McCartan’s men lose second league game

McCartan’s men lose second league game

9 February 2022

DOWN senior footballers’ miserable start to their Division Two campaign continued when they fell to a defeat on home soil to Galway on Saturday.

Despite a better second half showing, James McCartan’s men failed to stamp their authority on the game which was ultimately lost within the opening 35 minutes.

Down, who were draped in their black jerseys for this occasion, started brightly and immediately went in search of the opening point.

However, Barry O’Hagan’s first attempt from the left drifted wide and Galway retained possession.

Some patient build up play and passing followed by the visitors and although Down managed to momentarily manage this pressure, it wouldn’t be long until Galway found the back of the net.

Shane Walsh received a quick breakaway pass from team-mate Robert Finnerty, before a neat dummy allowed him to play in Paul Conroy to finish low beneath Gary McMahon with just five minutes gone.

Down replied through a Barry O’Hagan point, although various misses from both sides would soon follow. Finnerty eventually notched the next score for his Galway outfit, before the goal scorer, Conroy, would kick over from distance – albeit with some wind assistance.

The hosts seemed to fighting an uphill battle as the wind battered around Pairc Esler in favour of the visiting side, with Conroy once again managing to point from long range.

This opened up a five point winning margin with the Mourne men desperately needing scores on the board.

However, the weather could not be at fault for all of their shortcomings as they struggled with the impressive Galway forward line.

Walsh was once again involved when he surged past the Down defence before setting up team-mate Owen Gallagher for an easy score.

Cormac McCartan attempted to get the home side back into the contest with what seemed like an easy kick over from 21 metres, although the wind made sure the ball hung in the air before ping comfortably into the hands of Galway ‘keeper Conor Flaherty.

Down’s Andrew Gilmore did convert his point three minutes later but as per the theme of the match, Galway replied quickly through Tomo Culhane, who took the mark and scored at the other end.

Galway introduced the returning Damien Comer to the fray and with his first touch of the ball he also took the mark and made no mistake with his chance to secure another point for the visitors.

Walsh was relishing the blustery conditions and was firing from will at all angles, with one such effort sailing over the black spot from around 50 metres before the half-time whistle.

This signified the last score of a half that contained very few positives for McCartan’s side.

Half-time: Down 0-2 Galway 1-7.

The Mourne men registered the opening score of the second half, courtesy of a Barry O’Hagan free.

Two minutes later, home supporters were perhaps left a little surprised when a goal opportunity presented itself but Cormac McCartan opted instead to play it safe and fire over the bar.

Nevertheless, Down had scored two points answered and soon O’Hagan would ensure a third after he took the mark and converted the chance.

O’Hagan continued his impressive start to the second half when he kicked over once again following a turnover in possession.

It was now Galway who was struggling with the wind, with Kieran Molloy witnessing his straightforward point from 21 metres halted by the breeze.

Passionate ranting from Down manager, James McCartan, saw him pick up a yellow after exchanging words with the fourth official but there was no denying his side at their tails up.

A wide mark from Galway’s Paul Kelly encouraged the hosts further but Gallagher eventually notched his side’s first point after the interval following twenty minutes of action.

Despite all of Down’s hard work, the scoreboard still favoured the visitors by five points in what was a sobering reminder of the home outfit’s poor first half display.

It didn’t help the hosts when Comer notched the next score before Walsh followed suit with a trio of converted frees.

Galway attempted to inflict further damage at the death as Tony Gill barrelled down on goal, although he was dragged down before he could unleash his shot.

Continuing his impressive kicking form from frees, Walsh once again converted to complete his side’s scoring.

However, it would be Down’s Gilmore who would register the final score of the contest with the last kick of the game, as he curled his left-footed effort over the bar in added time.

Following the final whistle, Down manager James McCartan reflected on his side’s performance.

“We are disappointed, the game was closer than the six point margin but we lost it in the first half,” he said.

“We let Galway play and we weren’t putting bodies on the line. I challenged the guys at half-time and there was a big improvement in the first twenty minutes of the second half.

“Galway hit us on the break and they went and got a couple of late scores to put a bit of gloss on it.” He added: “I’m pleased with the second half performance but certainly not with the first.”

Looking forward to his side’s next match, where they face a tough battle away to Meath, the Down boss said: “We’ll try to get more men back on the field and we will train hard over the next week to try and improve.

“You can’t just sit off for 35 minutes and expect to still be in games.”

Down: G McMahon, P Fegan, F McElroy, B McArdle; R McCormack, N McParland, D O’Hagan; A Doherty, O Murdock; C Mooney, L Kerr, C McCartan (0-1); B O’Hagan (0-5, 2 marks, 1f), K McKernan, A Gilmore (0-3f).

Subs: C Poland for D O’Hagan, P Havern for K McKernan, J McCartan for C Mooney, C Francis for R McCormick, T Close for N McParland.

Yellow Card: J McCartan

Galway: C Flaherty; K Molloy, S Kelly (capt), S McGrath; D McHugh, J Daly, C McDaid; P Kelly, M Tierney; O Gallagher (0-1), R Finnerty (0-1), F O’Laoi; S Walsh (0-4f), P Conroy (1-2), T Culhane (0-2, 1 mark, 1f).

Subs: D Comer (0-2, 1 mark, 1f) for R Finnerty, P Kelly for F O’Laoi, T Gill for C McDaid, C Sweeney for T Culhane, D Conneely for P Kelly.