Demoralised Down must do it all again

Demoralised Down must do it all again

10 June 2015

AS the Down support filed out of Celtic Park in sombre mood on Sunday there was only one talking point – the harsh dismissal at the start of the second half of Conail McGovern.

The red card completely changed the complexion of the game.

Down had to relinquish their defensive strategy and go for broke while Derry were forced to retreat deep to repel the Mourne threat.

In effect, the sending off served to boost Down. An attribution to the social loafing theory coming into play here. Down upped their game while Derry eased off the gas to an extent.

In the end, though, it wasn’t enough as the Oak Leafers kept their heads to emerge victors by a solitary point.

It was surprising that Down only led once in this match. That was Donal O’Hare’s point at the start of the game.

The game ebbed and flowed to half-time with Derry seizing the lead 0-08 to -05. Mark Lynch was on target four times with the irrepressible Eoin Bradley on the scoreboard for a trio of points.

The struggle for Down’s forwards in this part of the game was never as evident as only Kevin McKernan managed to get the ball over the bar from play. Twice in fact.

Conor Laverty’s fisted point immediately after the restart roused the away support.

Then McGovern lifted his hand to repel the presence of Enda Lynn. Contact was made and Lynn went to ground. The linesman called Eddie Kinsella over and the result was a straight red for the Burren man.

Momentum swung immediately to Brian McIver’s troops. A Mark Lynch free and another classy Bradley prompting got the seal of approval from the Oak Leaf faithful.

From this moment on Derry collapsed and didn’t register another score for 22 minutes.

Conor Laverty came out the field to drag Down back into the contest.

A host of brilliant ground stroke free  kicks from Paul Devlin swerved the Red and Black closer and closer to the Derry total.

Then the main man Conor Laverty hit an unreal score from a wide angle to draw the battle level.

The heat of the contest began to rise and the exchanges became very physical.

Derry replacement Caelin O’Boyle momentarily punched the homesters into the lead.

Down kept pushing forward, though, and another foul was drawn which Paul Devlin converted from a set piece.

Chances then fell to Kilcoo pair Devlin and Johnston, but they were badly wasted. The tension was at boiling point at this stage as time had ran out.

Up stepped Eoin Bradley who won possession of a kickout, meandered in through the Down defence before Kevin Johnston was supplied with the final pass.

Clonduff’s Darren O’Hagan lunged at the Dungiven man and Derry got themselves a handy free.

The irrepressible Bradley was given the responsibility to take it and the confident attacker tapped over the bar to secure the win.

Down were out. The long wait for an Ulster title continues.

Derry: T. Mallon, O. Duffy, B. Rogers, D. McBride, K. Johnston, C. McKaigue, C. McFaul, N. Holly, F. Doherty, S. L. McGoldrick, M. Lynch (0-5, 2f), E. Lynn (0-1), B. Heron, E. Bradley (0-5, 3f), D. Heavron. Subs: C. O’Boyle (0-1) for B. Heron, T. O’Brien for E. Lynn.

Down: S. Kane, D. O’Hagan, L. Howard, R. Boyle, D. Turley, B. McArdle, C. McGovern, P. Fitzpatrick, P. Devlin (0-6f), C. Mooney, C. Maginn, K. McKernan (0-2), M. Poland, C. Laverty (0-2), D. O’Hare (0-1f). Subs: P. Downey for C. Maginn, J. Johnston for P. Fitzpatrick, A. McConville for C. Mooney, N. Madine for P. Devlin, D. O’Hanlon for D. O’Hagan (BC).

Derry 0-12

Down 0-11

ULSTER SFC QUARTER FINAL