Hurlers win in Ballycran to retain status

Hurlers win in Ballycran to retain status

7 July 2021

DOWN senior hurlers secured their place in next year’s Joe McDonagh Cup after a formidable point scoring performance from Paul Sheehan helped them overcome a plucky Meath side in Ballycran.

Down’s Ryan McCusker put in a noteworthy performance, with his non-stop running rewarded with a goal and a point.

Sheehan registered nine first half points, which swung back and forth in favour of his uncle and manager Ronan Sheehan’s side.

“It means everything, particularly because we won by eight points on the basis that we are safe now,” said the Down boss.

“Last week we lost to Kerry by six, so if Meath beats them by a few points, it could have left us still in the relegation zone. But now we can’t be caught, so it is absolutely super stuff.”

Meath finished the first half the stronger of the two teams, as they struck home three unanswered points. Jack Reagan was a constant thorn in the side of the home team, proving to be the visitors main threat throughout the contest.

That momentum was carried on after the interval as James Toher, Adam Gannon and that man Reagan chalked up three more points for Meath.

It was up to the ever-reliable Down dangerman Sheehan to pick the game up by the scruff of the neck and point his tenth score of the match. 

Still the contest remained blow-for-blow and Meath almost let a crucial element of the game slip when Down ‘keeper Stephen Keith brilliantly saved Reagan’s penalty after defender Michael Hughes was sent to the sin-bin. 

Meath didn’t celebrate for long as the resulting clearance only made it as far as the Royal’s Alan Douglas who returned the effort to lob Keith for a goal from 50 metres.

Down remained resilient and kept chipping away at the scoreline, with Daithi Sands adding before the last water-break to give his team a 0-19 to 0-14 lead.

McCusker’s goal followed after the break after Sands contributed an eye-catching assist.

Meath wouldn’t go down without a fight and added their second goal through Reagan, but with the clock running out and Down continuing to add scores through Conor Woods, Jordan Doran, Oisin McManus and Phelim Savage, victory was sealed.

Down: Stephen Keith, Michael Hughes, John McManus, Matt Conlon, Barry Trainor, Conor Woods (0-1, 0-1f), Liam Savage (0-1), Donal Hughes, Tim Prenter (0-3), Ryan McCusker (1-1), Paul Sheehan (0-11, 0-2fs), Chris Egan (0-1), Pearse Og McCrickard, Eoghan Sands (0-2), Daithi Sands (0-1).

Subs: Jordan Doran (0-1) for Paul Sheehan (55), Oisin McManus (0-1, 0-1f) for McCrickard (55), Phelim Savage (0-2) for Egan (57).

Meath: Charlie Ennis, Ger Murphy, Shane Whitty, Sean Geraghty, James Kelly, Darragh Kelly (0-2), Keith Keoghan, Stephen Morris, James Toher (0-2), Ian Birmingham (0-1), Jack Reagan (1-8, 1-5fs), Mark O’Sullivan, Adam Gannon (0-1), Alan Douglas (1-0), Paddy Coneelly (0-2).

Subs: Pauric O’Hanrahan for Morris (26), Eamonn O’Donnchada for Birmingham (53), Sean Quigley for Conneely (53), Conneely for Reagan (70+2).

Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).

Down 1-27

Meath 2-16

JOE McDONAGH CUP