THE Down ladies co-manager Peter Lynch has praised the grit that the team showed in their thrilling one-point win over Monaghan in the weekend’s Ulster Intermediate Ladies Football final.
After Laoise Duffy scored early in the second half Down led by ten points and looked like they were going to win the title easily and deliver back-to-back Ulster titles after last year’s junior victory.
But while they did so, they had to sustain a spirited comeback from Monaghan.
Peter Lynch, who manages the team alongside Caoibhe Sloan, said, “You have to give Monaghan their dues. They weren’t for giving in.
“I’m sure other teams’ heads would drop and they would fall away, but they came thundering back at us and for the rest of the game they outscored us by ten points to one.
“The (Down) players, in fairness, showed grit and determination when the game was going in Monaghan’s favour. They stuck to the task to repel attacks.
“It was a very tight final 20 minutes or so and we got over the line in the end. That was the important bit.
“We were delighted to get the win and bring the title back to Down.”
Down’s first half performance was excellent, one of the best periods of football the team had shown this season.
Eimear Fitzpatrick scored Down’s first goal after 13 minutes, and the county led by 1-8 to 0-4 at half time.
“I think our first half performance , our football and our scoring , was good,” Peter said.
“Our first half performance really gave us the platform. We were up 1-8 to four points at half time.”
Read the full report in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.