Down edged out in thriller

Down edged out in thriller

25 May 2016

DOWN were pipped at the post by Antrim in a thrilling Christy Ring Cup semi-final encounter in Loughiel on Saturday.

On another day it would have been Down that went through to the Croke Park decider and not Antrim as Michael Johnston’s charges did everything but win this clash.

Down left Fr Healy Park wondering how they didn’t win. Apart from a 10 minute spell at the start of the second half when the hosts hit 1-6, Down hurled as well as, if not better than, their opponents.

In securing their place at Croke Park next month, Antrim owe a debt of gratitude to two men.

Their irrepressible forward, Ciaran Clarke, split Down’s posts no fewer than 16 times and assisted in Conor Carson’s game-changing goal in the 37th minute. 

Their other saviour was goalkeeper Chrissy O’Connell. The Loughgiel custodian made a fabulous stoppage time save to deny Conor Mageean a goal that would have put Down up by a point. 

As it was, Clarke and Carson still had time to grab a point apiece to put a bit of daylight between the teams at the final whistle.

With the game slipping from their grasp, Down had three players sent-off in the closing stages.

James McGrath lashed out at Clarke and received a straight red. Moments later, Conor O’Neill picked up a second yellow card and late substitute Jordan Doran was shown a straight red after the final whistle. 

Down manager Johnston was desperately disappointed by this reversal.

“I thought we were the better hurling team,” he said. “We two or three great goal chances and missed them. Antrim got a goal out of nothing and scrambled the ball home.

“We came here to win the game and not to make up the numbers,” he added. “I think we showed a great style of hurling. We showed tenacity and ability to hurl, but lacked a bit of experience in our forward line.”

Antrim: C O’Connell, O McFadden, T McCloskey, C McKinley, S McCrory, N McAuley, M Burke, C Johnston, E Campbell (0-1), E McCloskey (0-1), J Dillon (0-1), N Elliott; C Johnston (0-1), C Carson (1-1), C Clarke (0-16, 0-13 frees, 0-1 ’65); Subs: J Connolly for N Elliott, N McKenna (0-3) for J Dillon, S McAfee for Ciaran Johnston (59).

Down: S Keith, M Conlan, P McFlynn, J McManus, C O’Neill, C Taggart (0-3), J McGrath, S Ennis, F Conway, C Mageean, C O’Prey (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ’65), D Hughes (0-3), D Toner (0-9, 0-5 frees), Conor Woods (0-4, 0-2 frees), S Nicholson. Subs: C Egan (0-1) for P Flynn, B Byers for S Nicholson, J Doran for F Conway (66), O McManus for C Taggart (72). 

Referee: D Hughes (Carlow).

Antrim 1-24

Down 23

CHRISTY RING CUP