Dramatic fightback seals win

Dramatic fightback seals win

12 June 2013

DOWN hurlers certainly made it a case of third time lucky when a dramatic last-gasp goal from Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnson sealed an an absorbing Christy Ring Cup final at Croke Park on Saturday.

Having lost the 2005 final to Westmeath and the 2009 final to Carlow, Down went into this clash as underdogs, but Johnson netted the first score of the game to get Down up and running.

However, Down found themselves behind for much of the match, until the talismanic full forward made his late intervention when he got on the end of a free from Paul Braniff.

Having lost by the exact same score to Kerry in the first round, this saw the competition come full circle for Down, who also had strong contributions from Conor Woods, Ciarán Coulter, captain Paul Braniff and super-sub Scott Nicholson.

Down got off to a flyer with a goal and a point from Johnson, but Pádraig Boyle got a goal back for Kerry in a rip-roaring start. Hawkeye was called into action for the second time of the day on 13 minutes, showing that a Shane Nolan shot, which had been called wide, had actually gone over to bring Kerry within a point.

Nolan then fired home a great goal two minutes later to send Kerry in front for the first time. Paul Braniff’s third point kept Down in touch and they continued to threaten, as Johnson fired a shot just wide, while Braniff blazed a penalty over the bar.

Nolan’s accuracy helped Kerry move five clear at one stage, but points from Dónal Hughes, James Coyle and Daniel Toner left Down trailing by just a point (2-6 to 1-8) at half-time.

Former All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny, Willie O’Dwyer, was to the fore as Kerry made a strong start to the second half, but Conor Woods converted a ’65 and a long-range free for Down, who were right back in it on 48 minutes when substitute Scott Nicholson found the net.

It continued to be nip-and-tuck all the way to the finish, with both goalkeepers making fine saves, Down’s Stephen Keith from a Tom Murnane free and Kerry’s Bernard Rochford from a second Braniff penalty.

Nicholson took his tally to 1-2 to help Down stay on level terms, but the dangerous Pádraig Boyle edged Kerry ahead late on.

There was still time for one last swing, however, and it was fitting that two long-serving Down stars linked up for the winning score, as Johnson flicked a long puck from Braniff into the net in injury time.

Down: S. Keith, M. Conlon, P. Hughes, B. Toner, F. Conway, C. Woods (0-2), M. Ennis, D. Hughes (0-1), C. Coulter, D. Toner (0-1), P. Braniff (0-6), P. Sheehan, K. McGarry, G. Johnson (2-1), J. Coyle (0-2). Subs: S. Nicholson (1-2) for Conway (41), J. McCusker (0-1) for Sheehan (56), M. Turley for D. Toner (60), M. Hughes for B Toner (64).

Kerry: B. Rochford, R. Horgan, L. Boyle, P. Costello D. O’Connell, T. Murnane, D. Dineen, J. Griffin, D. Collins, B. O’Leary (0-1), W. O’Dwyer (0-2), P. Boyle (1-3), C. Harty, A. Boyle (0-1), S. Nolan (1-9). Subs: J. Egan for Costello (50), G. O’Brien (0-1) for Harty (58), S. Mansell for G O’Brien (65).

Down 3-16

Kerry 2-17

CHRISTY RING CUP FINAL