Down float on air with their Tesco U16 win over Tyrone

McKenna Park was the venue for the Tesco U16C All Ireland Championship match between Down and Tyrone. An immaculately turned out pitch helped to crystallise a summer picture, where the car park temperature soared to 25.5 degrees C with only a gentle north westerly breeze trying to cool things just a little. Down were also on sizzling form and put on a display of goal and point scoring across both halves of the game, keeping Tyrone from building any momentum.

Playing with the breeze in their backs towards the Rubane Road end of the pitch, Tyrone registered the first point of the game from Shauna McCrory after just a few minutes of play. It took only thirty seconds for Down to post their first point from Sophie McGrath and then in rapid succession from Ria O’Toole.

As Down put pressure on Tyrone’s full back line, Sophie Gilmore found an opening and struck the sliotar home to increment the scoreboard by one goal. Putting in a steady work rate, Sophie McGrath then struck three sliotars, in succession, one from play, then a 65 and finally from a free to take Down into the first water break 1-05 to Tyrone’s 0-01.

Keeping up her work rate in the hot sunshine, Sophie McGrath made a run for the Tyrone goal mouth and with her sheer speed of travel and sliotar striking power, Down were up another goal. Down’s Corra Croskery and Caellagh Byrne kept the points ticking up but it was Down’s full forward Amy McElroy that stamped her authority by placing four sliotars over the bar before the half time whistle. The opening scorer for Tyrone, Shauna McCrory closed Tyrone’s account in this half with another point leaving the scores going into the break, Down 2-11 to Tyrone’s 0-02.

As the second half got underway, Down’s Maria Bergin whispered her presence with a point within the first minute and Tyrone responded with two more points before they finally got their first goal from Rhianne McLoughlin and then with a last point from Shauna McCrory, Tyrone just didn’t manage to penetrate Down’s defense and closed their account with a goal and five points. Down’s Amy McElroy wasn’t finished building her tally of scores though, as a tempting pass brought McElroy in front of the goal and with a cool head, finished the job.

Just before the water break, Maria Bergin then came into sensational form with two back to back goals. A combination of heat and work rate contributed to a lull in the game’s intensity before Maria Bergin hammered home her hat-trick but it could have been four if it wasn’t for Bergin hitting the crossbar. Caellagh Byrne sent in a dangerous square ball that bounced high and left the goalkeeper with only one option but to parry it over the bar. Just as she started, Bergin finished her day’s work at McKenna Park with another point over Tyrone’s bar, closing out the scores on the final whistle from Referee Alan Lagrue, Down 6-17 Tyrone 1-05. Despite a lob sided scoreline, Tyrone were a well organised side that kept Down chasing for every ball and thinking where to find space and the important breaks for goal scoring opportunities. Down will be pleased with this result and Paddy McGrath and the rest of the management team will have no doubt enjoyed their Sunday evening.