Down minors miss the boat in epic

Down minors miss the boat in epic

28 June 2017

A STUTTERING second half, in which they failed to catch fire, proved to be Down’s undoing as Cavan progressed forward to a provincial decider with Derry.

The Mourne side were brimming with confidence after their hard earned win against Armagh in the last eight, but a slicker Cavan side were just that bit stronger when it mattered.

Cavan had assumed an early 0-2 to 0-01 lead with Smith and Pierson on target after Down had opened with a Conor McCrickard free.

In the 12th minute James McCartan’s side had taken the lead when Warrenpoint’s Ruairi McCormick found the net to establish a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.

Cavan midfielder Ronan Patterson received a black card on 17 minutes and this provided Down with added impetus and it was the excellent Liam Kerr who took full advantage as he struck for goal to give his side a five point lead with ten to go until half-time.

McCrickard and Patrick Lynch exchanged points before James Smith hit Cavan’s fourth score to leave Down 2-2 to 0-4 up at the short whistle.

Cavan started the second period like a house on fire with Cian Madden blasting two minor scores in the space of the opening minute. Kerr responded for Down but Lynch and Pierson were at the ready with further efforts and it looked like Cavan meant business.

Declan McClements and Keogan exchanged scores as Cavan now trailed by the minimum. They really should have taken the lead on 38 minutes when Smith blasted a goal chance wide.

Pierson and Lynch added frees for the Breffni boys as Cavan went 0-11 to 2-4 up with 44 minutes gone. McCrickard momentarily levelled again for Down, but the brilliance of Madden came to the fore again as he finished off a great team move to edge his side clear once again.

Cavan managed three on the bounce to extend their lead to four with five minutes of normal time left. James McCartan introduced a number of subs to freshen Down’s approach, but they never clicked.

Cavan held firm and despite Down hitting the last two scores it was to be the Breffni side that progressed through to the decider.

Man of the Match: Cian Madden (Cavan). Oisin Pierson and Patrick Lynch accounted for 0-08 between them, but it was centre half forward Cian Madden who was the star turn. The classy playmaker had himself a serious amount of possession throughout the game and also ended up with 0-3 to his name. His ability to bring others into the contest was also noteworthy.

Down: J Hazard, C Fitzsimons, B Gallen, T Gordon, F McElroy, P Fegan, S Annett, R McCormack (0-1), R McCrickard (1-0), R Anderson, C Clarke, D McClements (0-1), T Prenter, C McCrickard (0-3f), L Kerr (1-1). Subs: L Middleton for Prenter, R McEvoy for McCrickard, A Gribben (0-1) for Anderson, R Carr for McClements.

Cavan: G O’Rourke, J Cooke, P Meade, K Brady, P Rogers, E Fortune, D Cusack (0-1), R Patterson, J Smith (0-2), K Hendrick, C Madden (0-3), O Kiernan, O Pierson (0-4, 1f), P Lynch (0-4, 3f), S Keogan (0-1). Subs: K Cosgrove for R Patterson (BC), P Nulty for E Fortune, T Reilly for K Cosgrove.

Down 2-7

Cavan 0-15

ULSTER MFC SEMI-FINAL