Down Ladies crowned Intermediate Champions

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies IFC Final:
Down 6-16 Fermanagh 1-10

27,374 watched Mark Copeland’s Down record an emphatic 6-16 to 1-10 defeat of Fermanagh in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies IFC final at Croke Park on Sunday.

Down, who were recording a fourth win over the Ernsesiders this season, last sampled All-Ireland glory at junior level in 2000.

Down lined out without star forward Kyla Trainor but still managed to register three first-half goals as they established a 3-06 to 0-06 half-time lead.

Down could even afford to have two players sent to the sin-bin during the game, such was their utter dominance.

Corner-back Orla Boyle was yellow-carded in the 20th minute and captain Niamh McGowan suffered a similar fate 12 minutes from the end of normal time.

But Fermanagh’s forgettable day was made even worse by a yellow card of their own, when sub Maura McDonald was sent to the line eight minutes from time, soon after she had replaced Tara Little.

Down unleashed Trainor from the bench in the 20th minute and the Downpatrick forward was brilliant, hitting an unanswered 2-02 in a devastating blitz.

Sinéad McNamee had netted Down’s fourth goal earlier in the second half and Fermanagh were simply overrun as the Mourne County ran riot.

The signs were ominous for Fermanagh from an early stage as Aileen Pyres, who bagged 1-05, scored the opening goal of the game in the ninth minute.

After Pyres blasted a long-range effort off the crossbar, the full-forward followed up with a sharp soccer-style finish to net the rebound.

Lauren Cunningham scored Down’s second goal in the 20th minute and Fermanagh were dealt a crippling blow on the stroke of half-time, when Lisa Morgan goaled from a penalty with the final kick of the half.

Down, who will play senior championship football next year, pressed home their superiority early in the second half with a run of four unanswered points.

Gráinne McClean had a goal ruled out and Down also missed a second penalty when Lisa Morgan was denied by Fermanagh goalkeeper Shauna Murphy, who also blocked the follow-up effort.

But Down did break through for a fourth goal, scored by McNamee, and the scene was set for Trainor to display her remarkable range of skills to rub further salt into the Fermanagh wounds.

Caroline Little, who continued to take the fight to Down, registered Fermanagh’s only goal with 10 minutes remaining but it was mere consolation against the deserving winners of the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.

Down: S Brannigan; O Boyle, E Downey, J Magee (0-01); O Fegan (0-01), N McGowan, S Fegan; K McMullan, E Kane; G McClean (0-01), L Cunningham (1-02), S McNamee (1-01); M Grant, A Pyres (1-05, 0-02f), L Morgan (1-01, 1-0 pen).

Subs: K Trainor (2-04) for Grant (20), M Doherty for McClean (46), J Foy for McNamee (50), G Kelly for Morgan (54), H Murray for S Fegan (55).

Fermanagh: S Murphy; R Gallagher, K McManus, S McQuade; M Monahan (0-01), T Little, D Maguire (0-01); C Little (1-04, 0-03f), Á McHugh; S Hamilton, A Moane (0-01), J Doonan (0-01); S Little, N Connolly (0-02), M McDonald.

Subs: L McFrederick for McQuade (35), N Daly for McHugh (39), M McDonald for T Little (50), C Cadden for Doonan (56), S McCausland for S Little (56).

Referee: M Doherty (Wexford)