Senior 2: DLHC 1XI 1-2 Club KV
It was another of those oh-so-close days for the 1XI of Donaghadee LHC when they entertained fellow promotees Club KV at BGS on Saturday.

Donaghadee began brightly enough with several neat interchanges in midfield between Helen Herron and Hannah Younge, as the home side looked to threaten the visitors’ goal. With Jess Moore dominating the action on the right wing, one run deep towards the baseline saw her fire the ball across the face of the goal and Katie McHenry reading play superbly to time her run to the back post to perfection, meeting the ball cleanly to sweep past the KV keeper for her first Donaghadee goal.

With both sides determined to play open attacking hockey, the action was end-to-end but whilst the visitors struggled to overly trouble Faith McMillen in the Dee goal, Donaghadee themselves got a taste of what was to come at the other end as the KV keeper made several excellent saves to prevent Donaghadee from doubling their lead.

As the second quarter got underway KV settled more quickly in to their game and they began to string together some threatening attacks but excellent defensive play by Rachelle Pearson and Row Moore largely kept the threats to outside the Donaghadee circle.

As KV looked to capitalise on the forward momentum, they won three penalty corners in quick succession but superb interceptions by first Kathy Sinnamon and then by Paige Reilly stopped KV from crossing the line. Having weathered the storm, Donaghadee finally started to get back into their rhythm and in the last few minutes of the quarter, strong work from Tasha McGimpsey forced another good save by the keeper to prevent the Dee from doubling the lead.

Into the second half, and Donaghadee were looking the more dangerous, forcing the KV keeper in to saving 3 more shots, with a couple more sliding just wide. Unable to capitalise on their possession, Donaghadee were made to pay dearly when a KV penalty corner was initially well saved but the secondary attack did the damage with the KV forward following up to equalise, juts before the quarter end.

The final quarter saw the game open up with both teams looking for the winner, and it was KV who took their chance. A break down in play led to a quick counter attack by KV down their right and with a first time ball fired into the circle KV took the lead with their first shot on target from open play.

The determination from Donaghadee to get back in to the game was evident, and much of the remainder of the game was played in the KV half. With Donaghadee winning play after play in the midfield, chances were created for the forwards, with Kerrie Turtle and Jordan McWilliams both pressing high up the pitch, before a shot from Leanna McGimpsey-Young beat the keeper only for the ball to come back off the post. 

It turned out to be the last attempt on goal and KV headed back to Belfast with all 3 points in what was another extremely close affair for Donaghadee. Thanks to the two Ulster Hockey umpires and to NI Building Surveys for sponsoring the match ball. Next up for the squad is a home game against Bangor, pass back 1pm at BGS.

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 10: DLHC 2XI 0-1 Bangor
In a very evenly contested local derby played out at Bangor Grammar on Saturday, Donaghadee 2s seized early control, trying to dictate the tempo and pin Bangor back into their own half. A couple of penalty corners were well won late in the opening quarter, with Emily Morris injecting with pace but neither effort created a clear shot and the Bangor defence were able to clear the danger. 

The visitors were largely restricted to playing between the 23s with Chloe Ferguson, Lisa Higgins, Floss Patton and Laura Hamilton all working well as a unit to deal with any imminent danger.

The second quarter saw more of the same, with Dee enjoying the lion’s share of possession although without truly testing Bangor’s keeper, with just a single shot wide of the goal to show for their efforts. The visitors then began to threaten more with Donaghadee keeper Janice McVeigh saving well to keep them out, but with only a couple of minutes left in the half, a ball intercepted by Bangor in their own 23 saw a quick counter attack down the right wing and a goal mouth scramble with the ball ending up in the Donaghadee goal, giving the visitors the lead at the halfway point.

Into the second half and Donaghadee continued to dominate proceedings, with great work from Katie McKee and Vicky O’Neill winning ball after ball in midfield but the final passes were just evading the sticks of Kerrie Turtle and Chloe Gault up front, while Molly Mckee was unlucky not to slot the ball home after several piercing runs from deep.  

Bangor then threatened early in the final quarter with Janice being called into play again, and Caroline Davison needing to be on top form to defend the edge of the circle and force the visiting team away from the danger area. 

With Donaghadee pushing back hard through Joey Patton and Lauren Niblock running the wings, they did manage to create a couple of good attacking chances but Bangor were able to do enough to hold on for the 3 points: final score 1-0 to Bangor. With thanks to Elevate Storage Solutions for sponsoring the match ball, and to Row Moore for umpiring.

The 2XI travel to Limavady on Saturday for a match with a 12.45pm pass back time.

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