Dowdallshill G.F. & A.C.

The Ladies were left disappointed last weekend (Sun April 25th), when they failed to beat a strong St.Pats side who continue to lead Div 2.

For ourselves, we remain second in the table on 9 points.

However the ladies can be proud of their latest result - beating Senior side Roche Emmets on tuesday night to a scoreline of 7-3 to 2-10 with an impressive showing from a very youthful side including newcomers Tracey Osadabe and Kerrie Mc Guirk, The clans girls playing Minor with Dowdallshill this year were also very impressive.

The Ladies final league match is at home to the Newtown Blues on sunday 9th of may in St.Bridgids park at 11.30 am with a victory securing their semi final spot.

Round-4

Dowdallshill 1-7  Naomh Martin  0-9,     Monasterboice Wed 7^th April 

Dowdallshill ladies continued their recent trend of starting games poorly and found themselves with a 4 point deficit to overturn after the opening ten minutes of this encounter. Dowdallshill found themselves up against wave after wave of attacks from the monasterboice outfit, the defence did well on many occasions to snuff out scoring opportunities however were finding it difficult to halter the martins progress through the two wings. The martins started with an up tempo, attacking game and after converting their early chances were soon seeing many efforts go wide of the mark. Dowdallshill began working their way into the game gradually but their hard work did not pay off as they saw all of their numerous efforts miss the target or drop short into the martin’s goalkeeper’s arms. The dowdallors were improving gradually throughout the first half but the martin’s keeper had the better of the game as she pulled off two great saves to deny the hills forwards two great goals to bring them back into contention. Dowdallshill’s centre forward Karen Wynne finally registered Dowdallshill’s first score of the game just seconds before Joey Moynagh blew the half time whistle to leave the score 0-7 to 0-1 in the favour of Naomh Martin at the interval.  The hill couldn’t have started the second half better when Midfielder Emma Singleton broke through from midfield and saw her effort sneak in under the crossbar just out of reach of the outstretched keeper leaving only three points between the teams. The hill ladies could now feel optimistic and really began showing their true colours as they began playing with a real urgency with Emma Singleton, Ciara O Connor and Karen Wynne linking up well together. Everything came together for Dowdallshill in the second half with every player playing extremely well in both defence and attack; the martins however never gave up and keep plugging away and waging many quick counter attacks. The martins could have increased their advantage through their full forward however Dowdallshill keeper Una Pearson got the better of her effort and saved her powerful shot. Dowdallshill continued to add to their account in front of goal and began keeping the ball in the martins half for long periods of time, only for this continued pressure the game could have slipped out of the hills grasp in the late stages. Substitute Samantha Kelly provided a great boost to the hill when she came off the bench and scored. Karen Wynne then scored another great point to bring the scores level with only a few minutes left. This game which started badly proved to be an exciting encounter in the closing stages much like Dowdallshill’s previous game in which they won by an extremely late goal. Dowdallshill finished the game strongly and were awarded a free right in front of the posts with only a few seconds left which was slotted over by Emma Singleton to secure another three points and help to cement their top four place.  

Dowdallshill team:

Una Pearson, Claire Mc Quillan, Janine Kelly, Aine Mc Shane (captain), Carrie Keenan, Sharon O Connor, Aisling O Rourke, Emma Singleton, Ciara O Connor, Sonia Hoey, Karen Wynne, Orlaith O Hagan, Emma Finnegan, Sinead Mc Gill, Gillian O Reilly.

Subs: Jennifer Arthur, Bridin Rogers, Cathy O Reilly, Samantha Kelly, Nicolle Kellegher.

Scorers: Emma Singleton 1-2, Karen Wynne 0-2, Samantha Kelly 0-1, Ciara O Connor 0-1, Aisling O Rourke 0-1.  

Round 3, Young Irelands pitch, Mon 22nd March

Dowdallshill 2-6   Naomh Fionnbarra  2-3                                 

Dowdallshill increased their total points to six and moved up the Division 2 table with a hard fought win against a strong Finbarr’s team. The opening exchanges of the game saw both teams evenly matched and enjoying many attacking opportunities however both sides failed to convert their chances leaving the scores 1 point a piece for a long period of the first half.  The togher outfit began to get a foothold in the match as they scored another point and added on a well taken goal by Laura English who found the ball at her feet yards out from goal and slotted home coolly into the bottom corner with her left foot past an out stretched and diving Una Pearson in the Dowdallshill goal. Dowdallshill once more failed to convert their chances however were not punished at the other end of the pitch as the Finbarr’s also failed to convert their chances and saw many efforts cleared by the strong Dowdallshill defence or saved by the keeper. The rest of the half finished in much the same fashion leaving the game 1-2 to 0-2 in favour of Naomh Fionbarra at the break. The second half opened evenly between the two teams with Dowdallshill gradually getting a hold on the game. The finbarrs increased their advantage with another goal when the Dowdallshill goalkeeper slipped but managed to clear the ball away from a forwards foot only to see the ball roll to another forward who hit the back of the net. Dowdallshill were now under pressure being as many as 6 points behind however they never gave up and staged a comeback, they converted their scoring chances and were level with 10mins left when Cathy O’ Reilly blasted the ball past the inform finbarrs keeper and into the back of the net. Dowdallshill scored again and were one point up for the first time in the game. The Finabarr’s scored again through Marianne Huellen leaving the game even once more and poised for an exciting finish. The closing minutes of the game did not disappoint and proved to be very nerve wracking for both teams and entertaining for the bystanders. Cathy O’ Reilly stepped up to the mark once more and saw her shot deflected by a hand and travel into the bottom corner, leaving the score 2-6 to 2-3 in favour of Dowdallshill. The final few minutes were very nerve wracking with Dowdallshill extremely relieved to hear Liam Bird’s final whistle.

Dowdallshill team: 1.Una Pearson, 4.Aine Mc Shane, 3.Claire Mc Quillan, 2.Janine Kelly, 5.Carrie Keenan, 6.Sharon O’ Connor, 7. Orlaith O’ Hagan, 8. Ciara O’ Connor, 9. Emma Singleton, 10. Emma Kellegher, 11. Sonia Hoey, 12. Sinead Mc Gill, 13. Nicolle Kellegher, 14. Cathy O’ Reilly, 15. Gillian O’ Reilly, 16. Renee Mc Cabe, 17. Karen Wynne.

Scorers: Cathy O’ Reilly 2-0, Emma Singleton 0-1, Orlaith O’ Hagan 0-1, Emma Kellegher 0-1, Sonia Hoey 0-2, Ciara O’ Connor 0-1. 

Round 2      St Brigid's Park, Sunday March 7th 

Dowdallshill 3-10 St. Fechins 3-4

Dowdallshill ladies somewhat made up for last weeks defeat to St. Kevins by defeating St. Fechins in St. Brigids park on Sunday morning to a score line of 3-10 to 3-4. The Termonfeckin side opened the scoring with a point and some quick thinking by half forward Danielle Leddy to fist an incoming ball which looped up and dropped under the crossbar. Dowdallshill took time to get their footing in the game but eventually opened their account with a well taken point. The fechins extended the scores to four once again scoring another point however Dowdallshill’s Karen win replied at the other end with an effort that was travelling well wide but was taken by the wind and curled in sharply beating the Termonfeckin goalkeeper. The rest of the half continued much the same as the start with scrappy play, lots of frees and both team registering only a few scores to leave the game 1-4 to 1-2 in favour of the Drogheda side at the break. The performance of the half must go to Clair Mc Quillan playing only her second game at full back who performed excellently in place of the absent Sheila Scorr who is currently serving in Chad. Dowdallshill moved up a gear in the second half and started intensely scoring 6 unanswered points within minutes taking the scores to 1-8 to 1-4 in favour of the Dowdallshill. Dowdallshill’s strength and depth of their panel was evident as they were able to bring on some impact subs in the form of Ciara O Connor & Cathy  O Reilly. Midfield pairing of Emma Gorman and Emma Singleton began linking up well and put together many slick passing moves combined with skilful runs and seemed to be getting the better of the Fechins. Dowdallshill were mounting the pressure on the Fechins and were rewarded with a goal however the Fechins responded at the other end with a goal from their full forward on a break who finished coolly past the onrushing Dowdallshill goalkeeper. Dowdallshill then scored another goal through Emma Gorman and once again the fechins responded with a goal at the other end. To their credit the fechins never stopped fighting back and the goalkeeper pulled off many top class saves. The Dowdallors finished on top with two more points leaving the score at the final whistle 3-10 to 3-4.

Scorers: Sinead Mc Nally 0-1, Sonia Hoey 0-1, Emma Singleton 0-3, Karen Wynne 2-3, Emma Gorman 1-2

Team: Una Pearson, Aine Mc Shane, Claire Mc Quillan, Janine Kelly, Orlaith o Hagan, Sharon O Connor, Carrie Keenan, Emma Gorman, Emma Singleton, Aisling O Rourke, Karen Wynne, Sonia Hoey, Gillian O Reilly, Emma Kellegher, Sinead Mc Nally.

Subs: Nicolle Kellegher, Jenny Arthur, Grace Mulligan, Cathy O Reilly, Samantha Kelly, Emma Finnegan, Lea Juraskova, Sinead Mc Gill, Ciara O Connor, Debbie Mulligan, Bridin Rogers