Down storm sorry Meath

Down storm sorry Meath

16 May 2012

A BRILLIANT second half, in which they scored 1-17, saw Down overcome Meath in this pulsating Christy Ring Cup quarter-final in Pairc Esler on Saturday.

After labouring in the first half, especially the opening ten minutes when Meath led by 1-6 to no score, Down certainly produced the hurling excellence as they outplayed Meath, especially in the final 30 minutes, coming from a deficit of seven points to register a seven points victory.

For Down, it was a victory tarnished with sadness. Following a skirmish late in the first half, in which at least 20 players were involved, the referee after discussion with his linesmen, showed red cards to Down full back Michael Hughes and Meath corner forward Sean Heavey.

It means that Hughes will almost certainly miss the rest of the Ring Cup campaign, depending on what is in the referee’s report.

Meath got off to a blistering start with two points each from Noel Kirby and Stephen Clynch and one each from Peter Durnin and Stephen Donoghue with James Kelly finishing a Kirby pass to send to the Down net to lead by 1-6 to 0-0 after just ten minutes.

It was the 12th minute before Paul Sheehan had Down’s opening point after several good chances had been missed. With 15 minutes gone Conor Mageean shot Down’s first goal and this gave the side some heart.

Three times points were exchanged before Paul Braniff pointed a free. With the sides reduced in numbers, the play opened out, but further woe for Down when corner forward Danny Toner was stretchered off with a bad ankle injury and removed to hospital.

Fortunately, nothing is broken, but he will be out of hurling for some time. Conor Mageean and Paul Braniff, from a free, left just five points in the game at half-time with Meath leading by 1-11 to 1-6.

Meath restarted the second half and just like the first they increased their lead with two points from Peter Durnin and one from a Noel Kirby free to regain their six points lead with just six minutes of the half played.

It was now that Down really warmed to their task. The half back line of Fintan Conway, Conor Woods and Michael Cunningham took control and Andy Savage, assisted by Michael Ennis at midfield, took over in that sector.

In a four-minute spell Paul Braniff, Conor Woods, Aaron O’Prey and Andy Savage lobbed over points and the confidence of the Down side was restored.

When Caolan Bailie pointed after 12 minutes the Meath lead was reduced to four points.

A brilliant save by Stephen Keith from Peter Durnin gave Down greater impetus as they stormed back, scoring five unanswered points to one by Meath to level the game at 1-16 each midway through the half.

In that spell, Paul Braniff and Fintan Conway had two points each and Caolan Bailie one while Noel Kirby from a free was the Meath scorer.

The introduction of Donal Hughes in the final quarter added strength to Down with his high fielding and power play. Along with the brilliant Michael Turley they pulverised the Meath defence.

Michael Turley shot Down ahead with a point with 15 minutes remaining and Paul Braniff pointed a free.

The accurate Turley and Paul Braniff had points before Meath fought back with two Noel Kirby points from frees. But Down were in no mood to let their grip on the game slip. Substitutes Donal Hughes and Darragh Hobbs, both Bredagh club players, lobbed over points and in the final seconds Paul Braniff drilled the ball to the Meath net from a penalty as Down march into the semi-final.

Down: Stephen Keith, Joe Smyth, Michael Hughes, Sean Ennis, Fintan Conway (0-2), Conor Woods (0-1), Michael Cunningham; Andy Savage (0-1), Michael Ennis, Paul Sheehan (0-2), Paul Braniff (1-8, 1-0 penalty, 0-5 frees), Aaron O’Prey (0-2), Danny Toner, Michael Turley (0-2), Conor Mageean (1-1). Subs: Donal Hughes (0-1) for Toner, Caolan Bailie (0-2) for O’Prey, Darragh Hobbs (0-1) for Mageean.

Red Card: M. Hughes

Meath: Shane McGann, Cormac Reilly, Enda Fitzgerald, Willie Mahady, James Togher (0-1), Damien Healy, Enda Keogh, Steven Morris, Stephen Clynch (0-2), James Kelly (1-0), Stephen Donoghue (0-1), Colm Mealoid, Sean Heavey (0-1), Noel Kirby (0-8, 0-6 frees), Peter Durnin (0-5).

Sub: Paddy Conneely (0-1) for Kelly.

Down 2-23

Meath 1-19

CHRISTY RING CUP QUARTER-FINAL