Down see off Monaghan to take All-Ireland title

All-Ireland U14 Silver Final

Down 6-13 Monaghan 0-4

By Aisling Clery

DOWN were crowned All Ireland U14 Silver champions after producing a superb display in blistering heat and sunshine in Clan na Gael in Dundalk against a determined Monaghan side.

Down built up a convincing 3-5 to 0-3 lead in the opening half and after the break they continued to add to their lead despite an improved defensive performance from Monaghan. However, it wasn’t to be for Monaghan as Down ran out convincing victors.

Down got off to a perfect start when Grace Guest fired a penalty to the net after Evie McHugh was fouled. While Monaghan did drive towards the Down defence, it was the Mourne County that added to the scoreboard with Abigail Hanvey and Gracie McManus both finding the range.

Down got their second goal after nine minutes when an initial shot saved by Louise Dempsey found its way to Abigail McManus and her effort hit off one upright before ricocheting across and crossing the goal line on the other side.

Guest got on the scoresheet for a second time from distance after 11 minutes before McManus converted a free.

McHugh added her name to the scoresheet after a quick water break and Down got their third goal of the game when Annie McEvoy hit a high speculative ball in and it went all the way to the net.

Monaghan reacted well to this though and two Brannagh Connolly points before half-time reduced the deficit to 3-5 to 0-3 at the break.

Connolly added her third point as the second half got underway but this was cancelled out a minute later by an McEvoy point.

A sweeping team move down the field resulted in Abigail Hanvey netting her second goal of the day and Down continued to push on, hitting 2-7 without reply in the remainder of the second half. Goals came in the 43rd and 45th minutes with McHugh finding the net and Guest converting a second penalty of the afternoon.

While Monaghan tried their utmost, this was to be Down’s day, their first All-Ireland U14 title since the introduction of the competition’s new format.

Scorers:

Down: G Guest 2-1 (2-0 pen), A Hanvey 2-1, E McHugh 1-2, A McEvoy 1-1, G McManus 0-4 (1f), H Cassin 0-1, L Elmore 0-1, C McGrath 0-1, E Easton 0-1.

Monaghan: B Connolly 0-3, L Coyle 0-1 (1f).

DOWN: C Faloon; O Magill, F May Morgan, M McStay; H Cassin, M Quilton, N Napier; A McEvoy (c), G Guest; L McEvoy, T Ryan, L Elmore; A Hanvey, G McManus, E McHugh
Subs used: C Croskery, S Heenan, A Donnelly, S Kennan-Travers, L Devlin, C McGrath, C O’Donnell, A Fitzpatrick, K Davis, E Cunningham, C Doyle, AR McNutly, O Dean, E Easton, K O’Rourke

MONAGHAN: L Dempsey; M Sullivan, E McMeel, A McAdam; R McCarthy, L Carey, A Mooney; M Treanor (c), N McCarville; S Wilson, B Connolly, L Coyle; C Dooley, N McCaghey, H Coyle
Subs used: MK Byrne, T Treanor, L McKenny, T O’Neill, C Mahon, H Coyle, A O’Hart, A Sullivan, A McMahon, N McCarville, E Kearney, LA O’Loughlin, C Mooney, C Culleton, G O’Neill

Ref: Sinead McHugh (Dublin)