Down hurlers see off Armagh in second half

Down hurlers see off Armagh in second half

18 February 2015

DOWN opened their Division 2B hurling campaign with a hard-earned win over Armagh at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

Armagh, playing with the breeze, took an early lead with a Ryan Gaffney free, but Down quickly fired over two points from play through Danny Toner and Conor Woods to take the lead. 

Armagh added two points from the accurate Gaffney to take the lead before Down’s James Coyle levelled the match at three points apiece after 11 minutes.

In the 17th minute Armagh looked as if they were through on goal, but Down defended and a resulting free for Armagh put them back in front, Ryan Gaffney firing over the free.  

Over the next 15 minutes neither side scored. However, in injury time Gaffney added another two frees for Armagh to put three points between the sides at half time on a scoreline of Down 0-3 Armagh 0-6.

Five minutes into the second half Down’s Mal Magee pointed to reduce the gap to two points. James Coyle converted a free to bring the game back to one point.

Kieran McKernan added another point for Armagh on 42 minutes to once again put two between the sides Armagh 0-7 Down 0-5.  McKernan’s point being Armagh’s first score from play.

Conor Woods reduced the gap for Down and on the 48th minute Danny Toner levelled the game at seven points apiece. 

In between, both sides were reduced to 14 men with Down’s Michael Hughes and Armagh’s Caily Gorman both being side-lined. 

On 52 minutes Conor Woods converted a 65 to put Down in front for the first time in the second half.  The 65 came after Gareth Johnson’s effort on goal was blocked by Ciaran Clifford.

Armagh responded with two Ryan Gaffney frees to once again go in front with less than 10 minutes left.

Brooke Byers then scored the only goal of the game with Conor Woods adding another 65 free minutes later to put Down 1-9 to 0-9 in front. 

In the closing minutes Down added fourmore points, one from Gareth Johnston, another from Conor Woods (65 free) and from two Johnny McCusker, to run out seven-point winners. 

Down: S. Keith, J. McManus, P. Flynn, M. HUghes, M. Ennis, F. Conway, M. McCullough, S. Dineen, D. McManus, C. Woods (0-5), D. Toner (0-2), C. Bailie, S. Nicholson, G. Johnson (0-1), J. Coyle (0-2). Subs: D. Hughes for Nicholson, B. Byers (1-1) for Bailie, C. Egan for Dineen, J. McCusker for Coyle, M. Nicholson for Johnson. 

Armagh: S. Doherty, A. McGuinness, C. Clifford, C. DEvlin, N. Curry, S. Renaghan, K. McKernan (0-1), C. McKee, P. HUghes, J. Corvan, C. Corvan, M. MOan, C. Carvill, R. Gaffney (0-8), E. McGuinness. Subs: C. Gorman, O. Curry for J. Corvan. 

Down 1-13

Armagh 0-9

NHL DIVISION 2B