Down goals revive hopes

Down goals revive hopes

26 February 2020

DOWN left it late before getting the better of Longford at a bitterly cold Pairc Esler on Saturday night.

It’s ever so tight now in the race for second place behind an unbeaten Cork in the Division 3 table with Down, Longford, Derry and Offaly all on five points after four games.

Saturday’s game seemed to be heading for a draw as the sides were locked at 0-13 to 1-10 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

However, two late goals from Cory Quinn and James Guinness put paid to a brave Longford challenge as Down ran out two point winners.

Longford were dealt a blow before the game with star forward Rian Brady ruled out with a chest infection and his replacement, Peter Lynn, who scored two points in the early exchanges, had to go off injured after 23 minutes.

It was Lynn who opened the scoring in the first minute, but Down’s fleet-footed set of forwards quickly got into gear and created scores for Barry (free) and Darren O’Hagan before Liam Connerton brought the sides level again in the sixth minute.

Cory Quinn and Lynn swapped scores as did Jonny Flynn and Darren Gallagher to leave the sides in deadlock at 0-4 apiece after 24 minutes.

Flynn and Donal O’Hare then edged Down two clear as the first half headed for conclusion, but a total of six points were scored in added time.

Gallagher and a 45’ from ‘keeper Paddy Collum made it 0-6 apiece, but Kevin McKernan pointed Down back into the lead. This advantage was quickly cancelled out by Gallagher, but Down continued to press and further scores from Liam Kerr and Barry O’Hagan sent the home side into the break with a 0-9 to 0-7 lead.

Down controlled play at the start of the second half and points from O’Hare and Quinn stretched their lead to four points. 

However, no sooner had the Down supporters started to relax as their side moved well clear, when Longford roared back with 1-4 without reply to take a shock 1-10 to 0-11 lead.

Connerton rocked the boat when he goaled out of nothing and when Dessie Reynolds and Gallagher (0-2) tagged on points, the visitors were suddenly in the driving seat.

Down now faced an uphill task, but they refused to panic and with 58 minutes gone Liam Kerr started the fightback with a point from play.

Barry O’Hagan converted a free and it was suddenly all square again, but the predatory Quinn pounced to give Down a 1-13 to 1-11 lead with five minutes remaining with a well-worked goal.

A free from Daniel Mimnagh another 45’ from Collum saw Longford trail by a single point with only a matter of minutes left on the clock.

Down really went for broke at this stage and they were rewarded when James Guinness showed his versatility with a cool finish when he put the home side into an unassailable 2-13 to 1-12 lead with the 70 minutes almost up.

Longford never stopped trying, but all they had to show for their efforts was another Mimnagh point.

Down take to the road again this weekend when they head to O’Connor Park to take on Offaly on Sunday afternoon for another must win game.

Down: R Burns, S Annett, P Murdock, R McAleenan, G Collins, D O’Hagan (0-1), B McArdle, J Flynn (0-2), D Guinness, B O’Hagan (0-3,2f), K McKernan (0-1), L Kerr (0-2); D O’Hare (0-2,1f), A Morgan, C Quinn (1-2). Subs: P Fegan for Annett, J Guinness (1-0) for Collins, O McCabe for Morgan, C Doherty for McKernan, N Donnelly for Quinn.

Longford: P Collum (0-2), P Fox, A Farrell, B O’Farrell, I O’Sullivan, G Rogers, CP Smyth, D Gallagher (0-5,3f), K Diffley, M Quinn, D McElligott, D Reynolds (0-1), PLynn (0-2), L Connerton (1-1), O Kenny. Subs: D Doherty for Lynn, D Mimnagh (0-3,2f) for Smyth, J Hagan for Connerton.

Down 2-13

Longford 1-14

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