Derry Senior Ladies Gaelic Football team took on near neighbours Antrim in the first round of their National League Division Four campaign last Sunday, 2nd February.
The game was played at Queens University Playing facility – The Dub with a 2.00pm throw-in on Sunday. However some confusion over Dressing Room allocation led the Derry team having much shorter than usual preparation time.
This had an impact on the Derry ladies as following a much shorter that usual warm up routine they started sluggishly. Antrim took complete advantage of this in the first half when they rattled up what was to prove a match winning margin. The Derry chances also weren't helped when a recurrence of an injury to playmaker Rachel Walls forced her withdrawal after only ten minutes. This occurred when she was brought down by the Antrim rearguard while bearing down on goal. To compound matters some gamesmanship from the Antrim side led to Kayleigh Fleming striking the resultant penalty wide. A further goal chance soon after was thwarted when another Kayleigh Fleming effort was well saved by the Antrim goalkeeper. A single point reply from Ciara Moore was the only time the scoreboard was troubled in favour of the Derry ladies in the first half.
The second half proved to be a more positive experience for the Oak Leaf side. Whilst never going to be able to claw back the margin, the Derry side can take the positives from a much more resilient and purposeful second half. Thomasina McGovern made a number of good saves in goal and while having to play there through recurrence of a niggling injury, she proved to be a good option. Ruagin Doherty at corner back cut out Antrim attacks a number of times and with Ciara McGurk and Ashlene Groogan beginning to have a much greater influence in the centre of defence the probing from here helped create a number of goal scoring chances for the Derry forward line. Dania Donnelly with some strong running from midfield also helped crate the scoring chances and three second half points from Nuala Browne, along with a two point return from Kayleigh Fleming will give the team some heart. Following some strong running and interpassing between Shannon McCrystal and Ciara Moore, Erin Murray helped herself to the final score of the match, a goal for Derry.
All in all a disappointing start to the Derry sides' League campaign. Whilst well beaten the reduced warm up period did nothing to help the Oak Leaf side. With the return of University students in the late Spring this should help the progression of the County side.
Team: Tomaisina McGovern (Desertmartin), Roisin Conway (Ballinascreen) Ciara McGurk (Steelstown) Ruagin Doherty (Steelstown), Danielle Kivlehan (Glen) Bronagh Lowry (Faughanvale) Ashlene Groogan (Ballinascreen), Dania Donnelly (Ballinasreen) Shannon McCrystal (Desertmartin), Ciara Moore (Slaughtmanus) Rachel Walls (Ballymaguigan) Catherine Donaghy (Claudy), Aideen Fullen (Desertmartin) Kayleigh Flemming (Faughanvale) Nuala Browne (Desertmartin). Sub Erin Murray (Faughanvale) for Racel Walls. Edel Quinn (Ballymaguigan) Aimee Crozier (Ballymaguigan)
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