Cruel exit for Down heroes

Cruel exit for Down heroes

21 August 2019

DEVASTATED, bruised and battered, Down camogs were totally crestfallen as they dejectedly trooped of St Tiarnach’s Park, Clones, on Saturday, knowing this was a game they should have won.

Despite not being at their best, Down still had the majority of play, but were naively caught out several times on the break and also registered 11 wides over the hour as Westmeath rode their luck to secure a place in the All-Ireland decider against Galway.

This was an exhilarating, bur gruelling contest from start to finish.

Down started in a hurry and Fionnuala Carr gave them an early lead when she blocked an attempted clearance and split the posts with great composure.

With three minutes gone and against the run of play, Westmeath broke from defence and used the pace of Michelle Murtagh to run into space before firing over the equaliser.

Two Niamh Mallon frees then gave Down a deserved 0-3 to 0-1 lead, but they had worryingly notched up five wides inside the first 10 minutes.

Westmeath slowly settled to the job on hand and with 17 minutes gone Pamela Greville converted a 45’ before Megan Dowdall raced away from her marker to give the Lake County an unexpected 1-2 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

Down were unfazed by this setback and Mallon swooped in the 20th minute to leave a point in it. The remaining minutes of the half were played at a hectic pace with some tremendous play on show.

Sheila McGrath and Greville handed Westmeath a three-point lead before Mallon and Dowdall swapped points as the game entered added time.

However, Down had the bit between their teeth and three inspirational scores from Finnuala Carr, Aoife Keown and Mallon brought the sides level at 0-8 to 1-5 with time practically up.

Westmeath were not to be denied a first half lead and a converted Greville free sent her side in at the break with a hard-earned 1-6 to 0-8 lead.

The second half was every bit as competitive with Down again dominating the share of possession, but they continued to struggle to put that advantage to good use.

Frees from Greville and Mairead McCormick and a magical strike from McGrath suddenly had Westmeath 2-7 to 0-8 ahead after 41 minutes.

Down went for broke and minutes after Mallon and McCormick exchanged points, the predatory Saoirse Sands struck with venom when she netted after taking control of a Fionnuala Carr free.

Paula Gribben reduced the deficit to two points before Greville and Mallon again exchanged scores. Mallon was unerring in front of the posts and with four minutes remaining she left a point in it after scoring from play.

Unfortunately, McCrossan took advantage of two more Down wides from frees when she gave her side a 2-11 to 1-12 lead with two minutes of added time played.

Sara Louise Carr kept the pot boiling with a 13th point for Down, but this was the last score of the game as the referee blew the final whistle on the resumption of play.

Down: M McNally, N Kelly, A Savage, C McGilligan, C Rocks, D Magee, K McMullan, A Keown (0-1), P Gribben (0-1), S L Carr (0-1), D Savage, S McCartan, N Mallon (0-8, 0-5 f), C McGourty, F Carr (0-2, 0-1f). Subs: S Sands (1-0) for C McGourty, A McAleenan for D Magee, K Tinnelly for C McGilligan, A McAleenan for A Keown (blood sub).

Westmeath: F Keating, A O’Malley, M Scally, L Doherty, A Cully, F Leavy, Sandra McGrath, M Scully, N Horgan, M McCormack (0-1f), S McGrath (1-2), M Dowdall (1-1), M Murtagh (0-1), P Greville (0-5f), C McCrossan (0-1). Sub : A Doherty for N Horgan (44).