Champs Dublin humbled by Down in Pairc Esler

21 March 2012

DOWN gave a scintillating performance of brilliant football, team work and finishing power as they overcame the All-Ireland champions Dublin at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

Playing the brand of football and team work that had not been seen since the 1994 season Down tore the champions apart with brilliant interpassing and scores from all angles and distances that had the Dubs in trouble from the start.

They are now second in the table behind leaders Kerry and must fancy their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Dublin came to Newry on Sunday confident that they could overcome the Mourne men. A week earlier they overran Armagh at Croke Park, but they found Pairc Esler a different place and found a Down side determined to lower their colours.

Apart from the opening four minutes when the sides were level at 0-1 each, Down led throughout and picked off their points with aplomb. If anything, they could have won by a bigger margin.

The star of the Down defence, and indeed my man of the match, was centre half back Dan Gordon.

The big Loughinisland man was simply superb. His fielding, distribution and surges forward were all outstanding.

With teenage Glenn clubman Niall McParland, who was playing only his second senior game, and Kevin McKernan, Gordon formed a half back line that Dublin was never able to master. Further back Conor Garvey commanded the square with Daniel McCartan and Aidan Brannigan, thus giving keeper Brendan McVeigh.

The return of Ambrose Rogers to midfield saw the Longstone man in brilliant form. He and Kalum King had the better of the exchanges with Eamonn Fennell and Michael Dara MacAuley. Rogers also lobbed over two points.

Up front the Down forward sextet was superb. The half forward line of Danny Hughes, Mark Poland (inset) and Aidan Carr outplayed the much vaunted Dublin half back line of James McCarthy, Ger Brennan and Craig Dias, while Conor Laverty again gave a sterling performance roaming outfield to gain vital possession and set up attacks.

Benny Coulter lobbed over a point within seconds of entering the play. The other subs, Kevin Duffin and Gerard McCartan, also played their part in this magnificent win.

The Dublin attack which overpowered the Armagh defence did not enjoy the same freedom against the Down defence. Alan and Paul Brogan, Kevin McManamon and Diarmuid Connolly were well policed and only occasionally posed any danger for the Down rearguard.

The sides were level at 0-1 each after four minutes with Conor Laverty shooting Down ahead and Alan Brogan levelling. Down immediately took control and two pointed frees by Aidan Carr and one from play by Danny Hughes steered Down ahead.

Michael Dara MacAuley had a Dublin point but the accurate Aidan Carr pointed two Down frees as the home side led by 0-6 o 0-2 midway through the half.

The usually accurate Carr missed with two frees before Kevin McManamon and Diarmuid Connolly, from a free, replied for the Dubs, but Down finished the half with points from Mark Poland and Danny Hughes as Down led by 0-8 to 0-4 at half time.

Dublin restarted strongly and Alan Brogan lobbed over a point within a minute of the restart.

Brendan McVeigh brought off a brilliant save from Diarmuid Connolly before a brilliant length of he field move saw Aidan Carr point after five minutes.

A minute later Conor Laverty set up Kevin McKernan for another Down point, but with eight minutes gone slack defensive marking by Down allowed Kevin McManamon in for a ‘soft’ goal to reduce the Down lead to two points.

It was now that Down showed their quality. In a four-minute spell Ambrose Rogers, Niall McParland and Benny Coulter lobbed over points to regain their four-point advantage.

Dublin keeper Stephen Cluxton pointed a 45 to keep his side in the game. With ten minutes remaining another good Down move saw Kevin McKernan lob over. Dublin put in a strong finish with points from Diarmuid Connolly and MD MacAuley but Down hit back with a point from Ambrose Rogers while a minute into added time Diarmuid Connolly pointed a Dublin free but Down easily held out for a deserved victory.

Down: B. McVeigh; D. McCartan, C. Garvey, A. Brannigan; N. McParland (0-1), D. Gordon, K. McKernan (0-2); A. Rogers (0-2), K. King; D. Hughes (0-1), M. Poland (0-2), A. Carr (0-6, 0-5 frees); C. Maginn, E. McCartan, C. Laverty (0-1). Subs: G. McCartan for Brannigan (ht), B. Coulter (0-1) for E. McCartan (45), B. McArdle for G. McCartan ((59), K. Duffin for Maginn (61), P. Turley for King (70).

Dublin: S. Cluxton (0-1, 45); D. Daly, R. O’Carroll, J. Cooper; J. McCarthy, G. Brennan, C. Dias; E. Fennell, MD MacAuley (0-2); P. Brogan, B. Cullen, P. Flynn; D. Connolly (0-3, 0-2 frees), K. McManamon (1-1), A. Brogan (0-2). Subs: P. McMahon for Dias (ht), B. Cahill for Flynn (45), T. Quinn for P. Brogan (57), R. McConnell for Fennell (65), K. Nolan for McCarthy (70).

Referee: C. Reilly (Meath).

Down 0-15

Dublin 1-10

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