Down hurlers to face Derry again in replay

3 July 2013

DOWN and Derry must do it all again at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh, this Sunday .

Down looked to have won the game with a late point by Michael Turley, but Tiernan McCloskey hit a late equaliser to force a replay.

Derry started well and were on top throughout the first quarter, however, Down hit an unanswered 1-3 to help them to a 1-11 to 0-7 lead at half-time.

Derry were first on the scoreboard when Oisin McCloskey scored a point in the fifth minute. The sides then exchanged scores with Scott Nicholson getting Down’s opening score.

Two minutes later and Paddy Henry made it 0-3 to 0-1 after he converted a ‘65 metre free. Down were left to rue a number of wides during this early stage of the match.

Further points were exchanged when Down’s Donal Hughes and David Kelly found the target to leave the score at 0-4 to 0-2 in favour of the Oak Leaf County.

At the end of the first quarter, it was a one point game when Paul Braniff opened his account for the day when he slotted over a free from all of 70 metres out from goal, an inspirational score by any standards.

Derry then hit a point before Down took control with 1-3 in the space of a few minutes. Daniel Toner got in for the goal and added a point before Braniff and Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnson added further minors to make in 1-6 to 0-5 after 23 minutes.

Down outscored Derry three points to two in the next few minutes with Braniff and Hughes amongst the scores for Down. Two further points by Paul Sheehan made it 1-11 to 0-7 at half-time.

In the opening minute of the second half, the sides once again exchanged points as Braniff converted a free to maintain Down’s seven-point lead.

Derry then hit three unanswered points to close the gap to a goal with Liam Hinphey orchestrating most of the scores, while Alan Grant got on the score sheet for the Oak Leafers.

It was tit for that most of the third quarter, but points by Ruairi Convery and Kelly levelled the game as Derry fought back, having trailed by seven points at the break, 1-12 to 0-15.

Another three unanswered points for Derry as Tiernan McCloskey and Liam Hinphey (2) raised white flags for Ger Rogan’s charges, and Down were struggling at this stage trailing by 1-12 to 0-18.

Braniff pulled one back for Down as they looked to get back into the game, despite only trailing by two points. Derry hit back with a point before Johnny McCusker and Braniff again pointed for Down to level matters yet again.

Turley pointed for Down, but just when it looked as if that was enough for them up popped McCloskey to fire over the equaliser for Derry.

Down: S. Keith, M. Conlon, P. Flynn, P. Hughes, M. Hughes, C. Woods, M. Ennis, D. Hughes (0-2), C. O’Prey, S. Nicholson (0-1), P. Braniff (0-7, 6f), P. Sheehan (0-2), D. Toner (1-1), G. Johnson (0-1), J. Coyle (0-1). Subs: F. Conway for O’Prey J. McCusker for Coyle, K. McGarry for K. Hughes, M. Turley (0-1) for Sheehan.

Derry: D. McDermott, D McCloskey, P Kelly, J McCloskey; R McCloskey, L Hinphey, M O’Hagan, O. McCloskey (0-2), K. Hinphey (0-4), B. Rodgers, A. Grant (0-1), P. Henry (0-2, 1’65), P. Cleary (0-1), B. Quigley, A. Kelly (0-5). Subs: C. Convery (0-1) for Henry, T. McCloskey (0-3, 2f) for Quigley.

Down 1-16

Derry 0-19

ULSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL

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