Down in opening horror display

8 February 2017

AS the Down faithful rushed for the exit gate at Páirc Esler with 15 minutes to go, the remnants of a disastrous display of Mourne football was laid bare on the pitch.

Down lacked cohesion and direction. They struggled in the tackle and found gaining primary possession extremely difficult. Match conditioning looked off the pace and quality football was at a minimum.

It all started so well for the home side with Alan Davidson eager to impress as he converted his first free of the night.

The rest of the plan didn’t fall in to place though as Tomás Corrigan rifled off a trio of set pieces with the robust Eddie Courtney soon making it 0-4 to 0-1.

Down’s best passages of play were to follow as they soon got back on terms.

Conail McGovern kick-started the revival with Shay Millar and a double from Alan Davidson enabling the Eamon Burns managed side to establish a one point cushion.

Fermanagh had gone over 20 minutes without a score, but with half-time on the horizon Sean Quigley glided over a monstrous long range strike with Tomás Corrigan bagging another free to leave the Ernemen 0-6 to 0-5 ahead.

Down really struggled to up their game in the third quarter. They were too messy in their tackling execution and positionally all over the place.

Fermanagh were the slicker outfit in these exchanges and this was reflected on the scoreboard.

The ever reliable Corrigan managed another two points with lightning quick half back Aidan Breen from Tempo also at the double. Classy forward Paul McCusker made it 0-11 to 0-5 in the 44th minute.

A few adjustments to Down’s formation did yield a mini purple patch as three on the bounce arrived from Davidson, Murphy and sub McKernan.

This propelled Fermanagh to lifting it up a gear as they commanded the remaining portion of the game and sunk Down without trace.

Corrigan was on hand with yet another free and then the only goal of the game came when Eoin McManus opted for low trajectory as his shot screamed past Michael Cunningham into the corner.

Fermanagh were always comfortable in seeing out the game as they posted 0-4 in comparison to 0-2 from their Mourne opponents.

Down legend and Fermanagh manager Pete McGrath was in buoyant mood after the full time whistle.

“We always say that if we get the performance that the players are capable of the result will take care of itself,” he said following his side’s victory.

“And particularly in the second-half, the performance was very close to what we thought it should be and as a result of that the scoreboard kept ticking over.

“And then we got the goal to put big daylight between the two of us, I thought we controlled the game thereafter.

“To win away from home in your first game obviously is very important and it puts us in a good place for the Galway match next week.”

There was a difference in quality for all to see. Down were way off the pace required.

Down: M Cunningham; R McAleenan, G McGovern, D O’Hagan; D McKeever, C McGovern (0-1), B McArdle; A Carr (0-1), J Flynn; J Murphy (0-1), C Magee, S Millar (0-1); A Davidson (0-5f, 2f, 1’45), P Havern, B O’Hagan.

Subs: C Mooney for McArdle, K McKernan (0-1) for McKeever, R Johnston for Millar, P Turley for Flynn, C Maginn for Murphy.

Fermanagh: T Treacy; M Jones, C Cullen, C McManus; D McCusker, R McCluskey, A Breen (0-2); E Donnelly, L Cullen; B Mulrone (0-1), E McManus (1-0), P McCusker (0-1); E Courtney (0-1), S Quigley (0-1), T Corrigan (0-8, 7f).

Subs: C Beacom (0-1) for Courtney, J McMahon for McCluskey, D Keenan for McManus, P Rehill for P McCusker, R Lyons (0-1) for Quigley, T McCaffrey for Corrigan.

Down 0-10

Fermanagh 1-16

ALLIANZ NFL DIVISION 2

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