Brilliant Bailie fires Down to hurling crown

18 July 2012

DOWN’S minor hurlers captured the Electric Ireland Ulster MHC title with this well deserved three-point victory over holders Antrim in a thrilling and exciting final replay in Casement Park on Saturday.

Having been denied the title last Sunday by an Antrim equalising point in added time, Down certainly learned from that game and produced an exhibition of first class hurling, brilliant team work and an exhibition of point scoring from placed ball by Caolan Bailie.

The Ballygalget star lobbed over 0-13 of Down’s points with O-11 coming from frees and missed on just one occasion in an amazing personal performance.

Quite rightly, he was received the ‘layer of the match award and set the example throughout to his colleagues with his power play, strong running, excellent distribution and of course that finishing prowess.

After a slow opening start in which Antrim scored a goal and two points inside six minutes, Down’s young guns settled and took the game to their opponents.

With Caolan Bailie lobbing over points from all angles, the Mourne boys gradually matched the holders score for score with Bailie really giving an exhibition of scoring power.

Down’s winning margin would have been greater, but for four brilliant saves by Antrim ‘keeper Padraig Nugent while they also had a perfectly good goal by Eoghan Sands disallowed midway through the second half. This disallowed goal was due to the interpretation of the ‘square’ area when a score results from a free or other placed ball. Yet, on Sunday the same type of incident occurred in the Munster SHC final between Tipperary and Waterford and the referee allowed the Tipp goal to stand.

But, as it turned out, Down did not need this score as they held out for a deserved victory.

This was a real Down team performance. Goalkeeper Sean Savage was very sound and brought off several good saves. He got great cover from James McGrath, Gareth O’Neill, Conor Costello and John McManus.

Chris Egan and Lorcan McMullan (inset) edged midfield against the strong Antrim pairing of Tomas O Ciaran and Jackson McGreevy.

Up front Caolan Bailie was the star ably assisted by Sean O’Callaghan, Myles Nicholson and Eoghan Sands.

Antrim played hard throughout with best in defence being John McGoldrick, who was also an accurate free taker, Michael Dudley and Damien McMullan while in attack Christy McNaughton, Ciaran Johnson Niall McKenna played hard.

Antrim opened with a point from a John McGoldrick free after two minutes and this was followed by another point from Conor Johnson. With six minutes gone a good Antrim move set up Christy McNaughton for a goal as Down struggled to get into the game.

In the following 15 minutes Down took control with Bailie scoring six points from frees, but they still trailed by two as John McGoldrick from a free and Christy McNaughton had Antrim points.

Twice points were exchanged in the ten minutes before the interval before Caolan Bailie and Sean Mageean had Down points to level the game.

However, Antrim finished with points from Gary Lennon, Christy McNaughton and a John McGoldrick free with Caolan Bailie pointing from a like award with the last puck of the half as Antrim led by 1-9 to 0-10 at half-time.

It was all Down in the second half as they held Antrim scoreless for 25 minutes. Caolan Bailie and Chris Egan with points levelled the game six minutes into the half and when the accurate Bailie lobbed over two points, Down had taken the lead which they never again lost.

Sean Mageean and Chris Egan added Down points and following their disallowed goal Bailie added two more points. Antrim finished with points in added time from Niall McKenna, Christy McNaughton and Gary Lennon, but Down easily held out for an outstanding victory

Down: S. Savage, C. Costello, J. McGrath, C. Taggart, R. Brannigan, G. O’Neill, J. McManus, C. Egan (0-2), L. McMullan, S. O’Callaghan, C. O’Neill (0-1), C. Bailie (0-13, 0-11 frees), R. Burns, M. Nicholson, E. Sands. Subs: S. Mageean (0-2) for R. Burns.

Antrim: P. Nugent, D. McMullan, M. Dudley (0-1), R. Diamond, M. Connolly, J. McGoldrick (0-3 frees), P. Burke, T. O’Ciaran, J. McGreevy, C. McNaughton (1-3, 0-1 free)), Ciaran Johnson, N. McKenna (0-2), Conor Johnson (0-1), R. McCambridge, G. Lennon (0-2). Subs: E. McFerran for Burke, A. Orchin for McGreevy.

Referee: B. Sweeney (Cavan).

Down 0-18

Antrim 1-12

ULSTER MHC FINAL REPLAY

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