Christy Ring test for Down beckons

Christy Ring test for Down beckons

11 May 2016

IT will be a case of a family at war when Down’s hurlers face Antrim in a mouthwatering Christy Ring Cup semi-final showdown on Saturday week.

That’s when Down manager Michael Johnston comes up against his sons Conor and Ciaran, who both play for Antrim, with the winners going on to play either Meath or Kildare in the Croke Park final.

Down, who lost out early in the competition to London, have recovered well from that disappointing reversal 

and wins over Derry and Roscommon have put them back on track — but Antrim will be a different proposal altogether.

Antrim may not be the force that they once were, but they will still provide formidable opposition and will not be easily overcome.

Antrim were given a reminder a fortnight ago that life in the Christy Ring Cup is not all smooth sailing after they required a captain’s goal from Conor Carson to arrest a three-point gap that Roscommon had carved out midway through the second half.

That tied the teams at 1-11 each and from that point on, the Saffrons’ slight edge showed as they added another three points before Ciaran Clarke slipped Nigel Elliott in to bury to the net.

Until that point, Roscommon played the role of underdogs pretty well with Jerry Fallon from the dead ball, and Cillian Egan with his four points from play, causing bother. It may have been a different outcome had manager Justin Campbell kept Fallon on the pitch.

Down, on the other hand, had little difficulty getting past Roscommon in Ballycran on Saturday. Sean Ennis, Padraig Flynn and John McManus got to grips with the visitors’ direct approach and successfully kept their opponents at bay.

That trio of defenders impressed goalkeeper Stephen Keith and he is looking forward to the collision with Antrim in a fortnight’s time. “Despite the conditions, this was our best display so far,” he said.

The Down goalkeeper was involved in an almost comical moment when he was left scrambling back for the ball after a Padraig Flynn back pass.

“We have more players back on the panel and therefore more options on the bench. While we have lost the class and experience of Gareth Johnson and Paul Braniff over the last two years, they couldn’t go on for ever and we have introduced good young players to the squad,” he added.

Ballycran’s Conor Woods is also looking forward to the clash with Antrim and believes it will show Down exactly where they are at what they need to improve on.

“Of course, you look forward to playing Against Antrim. Some of us have been hurling against each other for a lot of years and there are strong friendships among the players,” he said.

“But it is a big test for us. Even though we won quite comfortably against Roscommon, we didn’t put them away as Antrim did. And if we look back at the London game was it just that we didn’t perform or was it that London are playing a division above us in the League, just like Antrim,” he added.