Down claim Ulster Intermediate Championship crown

Down 2-19 Monaghan 0-14

Two goals from Eimear Fitzpatrick and Laoise Duffy helped Down capture the Ulster Intermediate Championship title. Played in the baking heat of Clones, the Mourne ladies survived a stunning second half Monaghan revival to win by the minimum of margins.

Having trailed by ten right at the start of the second half, Monaghan stormed back into contention, outscoring their opponents 0-10 to 0-1, but Down held on to win the game.

Player of the Match Fitzpatrick was a late addition to the starting line-up and she justified involvement with 1-4 in the first half. Her goal gave Down a five-point lead midway through the opening period and they stretched that out to seven by half time, 1-8 to 0-6.

Peter Lynch’s girls began the second period with a bang as Laoise Duffy fired home their second major inside the first sixty seconds. Momentum switched entirely however as Monaghan fought back with seven on the bounce.

Sarah Tierney, the impressive Jayne Drury, Chloe McBride (2), Eabha Sherry (2) and Niamh Garland all split the posts before Substitute Natashia Ferris grabbed Down’s first point (free) in 18 minutes.

Three more from McBride made the margin one and the Darren Greenan’s side had chances to equalise, but they couldn’t find the score that would force extra time.

Down Scorers: E Fitzpatrick 1-4 (2f), L Duffy 1-1, N McClory 0-2, S Dougherty 0-1, N Ferris 0-1 (1f).

Monaghan Scorers: C McBride 0-5 (3f), E Sherry 0-3 (2f), S Tierney 0-2, L Maguire 0-2 (1f), J Drury 0-1, L Garland 0-1.