NETBALL: Northern Ireland claim revenge victory over Scotland in Edinburgh

Northern Ireland's netballers bounced back from Saturday's disappointing defeat by clinching the Celtic Clash with a great revenge victory over Scotland in Edinburgh.
Noleen Lennon impressedNoleen Lennon impressed
Noleen Lennon impressed

An comprehensive victory by 51-38 was enough for Northern Ireland to triumph on aggregate with defender Fionnuala Toner named player of the tournament.

The weekend’s two-Test series was arranged to officially launch Scotland’s new world-class Oriam high performance facility but the girls in green spectacularly pooped the party.

Being beaten 44-37 in the opening game in front of a vociferous sell-out crowd wasn’t the way recently reappointed head coach Elaine Rice wanted to start her third spell at the helm.

An injury which forced new captain Caroline O’Hanlon out of the action temporarily compounded the absence of three other mid-court regulars and the Scots took full advantage.

Double defeat for Rice’s understrength squad would have left Northern Ireland facing a Commonwealth Games qualification crisis by threatening their top 12 world ranking.

Instead yesterday’s result, ending a run of four consecutive Test defeats dating back to May’s Euro whitewash, provides a positive springboard for the important period ahead.

Rice even had the luxury of emptying her bench in the last quarter as Saturday’s starting seven showed what Northern Ireland are really capable of.

New vice-captains Toner and Lisa Bowman both did well while former skipper Noleen Lennon shone in the unfamiliar role of goal defence after being persuaded out of international retirement.

Lennon worked well in the back circle with regular goalkeeper Gemma Gibney, now Lawlor since getting married recently, with the eldest two Bowman sisters paired up front.

Leading 14-9 after the opening period, Rice’s side was 10 up at half-time in yesterday’s second Test and had stretched their advantage to a comfortable 40-25 going into the last quarter.

With Neamh Woods, Niamh Cooper, Michelle Drayne and hopefully Oonagh McCullough to add to the Celtic Clash squad, Northern Ireland can build upon this impressive victory in the coming months.