Canter for Down in Tailteann at Newry

Canter for Down in Tailteann at Newry

15 May 2024

DOWN were far too strong for Limerick at Pairc Esler on Saturday evening as they strolled to an emphatic 14-point win.

It was one-way traffic as Down put the heartbreak of their last-gasp defeat by Armagh in the Ulster Championship semi-final behind them.

Down manager Conor Laverty will no doubt have been pleased that no less than 13 of his players got on the scoresheet.

Limerick were poor, but you can only play who you’re up against.

Odhran Murdock got Down off and running with a pointed free on nine minutes after he was fouled on the edge of the square. Further scores from Liam Kerr and Ryan Johnston added to the lead.

Limerick’s Peter Nash got his side on the scoreboard from a free, as the Munster outfit failed to score from play for the whole of the first half.

At the other end, Down pushed well clear with six points in a row from five different players – Pat Havern (2), Murdock, Eamonn Brown, Ryan Magill and Danny Magill.

Limerick finished the half the stronger of the two sides and claimed three of the last four points on offer with James Naughton (2) and Nash converting frees, whilst Ryan McEvoy closed out Down’s scoring as they took a 0-10 to 0-4 lead in at the break.

Down started the second half brightly with Brown scoring a second point before Nash replied for Limerick. However, the game was effectively put to bed on 39 minutes, when Shealan Johnston laid the ball off for Daniel Guinness and he rifled a shot into the roof of the net.

Danny Magill pushed the lead out to 10, but Limerick kept battling and worked their first score from play, when Brian Ahern fist-passed the ball inside for Nash and he buried his shot low and hard init the net.

However, the visitors couldn’t build on that goal and, instead, Havern replied from a mark.

Both sides were soon shown cards. Brown received a black card for a late hit on Paul Maher, whilst Jamie Baynham – who was only introduced from the substitutes’ bench two minutes previously – was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Ryan Johnston.

Down coasted to the finish line as they scored eight of the last nine points following Nash’s goal.

Second half substitute John McGovern caught the eye with three points from play in an impressive cameo and he will be hoping for more minutes when Down travel to London for a second round fixture on Saturday..

Down: John O’Hare; Finn McElroy, Ryan McEvoy (0-1), Peter Fegan (0-1); Ryan Magill (0-1), Pierce Laverty, Shealan Johnston; Daniel Guinness (1-0), Odhran Murdock (0-2, 2f); Ben McConville, Liam Kerr, Eamonn Brown (0-3); Danny Magill (0-2), Pat Havern (0-3, 1f, 1m), Ryan Johnston (0-2).

Subs: Shane Annett for McConville (45), John McGovern (0-3) for Kerr (46), Gareth McKibben (0-1) for D Magill (49), Paddy McCarthy for R Johnston (58), Conor McCrickard (0-1) for Brown (59).

Limerick: Josh Ryan; Tony McCarthy, Sean O’Dea, Cormac Woulfe; Barry Coleman, Cillian Fahy, Paul Maher; Tommy Childs, Tommy Griffin; Shane Costelloe, James Naughton (0-2, 2f), Cathal Downes; Brian Ahern, Rob Childs, Peter Nash (1-4, 4f).

Subs: Joe Sweeney for Griffin (34), Darragh Siochru for Ahern (49), Jamie Baynham for McCarthy (51), Darren O’Doherty for Naughton (56), Eoin Hurley for Maher (65).

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).