Late Down surge hits Derry’s Christy hopes

Late Down surge hits Derry’s Christy hopes

4 May 2016

DOWN hurlers bounced back from last week’s disappointing defeat by London when they dumped Derry out of the running in Owenbeg. 

Victory means Down assured themselves of Christy Ring participation next season as well as progressing to the next round of this year’s competition.

Derry went in at the break with a slender 1-7 to 0-09 advantage thanks to an Oisin McCloskey’s goal, but last year’s finalists were left to rue a number of squandered scoring opportunities at the final whistle.

When Ruairi Convery nailed a monstrous 70th-minute free, it levelled this tight encounter for the seventh time with extra time on everyone’s minds. However, Down converted three quick scores in injury time to edge themselves over the finishing line.

Defeats last week at the hands of Roscommon and London respectively had paired Derry and Down in a winner-takes-all battle and while the hurling on show was far from vintage, the intensity rarely flagged.

Contrary to the abysmal season the home side have endured, Derry began the brightest with Shane Farren handing them a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after five minutes.

Down retaliated though with points from Aaron O’Prey, Danny Toner and Brook Byers.

However, when Oisin McCloskey took a superb catch and drilled the ball into the back of the net in the 10th minute, it regained the lead for Derry, which stretched to four points with a Ruairi Convery point.

After that Down enjoyed their best phase of the game and scored six of the next seven points with newcomer Oisin McManus outstanding at corner forward.

Trailing by a point, the Oak Leaf county responded late in the half with points from Convery and Farren returning the single-point advantage to the home side at the break, leading 1-7 to 0-9.

All square at 1-15 apiece in injury time, Michael Johnston’s side then added the three late points to take the spoils.