarter a scramble in the Omagh circle saw the ball fall to Kerrie Turtle for her to smuggle it over the line and make it 1-1.

The final quarter saw Donaghadee throw everything forward and attack after attack was well defended by the home side as they fought to hold on. Two penalty corners early in the quarter were well saved by the excellent home keeper and as time went on it looked like things were heading for the dreaded run-ins, when another penalty corner to the visitors saw Leanna McGimpsey-Young fire home to get Donaghadee in front with ten minutes left.

The final minutes saw both sides attack and counter attack but no clear chances until with just 20 seconds remaining the home side won a penalty corner to ramp up the drama. With two retakes due to infringements, finally a superb, determined clearance by the Dee defence saw the final whistle blow and Donaghadee through to the quarter final of the Intermediate Cup, due to be played on 20th December.

Many thanks to Mike Smyth for umpiring and to Caroline Davison for travelling as unused sub, congrats to Kerry for her player of the match performance, and a shout out to Kerrie for her 100th club goal. The 1XI are next in action this Saturday, away to Rainey with a pass back time of 1pm.

1XI Sponsor Shoutouts
We are delighted that the following players from Saturday’s match are being individually sponsored. If you would like to sponsor your favourite player, please speak to them directly or email us at dlhc@hotmail.co.uk. View all sponsored players here

Junior Cup: DLHC 2XI 2-4 Holywood
In what was a very even match despite the scoreline, the 2XI took on Holywood at home in the latest round of the Junior Cup. Molly scored both of Donaghadee’s goals, the second of which was a super shot which looped over the keeper’s head!

Thanks to Andy McKee for umpiring and to Elevate Storage Solutions for sponsoring the match ball.

The 2XI are away to South Antrim on Saturday.

2XI Sponsor Shoutouts
We are delighted that the following players from Saturday’s match are being individually sponsored. If you would like to sponsor your favourite player, please speak to them directly or email us at dlhc@hotmail.co.uk. View all sponsored players here