The Downs just hold on to make semi-final

In Kinnegad on Thursday evening last, in cold and breezy conditions, The Downs booked their place in the Ladies Football Senior semi-final against Milltown with the narrowest of wins against a gallant Mullingar Shamrocks.

In reality, this game was won in the first half with three Downs goals in a devastating eight minutes, and the Black and Ambers led by as many as nine. However, an incredible comeback from Mullingar Shamrocks just fell short at the death when a draw and extra-time looked inevitable. Eleven scores to eight tells its own tale, and if Shamrocks had kept their composure in the final minutes, then it could have been oh so different. However, it would have been a slight injustice to The Downs, who were the better team overall.

That being said, they lost Olivia Glynn and Britney McNamee to what looked like significant injuries and, with a semi looming, they will be hoping for good news from the physio table. But in substitute Beth McGuire, they have a match-winning replacement who was outstanding on her introduction. Mullingar Shamrocks, for their part, were wasteful in front of goal and far too ponderous in their build-up, but with youth coming through, they will know that better days are ahead.

The first half was a poor spectacle, to be honest, with neither team settling well, far too many basic errors and even poorer shots wide of the posts. After eight minutes, it was 0-1 apiece, with Lucy Power scoring for The Downs and Karen Hegarty replying for Shamrocks. The Downs then hit that purple patch with three goals in eight minutes, with Sheila McGrath netting the first at the second attempt after being denied by Holly McCormack in the Shamrocks goal; Lucy Power with a brilliant finish after a wonderful through ball by Gemma Faulkner. It was Britney McNamee who kicked the third with a long-range shot that dropped into the net.

Shamrocks had chances, but they were wasted in the main until two late Anna Jones frees brought them back slightly, but The Downs led by 3-1 to 0-3 at the short whistle, following what was a poor first half.

Karen Hegarty narrowed that gap further with a point on the restart, but two points from Beth McGuire settled The Downs once more, and they looked to have calmed the storm. But Shamrocks were not done yet, and a super point from Mairead Newman and two Anna Jones frees brought belief.

McGuire seemed to have extinguished that recovery when she pointed a free and then scored from play as Shamrocks squandered another good chance and were caught on the break. Jones added two more frees as Shamrocks piled forward and fisted a ball to the net that looked to be going over. Hegarty slotted a brilliant ball to Honor McNamara and, amazingly, with two minutes left, Shamrocks trailed by the minimum and had all the momentum.

Despite some chances to level, Shamrocks simply could not gain parity, and somehow The Downs stumbled over the line in a game they should have won comfortably.

Scorers - The Downs: Beth McGuire 0-4 (2 frees), Lucy Power 1-1, Britney McNamee and Sheila McGrath 1-0 each.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Anna Jones 1-6 (6 frees), Karen Hegarty 0-2, Mairead Newman and Honor McNamara 0-1 each.

The Downs: Ellen Taite, Lauren Guilfoyle, Helen Joyce, Amy Dagg, Aisling Egerton, Niamh Nolan, Emily Rose McNamee, Gemma Faulkner, Ciara Dolan, Cara Finnegan, Lucy Power, Olivia Glynn, Francesca Walshe, Britney McNamee and Sheila McGrath. Subs: Michelle Bohan for Glynn (inj.,18 mins), Beth McGuire for McNamee (inj., 25 mins), Mary Lynam for McGrath (38 mins), Isabelle Walshe for Joyce and Annie Corcoran McDonald for Faulkner (53 mins).

Mullingar Shamrocks: Holly McCormack, Annemarie O’Reilly, Siobhan McDonnell, Chloe Swarbrigg, Carla Rose Blackman, Melek Fagan, Sinead Sweeney, Anna Jones, Mairead Newman, Chloe Smullen, Honor McNamara, Zara Corroon, Susanna Buckley, Karen Hegarty and Grace Daly. Subs: Jenna Kelly for Corroon (34 mins), Eve Hynes for Swarbrigg (60 mins).

Referee: Ken Gunning (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge).