DOWN produced a brilliant display of team work, attacking football and scoring power to overcome Laois in their final section game in the Allianz NFL Division 1 game in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday.
It is a victory that ensures them of a semi-final meeting with holders Cork in Croke Park this coming Sunday.
Despite the fact that they took some time to get into their stride, Down were always in control and playing attractive football eased to a deserved seven points win.
However, this victory was at a price. Dan Gordon at full back, where he was always in command of Laois’ star attacker Padraig Clancy, suffered an ankle injury and is extremely doubtful for the semi-final against Cork. Niall McParland, who had an outstanding game at right half back, also went off injured before half-time and like Gordon is a doubt for the semi-final.
Overall, the Down defence, once they settled, were in control with Conor Garvey, Brendan McArdle and Daniel McCartan giving the Laois attack few chances.
Ambrose Rogers and Kalum King were always in control at midfield, despite the best efforts of the strong Laois pairing of John O’Loughlin and Brendan Quigley.
The Mourne attack moved the ball with pace and accuracy with Mark Poland being the star player on view. The Longstone man, along with Arthur McConville and Benny Coulter, really gave the Laois defenders Mark Timmons, Kevin Lillis and Conor Healy a testing time while Laois ‘keeper Eoin Culliton was in brilliant form and denied Poland and Kevin McKernan certain goals
Laois opened strongly, but poor finishing cost them vital scores. Down settled and McConville pointed two points, one coming from a free, while Aidan Carr was also on the mark. Laois responded with points from Richie Munnelly and Brendan Quigley while Ger Walsh pointed a 45.
In the seventh minute Down produced a piece of Mourne magic.
Benny Coulter flicked on a brilliant ball to Mark Poland. He passed to Conor Laverty (inset) and he fisted to the net to give Down the advantage as they deservedly led by that goal at half-time.
On the restart Aidan Carr and Ger Walsh exchanged points and when Conor Laverty and Aidan Carr set up Benny Coulter for a goal seven minutes into the half, the game was as good as over as a contest.
Arthur McConville pointed a Down free, substitute Peter Turley lobbed over two and Conor Garvey and Ambrose Rogers lobbed over points with Mark Poland also splitting the posts.
Laois kept battling with substitutes Paul Cahillane, Damien O’Connor and David Conway, Gerry Begley and Ger Walsh adding points, but Down eased to a well deserved victory.
Down: B. McVeigh; D. McCartan, D. Gordon, A. Brannigan; N. McParland, B. McArdle, C. Garvey (0-1); A. Rogers (0-1), K. King; K. McKernan, M. Poland (0-1), A. Carr (0-2, 0-1 free); C. Laverty (1-0), B. Coulter (1-1), A. McConville (0-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: P. Turley (0-2) for McParland (32, inj), D. Turley for Gordon (42 inj), N. Brannigan for A. Brannigan (66); M. Miskelly for Laverty (68).
Laois: E. Culliton, C. Healy, M. Timmons, K. Lillis, K. Meaney, P. O’Leary, C. Boyle (0-1), J. O’Loughlin , B. Quigley (0-1), R. Munnelly (0-1 free), B. Sheehan, D. Strong, C. Begley (0-1), P. Clancy, G. Walsh (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 45). Subs: D. O’Connor (0-1) for Timmons (23 inj), P. Cahillane (0-1) for Walsh (ht), D. Conway (0-1 free) for Munnelly (52), C. Kelly (0-1 free) for Sheehan (59), S. Conroy for P. Clancy (70).
Result: Laois 0-10 Down 2-11.