Debut boy Kerr hits Fermanagh

Debut boy Kerr hits Fermanagh

1 January 2020

DOWN’S blend of rookies and experienced campaigners enabled them to open their McKenna Cup campaign with a win at Brewster Park on Sunday.

In a competitive encounter, Down’s greater control in and around the midfield sector gave them an early foothold in the game and their ball retention had Fermanagh chasing shadows at times.

However, scorers were extremely hard to come by as Down’s shooters struggled to get into the game in the first half.

Ryan Jones gave the hosts a fourth minute lead, but it took Down another 17 minutes before they registered their first score through Liam Kerr, who had replaced Conal Gallagher.

The first half finished with a flurry of scores. With 28 minutes gone Ross McGarry and two Pat Havern points eased Down into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead, but Fermanagh responded with scores from Garvan and Conal Jones to leave a single point in it at the break, 0-4 to 0-3.

Jonny Flynn, Havern and Conor Poland increased Down’s lead to four points at the start of the second half with unanswered scores before a Conal Jones free and a point from Darren McGurn had Fermanagh right back in contention, 0-7 to 0-5.

Kerr and Conal Jones swapped frees to maintain the status quo before the former fired Down into a 0-9 to 0-6 lead after 63 minutes. Liatroim’s Liam Middleton then made it a four-point game and Kerr delivered the coup de grace when he beat James McGrath all ends up to net the only goal of the game in the 70th minute.

McGurn and Ross Carr exchanged late points before Fermanagh were reduced to 14 men when midfielder Ryan Jones was red carded.

Down manager Paddy Tally was more than pleased with his side’s showing, especially Kerr’s.

“Liam’s been playing pretty well for Burren, he’s still young and was with the U-20s last year,” he said.

“He’s been showing the past couple of years the potential to play well. That was his senior debut and it’s a lovely way to start. Liam’s an exciting player and one for the future,” he added.

“We’ll have to manage these lads well and make sure they are brought in in at the right time and this was a great opportunity to go out there and play.”

Down now face Antrim next Wednesday night and it’s almost certain that Tally will continue to blood new young players.

“Liam Middleton did well, Ross Carr made his debut, Shane Annett and John O’Hare in goal, Ross McGarry hasn’t played for Down in a number of year, so there was a lot of positives to come out of that game.”

Fermanagh: James McGrath, Jonathan Cassidy, Ben Daly, Kevin McDonnell, Eoin Shiels, Declan McCusker, Aidan Breen, Eoin Donnelly, Ryan Jones (0-1), Tiarnan Bogue, Stephen McGullion, Darragh McGurn (0-2), Garvan Jones (0-1), Conal Jones (0-3f), Brendan Horan. Subs: Lee Jones for Bogue, C Cullen for Shiels, C Corrigan for G Jones, Shane McGullion for Horan, N Cosgrove for Stephen McGullion. 

Down: John O’Hare, Ryan McAleenan, Benny McArdle, Gerard Collins, Pierce Laverty, Shane Annett, Jonny Flynn (0-1), Caolan Mooney, Owen McCabe, Conal Gallagher, Conor Poland (0-1), Daniel Guinness, Pat Havern (0-3, 1f), Ross McGarry (0-1f). Subs: Liam Kerr (1-3, 1f) for Gallagher, Liam Middleton (0-1) for Mooney, Ross Carr (0-1) for Annett, Ciaran Harney for McGarry, Barry O’Hagan for Havern.   

Fermanagh 0-7

Down 1-11

BOI McKENNA CUP