Barney Curran hails Downings' grit as they battle past Eoghan Rua

Downings' joint manager Barney Curran was a relieved man after watching his team hold on to claim a place in the Ulster Ladies JFC final following their one-point win over Eoghan Rua, Coleraine. 

Curran, who shares the management job with Doy McGroddy was high in his praise of the character shown by the Downings’ girls to hold on for the 2-6 to 1-8 win over the Derry champions.

“It was touch and go near the end,” said a relieved Curran. “In fairness to our girls, in the last couple of games, they really dug deep when they needed to and they did so again against a very good Coleraine side.

“They scored goals when they needed to as they have been doing all season and they got them again today when they were needed. 

“Denise Doherty scored the two of them. She struck for the first before half-time which settled us a little. In fairness, Coleraine were way the better team for the first 20 minutes and really dominated the game. I say nerves had a lot to do with our first-half performance.

“The goal really settled us and despite being on the back foot for most of the first half, we were three points up at half-time. We pressed them higher up the field in the second half because we knew playing with the wind they had the players to clip over points from out the field. 

Focusing on individual performances, Curran had special praise for goalkeeper Charlie Shevlin for her saves and accurate kickouts. 

“Charlie made a brilliant save and in fairness to her, she has been doing it all year keeping us in games and I thought her kickouts were top-class,” Curran said.

“Her shot-stopping, her bravery, and her command of her goalmouth is second to none.

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“We pressed them higher in the second half because we knew with the breeze they had the players that could knock over points from out the field.

On an overall positive weekend for the Downings side, the only downside was an injury picked up by Aoibhinn O’Connell which resulted in the midfielder and ‘player of the match’ being helped off the field of play leaving her looking extremely doubtful for the decider with Warrenpoint of Down the opposition there.

“We don’t know how she is,” Curran admitted. “She twisted her knee and we are not sure how serious it is.

“Aoibhinn is a huge player for us. When you need a player to grab the game by the throat, Aoibhinn O’Connell steps up every time.”