Relegation fears for Down after setback

2 March 2022

DOWN senior footballers fell to rock bottom of the Division Two table following a heavy defeat to Roscommon at Pairc Esler on Saturday.

James McCartan’s men would have been hopeful ahead of this contest after finally getting off the mark with a draw against Meath the previous week, although it proved to be a total mismatch in Newry as Roscommon came away 11 point winners.

Despite the Mourne side clearly going through a period of transition, it can act as little solace as murmurs of relegation into Division Three grow louder.

It was a promising start for the hosts with Pat Havern kicking over a free before youngster Andrew Gilmore doubled Down’s tally within the opening two minutes.

However, this lead would be short-lived as Roscommon were awarded a penalty and Enda Smith made no mistake with the spot kick, sending Down ‘keeper Gary McMahon the wrong way.

Donie Smith and Conor Cox followed this up with points for The Rossies, although Down remained in touch courtesy of Liam Kerr’s effort which had just enough power to go over the crossbar.

The wind was evident and conditions were challenging but that didn’t stop Cox kicking over again and returning the deficit to three. With 15 minutes played, the cracks in the Down defence began to show.

Ciaran Murtagh nearly secured his side’s second goal of the match but the Mourne side just managed to escape unscathed before Caolan Mooney split the posts at the other end.

Down began to chase the game and it soon became a case of trying to find an answer for their opponents rather than create the problems.

Cox, who was enjoying free rein of the Newry pitch, took his mark and added his third before team-mate Eddie Nolan opted to play it safe and take the point when the goal beckoned in front of him.

The Rossies added another through that man Cox, this time from a free, and was now leading by five on the half hour mark.

Down forward Havern registered his second point of the afternoon but a free from Enda Smith and a brace from McKeown gave Roscommon a hearty lead at the interval.

Half-time: Down 0-5 Roscommon 1-10.

Andrew Gilmore continued to be a presence in the Down forward line in the second half and notched the first score of the second half.

However, Roscommon would soon return to their dominance from the opening passages of play and Cathal Heneghan converted from a free.

Havern pointed again as Down put up more of a fightback but yet again The Rossies were quick to shoot down any sniff of a dramatic comeback.

Donie Smith converted the follow up to team-mate Ciaran Murtagh’s effort which hit the post, although Murtagh did fist over moments later.

Down substitute Daniel Guinness made his presence known off the bench and came close on a few occasions, meanwhile Ceilum Doherty became the first Kilcoo player this year to don the red and black as he entered the fray in the second half.

Corey Quinn came close for the Mourne side, but his low effort was smartly stopped before Enda Smith bulldozed his way through the Down defence to kick over.

Havern added a seldom point for Down before Tiernan Rushe and Quinn scored what was little more than consolation points to round off the home side’s scoring.

Before this, Sugrue and Cox completed their side’s scoring to cap off a miserable day for the hosts.

Speaking after his side’s loss, Down boss McCartan commented on the reoccurring questioning as to whether more of the All-Ireland Club Championship winning Kilcoo contingent will join the county panel.

“I could give you a long list of reasons between injury, travel, work as to why people can’t commit and that’s that,” he said.

“But as I’ve said previously, there’s not going to be a white horse coming in to save us here, by and large, the group’s the group and

we just have to try and improve our own performances.”

Down: G McMahon; P Fegan, F McElroy, G Collins; D O’Hagan, N McParland, P Laverty; A Doherty, O Murdock; C Poland, L Kerr (0-1), C Mooney (0-1); A Gilmore (0-2, 1f), P Havern (0-4, 1f), K McKernan.

Subs: D Guinness for P Laverty, C Doherty for Mooney, T Rushe (0-1) for K McKernan, C Quinn (0-1) for Gilmore.

Yellow cards: N McParland

Roscommon: C Lavin; R Daly, B Stack, E McCormick; N Kilroy, N Daly, R Hughes (0-1); U Harney (0-1), E Nolan (0-1); C Murtagh (0-1), E Smith (1-1, 1pen), C Heneghan; C McKeon (0-3), D Smith (0-5, 2f), C Cox (0-4, 2f, 1 mark).

Subs: D Ruane for N Kilroy, C Sugrue (0-1) for C Heneghan, D Murtagh for D Smith, K Doyle for C Murtagh, D Keenan for U Harney.

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