A TURBO-CHARGED second half comeback from Dublin at Croke Park looks to have driven the final nail into Down’s top tier coffin.
Despite having a wind-assisted two-point lead at half-time, the Mournemen crumbled in the remaining 35 minutes as Jim Gavin’s warriors came back from the brink to secure their spot in the Division 1 semi finals.
On paper it looked like Down had a great chance of snatching victory in this duel.
The Dubs took to the field without some household names, such as the Brogan brothers, and with their forwards failing to click early on, the visitors looked to have the measure of their hosts.
Although nine points was the difference at the full time whistle, it could, in fact, have been a lot more.
Down have 2010 Allstar keeper Brendan McVeigh to thank for keeping the score line half respectable. The An Riocht net minder produced two brilliant stops to deny the Dubs goal chances.
Dublin had two very dangerous assets in their arsenal. Paul Mannion and Diarmuid Connolly were superb in the attack once they got settled. Mannion ended up with 0-5 and was unlucky not to goal after McVeigh parried his goal bound drive.
Connolly popped up with four scores while the unusually quiet Kevin McManamon grabbed the major.
A big disappointment from a Down perspective was the fact that they totally collapsed in the second half. Only two scores came their way, both from frees.
Despite their downfall, James McCartan’s outfit started very strongly. They held an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead. Mark Poland and Benny Coulter got the pick of the scores while Kevin McKernan’s overhead hook kick on 12 minutes was a sight to behold.
Down were completely in charge. Benny Coulter was ping deep to gain possession, McKernan was picking up the scraps in midfield while Paul McComiskey and Conor Laverty were running themselves to a standstill.
It was McComiskey who converted the score of the game on 33 minutes. After a bustling solo run, he let fly from around 50 yards out, much to the delight of the Down support.
Late scores from Bryan Cullen, Cian O’Sullivan and Nicky Devereaux brought Dublin to within two points on a half-time scoreline of 0-7 to 0-5.
Dublin began the second period brightly, but this was not reflected on the scoreboard. Down weren’t being direct enough, but they were extremely unlucky when Conor Laverty was penalised for over carrying when he was through on goal midway during the half. This was their best chance of a three-pointer.
The Dubs were on top in midfield through Cian O’Sullivan and Mickey Dara McAuley. Down were set up well tactically but a host of individual errors rendered their plan redundant.
Dublin got their goal in the 50th minute through St Jude’s attacker Kevin McManamon. After O’Sullivan broke the ball at midfield, McAuley took the ball and shipped it to McManamon. McManamon skipped through the Down defence before planting the ball in McVeigh’s net.
McVeigh had better luck in denying Mannion and Philip Ryan definite goal chances in the last quarter.
Down emptied their bench by the hour mark but it made little difference. Their only scores arrived through frees from Donal O’Hare and Danny Savage.
Dublin played the game out on their own terms as Down chased shadows. The Metropolitans were worthy winners. Down look doomed.
Dublin: S Cluxton (0-1 ‘45); D Daly, J Cooper, K O’Brien; J McCaffrey, G Brennan, N Devereux (0-1); C O’Sullivan (0-1), D Bastick; C Dias, P Andrews (0-2, 1f), B Cullen (0-1); K McManamon (1-0), D Connolly (0-4, 3f), P Mannion (0-5, 3f). Subs: M D Macauley for Bastick, S Carthy for Dias, C Guckian for Daly, P Ryan for Connolly, K Nolan for McCaffrey.
Down: B McVeigh; D Rooney, B McArdle (0-1), R Boyle; D Turley, K Quinn, D O’Hagan; P Turley, K McKernan (0-1); C Laverty, M Poland (0-2, 1f), P McComiskey (0-1); D O’Hare (0-3, 2f), A McConville, B Coulter. Subs: C Harrison for McConville, D McKibbin for D Turley, K King for Rooney, D Savage (0-1f) for Poland, R Kelly for O’Hare.
Final score: Dublin 1-15 Down 0-9