North Down Dig Deep to Edge Skerries in Irish Cup Classic

North Down 1st XI booked their place in the Irish Challenge Cup semi-finals after a gripping 3–2 quarter-final victory over Skerries, a contest packed with intensity, momentum swings, and decisive quality in both circles.

The home side, North Down, burst out of the blocks with real purpose, immediately putting Skerries under pressure. The midfield trio of Gabby Scates, Caitlin Taylor and Sophie Leckie were relentless, recycling possession and threading incisive passes into the forward line. Despite the heavy pressure imposed by North Down, the score remained at 0-0 going into quarter time.

That early dominance from the first quarter paid dividends when sustained pressure earned North Down a long corner 2 minutes into the second quarter. From there, the breakthrough came when Rachael Murphy showcased slick skills around the circle and along the baseline before picking out Gabby Scates, who calmly slotted home to give North Down a deserved lead.

Skerries, however, responded with urgency. Raising the tempo, they struck on the counter with a lightning-quick move finished emphatically at the back post, levelling the game at 1–1 by half-time.

The visitors carried that momentum into the third quarter, edging ahead early to make it 2–1 and briefly silence the home crowd. But North Down’s resilience shone through. Unfazed, the forward line of Emily Johnson, Andrea Mockford and Connie Magee worked tirelessly, their sharp leads and pressure eventually seeing Emily Johnston win a crucial penalty corner. The set piece was executed to perfection. A slick routine found captain Rachael Murphy expertly positioned at the back post, and she made no mistake, firing home to restore parity.

At the other end, the North Down defence of Jenna Pliauga, Tara Leckie, Rachael Murphy and Caitlyn Adair stood firm alongside goalkeeper Kathryn McGregor, repelling wave after wave of Skerries attacks and providing the platform for one final push.

That decisive moment arrived when Sophie Hoey won another penalty corner. Once again, the routine was flawless, and this time it was Sophie Leckie who showed nerves of steel, coolly dispatching the finish to put North Down ahead for the final time.

A tense closing period followed, but North Down managed the game superbly, seeing out the contest to secure a memorable 3–2 win. The result sends the home side marching into the semi-finals of the Irish Challenge Cup —battle-hardened, confident, and dreaming of silverware.