Down heartache as Cork pop

Down heartache as Cork pop

6 March 2013

DOWN’S hopes of ending their terrible record against Cork will have to wait for another day after a Ciaran Sheehan goal in the last seconds of this game condemned the Mournemen to a third successive Division 1 defeat.

James McCartan’s brave charges looked like they had the win sewn up after Conor Laverty ran half the length of the pitch before fisting over with only a minute left. This gave Down a two-point cushion as injury time approached.

However, Cork managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at the death. Paul McComiskey was harried out of possession alongside the sideline in front of the dugouts by Aidan Walsh.

The big Kanturk midfielder then sprayed the ball to Fintan Goold who played it across the face of the Down goal where Ciaran Sheehan was lying in wait. Sheehan was coolness personified as he directed the ball into Michael Cunningham’s net to ensure that the Rebel County would get their first victory of the 2013 campaign.

Despite this being an agonising defeat, Down can take a lot of positives from their display. They were very organised in every sector and matched Cork in the physical stakes throughout.

Despite a few lapses in concentration and conceding three sloppy goals, the defence worked hard. Aidan Carr was superb at centre half back while the Warrenpoint duo of Boyle and Mallon continue to improve with every game.

Kevin McKernan played his best game of the season to date in midfield while the interchangeable forward line operated like a slick machine. Donal O’Hare gave his best ever performance in a Down shirt and ended up with a hugely creditable 0-9, five of which came from play.

Benny Coulter was another to catch the eye. The Mayobridge man was utilised at full forward and midfield at various different periods in the game and he excelled in both roles. His display alone deserved a Down win.

It was the home side who got the game’s first score as Paul McComiskey shot over from outside on the right. Donal O’Hare soon doubled Down’s lead when he pointed after some good work from Benny Coulter.

Cork got themselves on the scoreboard for the first time on seven minutes as Aidan Walsh raised a white flag. After 12 minutes of action Down took a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Conor Laverty provided the perspiration and Donal O’Hare the inspiration as the Burren man bagged his second score of the day.

Two minutes later O’Hare was in the thick of the action again he sliced over a free after being fouled. With Down on top in the opening skirmishes it took a point from Cork’s Paul Kerrigan to settle Conor Counihan’s charges after 15 minutes.

Aidan Walsh soon brought the duel back to the minimum after he got on the end of a move which had seen the leather passed through no fewer than five pairs of Cork hands.

Down’s response was instant and the ever dangerous Donal O’Hare was on hand again to make it 0-5 to 0-3. This time his left boot did the damage after Coulter had grafted hard for the assist.

At the start of the second quarter Cork took the lead for the first time in the game. Down failed to deal with a long searching ball into their box as Paul Kerrigan took possession and slipped the ball across the goalmouth Thomas Clancy was on hand to palm the ball to the net.

Down refused to wilt after this setback and two scores in quick succession from the classy Mark Poland put them back in the lead by one.

James McCartan’s team were in the midst of a productive spell by this stage and another couple of frees from Donal O’Hare left them 0-9 to 1-3 ahead after 29 minutes.

With half-time nearing, Donncha O’Connor clipped over a free before Down struck for their first three pointer. A defence-splitting-angled pass from Conor Laverty found Connaire Harrison who swiftly turned his marker before rifling to the top left hand corner of the Cork net.

Down were now in command of a five-point lead, but in first half injury time Cork pounced for their second goal. O’Connor’s long probing ball was ped by Michael Cunningham in the Down goalmouth. The ball ran loose and connected with Brendan McArdle’s knee and found its way to the net. With their lead now cut to two Down needed to keep on top of their game at the start of the second period. Cork had other ideas. They reeled off the first four points through Colm O’Neill (0-2, 2F), Donncha O’Connor (0-1, 1F) and Ciaran Sheehan (0-1).

Down eventually got back into their stride on 42 minutes when a trademark galloping run forward from Ryan Mallon yielded a point.

Aidan Walsh retorted with a sweetly struck 45 and Donncha O’Connor latched on with another free as the Rebels assumed a 2-10 to 1-10 lead after 46 minutes.

The growing influence of Connaire Harrison then came to the fore as the Glasdrumman man struck for a minor score after some good build up play from Ryan Boyle.

Four scores on the bounce between the 52nd and 57th minutes brought renewed hope to the Down cause. Donal O’Hare was responsible for three of these while Kevin McKernan finished off the other.

Down were now two points clear, but Aidan Walsh soon reduced his side’s arrears to one. The atmosphere at Paírc Esler cranked up a notch as the final 10 minutes approached. A long distance screamer from the excellent Aidan Carr put Down a little further ahead.

However, Aidan Walsh popped up to bring it back to a one point game with eight minutes left of normal time. A tense seven minutes elapsed before another score arrived. It came Down and Conor Laverty’s way. The tricky Kilcoo ace ran half the length of the pitch, evading at least four challengers in the process. With the goal in sight he fisted over much to the delight of an expectant Down support.

With two minutes of injury time indicated Down tried to see out the contest by keeping hold of the ball. They did this well, but with just over 20 seconds remaining they surrendered possession and the rest is history.

This was a gut wrenching defeat. Down didn’t deserve the cruel fate that they suffered at the end. Yet this is Division 1 football and mistakes rarely go unpunished.

It was a performance to be proud of, but ultimately Down remain pointless.

Down: M. Cunningham, D. McCartan, B. McArdle, R. Boyle, R. Mallon (0-1), A. Carr (0-1), K. Quinn, K. King, K. McKernan (0-1), C. Laverty (0-1), M. Poland (0-2), P. McComiskey (0-1), D. O’Hare (0-9, 4F), C. Harrison (1-1), B. Coulter. Subs used: J. Johnston for Quinn, E. McCartan for King, S. McArdle for O’Hare.

Cork: K. O’Halloran, M. Shields, E. O’Mahony, E. Cadogan, T. Clancy (1-0), N. O’Leary, J. O’Sullivan, G. Canty, A Walsh (0-5), F. Goold, C. Sheehan (1-1), P. Kerrigan (0-1), M. Collins, C. O’Neill (0-2, 2f), D. O’Connor (0-3, 3f). Subs used: P. Kissane for O’Mahony, B. O’Driscoll for O’Connor, A. O’Sullivan for Kerrigan (63).

Final score: Down 1-17 Cork 3-12.