Town Ladies on path to regain league title

Castlewellan 2.11 Bryansford 0.10
A virtuoso second half performance from Castlewellan Senior Ladies produced a significant victory over a Bryansford team 60min away from being crowned 2009 League Champions. The scoreline does not in fact reflect the dominance shown by the Town girls, particularly in the final period. In a tense and nervous opening both teams exchanged points but it was Castlewellan who squandered most of their very scoreable chances. There were numerous wides and two major score opportunities that would have certainly calmed nerves. The sides, however, went in at the break 5points apiece with Catherine Keown (0.02) and Lisa Morgan (0.03) registering for the Town.

The second half began with further point swapping in the opening 10min but it was then that the town went into top gear. With the half back line of Aislinn Crilly, Aine Keown & Karen McMullan soaking up Bryansford attacks it was they who were to springboard Castlewellan’s offensive drives. The midfield partnership of Aine Keary and Mairead Hardy also began to get on top of their counterparts.

A masterful performance from Clare Drummy, who covered every blade of grass, won both opposition and own kick-outs, and provided the much needed quality possession for the inside forwards, proved to be the Town catalyst. The O’Higgins sisters combined beautifully down the right-hand wing tormenting their markers. Lisa Morgan proved to be a thorn in the Fords now fragile side and contributed a total of 6points with one in particular as good as you would see in any game. Her willingness to go at the defence was very difficult to handle. Paula Cleland’s ball retention and jinking runs proved vital. The turning point of the game was a magnificently weighted pass from Karen McMullan into the path of Catherine Keown who from an acute angle lifted the roof of the net with 15mon remaining.

An opportunist goal from Clare Drummy with 5min to go bought her evening tally to 1.02 – a truly remarkable return. Mention also must go to goalkeeper Lissa Owens who pulled off a point blank save, was steady under the cross bar and found green jerseys with the vast majority of kick-outs. The full back line of Deborah Keown, Eleanor Nixon and Leanne Owens were never breached and contained some very nippy ford inside forwards.

All in all a fantastic win for our girls who will go into this weekend’s All-Ireland 7’s in Dublin with confidence and enthusiasm. And of course by stopping Bryansford from winning the league on Wednesday night they have cemented their own claim to regain their league title. The girls have to beat Bredagh in their last game to force a League play off with Bryansford.