DOWN’S quest for Division 1 survival is now officially underway after this spirited win over last year’s All-Ireland finalists.
James McCartan’s charges were very much up for this encounter and with Donal O’Hare (inset) continuing his rich vein of scoring form with a haul of nine points, the home side weren’t to be denied.
Both sides spent the first 5 minutes of the game sussing each other out. It took star turn Donal O’Hare to get the scoreboard operator on the go as he pointed a free in the sixth minute.
Mayo replied instantly through a fisted score from Jason Doherty, but Down were soon back in the lead. Conor Laverty made an intelligent run across field to collect a Brendan McVeigh kick out.
The Kilcoo man then knocked the ball to Aidan Carr who set Paul McComiskey on his way. McComiskey’s searing pace was too much for the Mayo defence and the Dundrum man scored an excellent point from out on the right.
Jason Doherty levelled on 11 minutes with a free before his side took the lead for the first time in the game. The towering Aidan O’Shea grabbed possession in midfield and forced his way through the Down pack. A quick slip off to Vaughan followed before the ball was moved to Conroy who fisted over Brendan McVeigh’s bar.
Down were facing a slight breeze, but Mayo weren’t making much use of their advantage, despite going two up through Cathal Carolan on 15 minutes.
An intriguing development in the game was unfolding and it involved the battle between Down’s Benny Coulter and Mayo’s Ger Cafferkey. A lot of ball was heading in Coulter’s way, but Cafferkey was getting the better of the duel.
With Coulter subdued, up stepped Donal O’Hare who pointed two frees in quick succession to draw the game level.
With confidence brimming, Down then took the lead in the 22nd minute. Conor Laverty got the score after Benny Coulter had palmed a long ball from Mark Poland into his path.
Just before the half hour mark the homesters went two up through Ryan Mallon. The exciting Warrenpoint talent hit a superb long range score which sent Down in leading at the break.
The Mournemen started the second half much like they finished the first. Two efforts from Donal O’Hare and one from Mark Poland put the host 0-9 0-4 ahead after 39 minutes.
Sandwiched in between these scores, Down ‘keeper Brendan McVeigh pulled off a superb point-blank range save from Mayo midfielder Barry Moran. Moran probably should have done better with his shot, but it was a fine stop by the An Riocht net minder.
When Mayo did begin to settle they were hard to stop as they reeled off five consecutive scores to bring the game level. Cathal Carolan and Jason Doherty both grabbed doubles while Barry Moran also converted. The Westerners midfield dominance was one of the reasons for this productive spell.
By this stage Down had introduced Darren O’Hagan and Jerome Johnston. On 58 minutes they were back ahead through a Donal O’Hare set piece and on the hour mark they went two up through the same player. This time he directed over a mammoth free from all of 50 yards out.
Mayo wouldn’t be closed out easily and a Kevin McLoughlin free followed by a well taken 45 from ‘keeper O’Malley drew the game level with only five minutes of normal time remaining.
These final few minutes saw Down work their socks off to keep James Horan’s men at bay. Mayo were continually frustrated and eventually they wilted as man of the match Donal O’Hare hit two late points, one on the 70 minute mark and one in injury time, to kick start Down’s survival mission.
The Down camp will have been delighted to get this win and if O'Hare can keep up his sensational scoring returns then the Mournemen have every chance of maintaining their Division 1 status.
Final score: Down 0-13 Mayo 0-11
Down: B. McVeigh, D. McCartan, B. McArdle, R. Boyle, R. Mallon (0-1), A. Carr, K. Quinn, K. King, K. McKernan, C. Laverty (0-1), M. Poland (0-1), P. McComiskey (0-1), D. O’Hare (0-9, 8f), C. Harrison, B. Coulter. Subs: D. O’Hagan for Mallon, J. Johnston for Quinn, E. McCartan for Harrison, C. Gough for King.
Mayo: K. O’Malley (0-1 ‘45), C. Barrett, G. Cafferkey, K. Higgins, L. Keegan, D. Vaughan, C. Boyle, B. Moran (0-1), A. O’Shea, K. McLoughlin (0-1, 1f), R. Feeney, C. Carolan (0-3), E. Varley, J. Doherty (0-4, 3f), M. Conroy (0-1). Subs: K. Keane for Cafferkey, T. Cunniffe for Feeney, A. Freeman for Vaughan, E. Regan for Varley.