Shannon McGroddy says success with Downings is special

Out on her feet at the final whistle Shannon McGroddy, was finding it hard to believe that Downings, at the first time of asking, were Ulster champions. 

For the second game in-a-row she had kicked the winning point. Her late winning strike against Eoghan Rua, Coleraine, in the semi-final had booked Downings place in Saturday’s showdown.

On Saturday in the final against Warrenpoint of Down, It was her second point on the day. She had also kicked the game’s opening point to settle early nerves. The winning point came in the first period of extra-time and proved to be the only score after the sides had ended level at 1-6 each.

 “I didn’t think it was going to be the winner and the only score of the extra-time,” said McGroddy, who was named player of the match award afterwards. 

“That was as tough and as hard a game as I ever played in. I was never out on my feet like it ever before,” she said at the final whistle. 

“It was a great team performance. Everybody pulled their weight all over the pitch despite all that was thrown at us. Time and time again girls stood up.

“This win means a lot more to us than anyone knows today.” 

Appearing in their first Ulster final after winning the Donegal junior championship for the first time this season Downings were 0–4 to 0-0 up inside the opening ten minutes.  

“The plan going out was to  press up on their kickouts and to keep that ball in their half of the field from the word go regardless of whether we were playing with the wind or against.”

And they were 0-6 to 0-4 up at half-time after the Down champions finished the first half strong to kick a couple of late points. 

Shannon and Denise Doherty kicked two of the Donegal champions first half points and Lauren McBride posted the other four with three of them from frees. 

“We felt at half-time that we were in control but disappointed that we gave the ball away a little too much at times in the first half. 

“We also felt we probably had not been clinical enough and that we had allowed them back into the game. And we were confident going out for the second half of maintaining that control. 

“Denise scored the goal early in the second half to put us five up and while we did not add to the goal we were in control of the game for a good part of the second half.

“Denise’s goal was a big score. We had been scoring goals all season and we knew there was one coming; it was only a matter of time. 

“We were holding well until they scored the goal and It was backs to the wall after that.

“It was all hands on deck for the closing minutes until unfortunately they equalised; thankfully we came through in extra-time.

“We have been knocking on the door in the junior championship for a number of years and honestly I cannot believe we are standing here today as Ulster champions.”

McGroddy, ahead of Saturday’s win, was already a double Ulster senior championship winner and an All-Ireland senior championship winner with Termon, from her years playing with the Burn Road club.  

“As much as I learned from playing with Geraldine and Nicole McLaughlin and all the Termon girls, and as much as all the success I enjoyed with them there, it is nothing like going back to your home club and winning with your own parish, your own friends and the girls you grew up with. It is very special.”