Bring on mighty Mayo

Bring on mighty Mayo

12 June 2019

A TELLING save from ‘keeper Rory Burns and the introduction of substitute Cory Quinn enabled Down to stifle Tipperary’s challenge in this tense All-Ireland SFC Round 1 Qualifier at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

Paddy Tally’s charges will now meet Mayo in round two and what a prospect that will be at Pairc Esler in a fortnight’s time.

Down were under the cosh and trailing 1-7 to 0-9 in the 50th minute when the Castlewellan custodian saved his side’s bacon with a stunning save to deny Michael Quinlivan. 

This was just the shot of confidence Down needed and within a few minutes a goal from the predatory Donal O’Hare and three points from the Mayobridge magician, whose recent displays for his club have him the talk of the county, helped turn the tide in Down’s favour.

Tipperary battled to the bitter end, but good game management and late points from Paul Devlin and Barry O’Hagan were enough to advance Down to the second round.

Amazingly, this was Down’s first Qualifier victory since 2014 and this win could be the catalyst for better things to come.

Down jumped into an early lead with points from Connaire Harrison and Jerome Johnston, but Tipperary, who had wind advantage, replied with a pointed free from Conor Sweeney and a well-worked goal from Philip Austin to give the visitors a 1-1 to 0-2 victory after 13 minutes.

A converted 45’ from Burns and a great score from corner back Darren O’Hagan had the sides level by the 22nd minute, but a Jack Kennedy 45’ edged Tipperary back in front.

Down’s shooting left a bit to be desired, but with 26 minutes gone Saval’s Pat Havern brought the sides level. The Down defence was performing exceptionally well at this stage, but they had a nightmare finish to the first half.

Despite defending in numbers, Down lost their shape and points from Josh Casey, Liam McGrath and Conor Sweeney sent Tipperary into the break with a 1-5 to 0-5 lead.

Down now had the wind behind them in the second half and Havern reduced the arrears in the 37th minute with a point from play. This was quickly cancelled out with a free from McGrath before a Harrison point left two points between the sides.

Havern and Sweeney exchanged scores before the mighty Quinn got involved.

His influence on the game was immediate and an early point settled him into the pace of the game, his score leaving a point in it with 20 minutes remaining.

Down fired a couple of wides before Burns produced his game-changing save. O’Hare seized the moment and he drilled the ball to the back of the net in the 59th minute after a bit of ping-pong in the Tipperary square.

Down now had a 1-9 to 1-7 lead, but Liam Casey left the minimum in it yet again when he spilt the posts with a great score. 

Quinn and Quinlavin swapped scores before Quinn and Paul Devlin gave Down a 1-12 to 1-9 lead with only two minutes remaining.

Conor Sweeney threw Tipperary a lifeline with a converted free, but with five additional minutes to be played, Down patiently held on to the ball and Barry O’Hagan completed the scoring when he restored his side’s three point lead in added time.

Down: Rory Burns (0-1, 45’), Brendan McArdle, Darren O’Hagan (0-1), Gerard Collins, Ryan McAleenan, Kevin McKernan, Daniel Guinness, Johnny Flynn, Conor Poland, Conor Francis, Pat Havern (0-3), James Guinness, Jerome Johnston ((0-1), Donal O’Hare (1-0), Connaire Harrison (0-2). Subs: Paul Devlin (0-1) for C Poland, Owen McCabe for D Guinness, Pierce Laverty for J Guinness, Cory Quinn for Johnston, Barry O’Hagan (0-1), for Havern, Conor Maginn for O’Hare.

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Alan Campbell, John Meagher, Shane O’Connell, Daire Brennan, Robbie Kiely, Emmet Moloney, Steven O’Brien, Jack Kennedy (0-1,45), Josh Keane, Philip Austin (1-1), Brian Fox; Conor Sweeney (0-4f), Michael Quinlavin (0-1), Liam McGrath (0-2f), Subs: Bill Maher for McGrath, Liam Casey (0-1), for Kennedy, Kevin Fahey for Moloney, Liam Boland for Austin, Paul Maher for Keane.

Down 1-13

Tipperary 1-10

ALL-IRELAND SFC ROUND 1 QUALIFIER