Savage pulls the strings for Down in second half super show

3 May 2023

DOWN U-20 footballers were crowned champions of Ulster on Wednesday night after a fantastic second half showing helped the Mourne side topple a stubborn Derry outfit at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

Loughinisland clubman Oisín Savage was the star of the show as he top scored with eight points and was a constant headache throughout for the Oak Leafers.

He wasn’t alone in that regard either, with manager Conor Laverty’s decision to keep midfielder Odhrán Murdock out of the senior squad, in order for him to be eligible to play the U-20 final, paying dividends as he secured the first of Down’s two goals on the night against a Derry side who hadn’t conceded a major throughout their entire championship campaign.

Super substitute Jamie Doran, who took to the field with 23 minutes played, also starred and put the result beyond doubt with his goal three minutes from time.

The contest could have been described as a chess match in the opening 30 minutes as both teams attempted to secure an unassailable lead.

Down managed just four points in the opening half – which boss Laverty later eluded to as a result of the overpowering breeze that battered the Mournemen – with Derry forward Charlie Diamond proving a handful.

Diamond opened the scoring through a free but Down’s maestro Murdock levelled soon after. Scores continued to be exchanged, with Savage splitting the posts twice for the Mourne team who were donning their black kit.

Kick outs were often won in the midfield area by the impressive Murdock, although at times the pace was slow and the end product was lacking.

Derry managed to open up a three-point advantage before Callum Rodgers curled over an important score, from play, off his left boot.

Down captain Ryan Magill – who was a major doubt beforehand due to a hamstring injury he sustained in the semi-final victory over Monaghan – attempted an audacious effort from range to cut the deficit to one with just seconds remaining of the half, although this missed the mark.

This ultimately proved to be Magill’s last involvement in the contest but Down had ample replacement in Cian Cunningham.

After the interval, Down returned a different beast and this is when Savage really begun to shine.

The 19 year-old’s running in behind the Derry defence caused numerous problems and the Oak Leafers could seemingly only stop him outside the laws of the game and in turn, Down were winning plenty of frees which Savage needed no invitation in dispatching over the bar.

Derry hit a small purple patch with Mark Doherty kicking over the bar, but his point in the 40th minute, which gave his team a 0-9 to 0-6 advantage, would prove to be the last for the side.

Down would draw level within minutes as star man Savage kicked over three frees in a row. Between these scores, the forward almost registered a goal when Derry ‘keeper Ben O’Connor’s poor kick out was intercepted by Down’s Doran, who

offloaded quickly to Savage but his goal bound effort was blocked.

Nevertheless, Down would get their goal with 51 minutes played after a long punt into the danger area was collected by Murdock, who, with very little room to work with, opted to the ball before toe-poking his effort past Derry custodian O’Connor.

Down thought they had raised the green flag yet again just two minutes later, but this was chalked off for a square ball.

Savage then kicked over his final point of the night before Doran found the back of the net with aplomb after jinking his way through the Derry defence to effectively seal the result for the Mourne outfit.

Doran kicked over the last point of the contest and Down held firm for the four minutes of added time to claim the Ulster crown.

Following the full-time whistle, man of the match Savage reflected on the victory.

“It feels amazing,” he said.

“We’ve been training all year for it. The boys have put in the hard work, everyone has put in hard work, Conor Laverty and all of the backroom staff have just been unbelievable.”

Savage then turned his attention to the All-Ireland semi-final clash against Leinster kingpins Kildare, which is set to take place this Saturday.

“We played Kildare in preseason in a friendly and they ran over the top of us,” he said.

“So, it’s going to be a big one.”

Down: O Treacy; P McCarthy, C Rodgers (0-1); R Magill; F McAvoy, T Hardy, J Kelly, F Murdock; O Murdock (1-1), T McCarroll; T Ryan, O Cunningham, H Magill; O Savage (0-8, 0-1 mark, 0-5 frees), J Morgan.

Subs used: J Doran (1-1) for Ryan (23), C Cunningham for R Magill (h-t), C Greene for McCarroll (54), E Loughran for Savage (57), S Carr for O Cunningham (59)

Yellow card: F Murdock (47).

Derry: B O’Connor; P McGurk, J Murray; J McDermott (0-1); L Brady, D Gilmore, R Forbes, P McCullagh (0-1); D Higgins, P O’Kane; M Doherty (0-2), N O’Donnell (0-1), R Ó Mianáin; M Downey (0-1, free), C Diamond (0-3, 0-2 frees).

Subs used: C Downey for Ó Mianáin (43), S Deehan for O’Kane (54), N McGonagle for Doherty (59).

Referee: P Clarke (Cavan).

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