Derry Senior Ladies Gaelic Football team took on Limerick in their latest match in the NFL campaign at a rain lashed Watty Graham Park in Maghera on Sunday past.
With the new management team of Francis Scullion and Terri McCallan at the helm this was their first outing with the County team and was used very much as an exercise in giving a lot of girls a run out in competitive County action.
The home side started well and indeed took the lead after Tomaisina McGovern knocked over a 13 metre free after the same player had been fouled close to goal. A great flowing move soon afterwards starting in defence with Ashelene Groogan and involving Katy Holly, Sinead Cassidy and Tomaisina McGovern ended with a narrow wide from the latter. Limerick asserted control for a period and the Derry defence came under a sustained period of pressure but held out well. After a barren scoring period the visitors notched a fortuitous goal to take the lead. Another goal and point for Limerick followed before Derry got their second score after some great inter-passing between Louise Murphy and Tomaisina McGovern resulted in the full forward taking a good point from play.
In Derry's next attack a 40m free from Sinead Cassidy dropped short and Louise Murphy pounced to notch a goal and reduce the arrears to two points. A great save from Derry keeper Gemma Watson was followed by a narrow miss from Derry centre half forward Sinead Cassidy, and a Limerick point saw the visitors lead by 2.02 to 1.02 at half time.
At the start of the second half Derry introduced a number of substitutes and the visitors wasted no time in exploiting the slight disruption to the home side personnel. A quick goal for Limerick was followed by a pointed reply from second half substitute Erin Murray before Limerick notched another goal and point. The game was running away from the Derry girls and a sin-binning of corner back Ciara McGurk just added to the home side's discomfort. While down to 14 players the Limerick side rattled up a further 2-03, before Derry got onto the scoreboard again – a high ball from Sinead Cassidy into the square was knocked to the net by second half substitute Amy McGuckin. Limerick kept the pressure up to the end though and a further 1.01 by the visiting team saw the game out with Limerick winning 7.08 to 2.03.
In all whilst suffering a disappointing defeat the Derry girls can use this as a platform to go on from. The wet and heavy conditions suited the Limerick team better as they were more physical than the Derry girls. From a Derry perspective it is good to see such a large panel of players and if training goes well in the weeks ahead they can look forward to the trip to Wicklow at the end of the month before they welcome Roscommon for the final game in the league on 6th April.
Team: Gemma Watson (Slaughtmanus), Ciara McGurk (Steelstown), Nuala O'Hagan (Glen), Roisin Conway (Ballinascreen), Shannon McCrystal (Desertmartin), Ashelene Groogan (Ballinascreen), Danielle Kivlehan (Glen), Caoimhe Moran (Glen), Dania Donnelly (Ballinasreen), Ciara Moore (Slaughtmanus), Sinead Cassidy (Ballerin), Katy Holly (Steelstown), Louise Murphy (Ballinascreen), Tomaisina McGovern (Desertmartin), Nuala Browne (Desertmartin)
Subs: Noleen Murphy (Desertmartin), Maria McGrath (Glen), Aideen Fullen (Desertmartin) Sinead Comer (Magherafelt), Brid Corrigan (Magherafelt), Erin Murray (Faughan Vale), Aine O'Donnell (Magherafelt), Adrienne Bradley (Ballerin), Ann Marie Kitchener (Ballinascreen), Kelly-Marie Hegarty (Ballinascreen), Aisling Taggart (Steelstown), Amy McGuckin (Magherafelt)
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