Down set up mouth-watering Ulster final clash with arch rivals

Down set up mouth-watering Ulster final clash with arch rivals

1 July 2015

DOWN will meet Antrim in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship final for the second time in three years, following Sunday’s five-point win over Derry in Owenbeg.

Down avenged their Christy Ring semi-final loss to the same opposition at the Derry venue, but had to dig deep before securing a place in the decider.

In a tight affair, Derry led by 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time, with Paddy Henry scoring six first-half points for the hosts.

However, Down worked hard firing an unanswered 2-1 on the restart, and stretched their lead to 10 points after 50 minutes, with Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnston netting his sides third goal.

Kevin Hinphey gave the hosts brief hope when he bagged their goal on 57 minutes, reducing the arrears to seven.

But Down, who trailed by 0-10 to 0-8 at the break, had all but sealed progression with three goals in the third quarter.

Danny Toner, with a quick fire hat-trick of scores, was Down’s best forward, while Paddy Henry was Derry’s top scorer with six first half points.

Everything changed and changed dramatically right at the start of the second half.

It took Down just six minutes to score 2-2, with goals coming from Caolan Bailie and Danny Toner finding the back of the net.

In their very first attack of the second half Down’s Steven Dineen was denied by a smart save from Daryl McDermott, only to see Bailie react quickest in the box and poke the ball home.

Three minutes later Toner sent a high dangerous ball into the box. McDermott rose to catch the ball and inadvertently parried the sliotar into the back of his own net.

Derry responded through Kevin Hinphey’s point, but again Down went on a scoring spree. Second best they may have been in the second half, Down were the masters of Owenbeg after the break and when Johnson rammed home their third goal in the 47th minute it ended the game as a contest.

Further points from Toner stretched the visitors lead to 3-13 to 0-11 by the 48th minute.

The provincial final between Ulster’s traditional big two will take place in a fortnight.

Final score: Down 3-16 Derry 1-17

Derry: Daryl McDermott, Michael Warnock, Conor Quinn, Sean McCullagh (c), Conor McSorley, Liam Hinphey, Ruairi McCloskey, Anton Rafferty, Sean McGuigan (0-1), Aaron Kelly (0-1), Alan Grant (0-1), Kevin Hinphey (1-1), Patrick Henry (0-8) (0-7f), Ruairi Convery, Jonathan O’Dwyer (0-1). Subs: Paul Cleary (0-3) for R. Convery (0-5), Eugene McGuckin for S. McCullough, B. Douban (0-1) for A Kelly, Deaglan Foley for S McGuigan, Tiarnan McCloskey for J O’Dwyer.

Down: Stephen Keith, Sean Ennis, Conor Woods, Michael Hughes, Declan McManus (0-1), Conor O’Neill, Michael McCullough, John McManus, Donal Hughes, Steven Dineen, Danny Toner (1-6 (0-1f), Fintan Conway, Caolan Bailie (1-1), Gareth Johnson (1-6, 0-5f), James Coyle (0-1). Subs: Brett Nicholson for Rian Branagan (blood sub), Conor Cassidy for J. Coyle, Paul Sheehan for C. Bailie, Scott Nicholson for D. McManus.