Luckless Down face big relegation battle

4 April 2012

A POINT and a goal in the final minute of added time gave Westmeath victory over luckless Down at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

The defeat means the Mourne men now meet Wicklow in a relegation battle to decide who stays up.

With the 70 minutes completed the sides were level at 2-20 each, but in a quick breakaway Brendan Murtagh lobbed over a point and right from the puck-out he secured possession and set up Eoin Price for a goal which was the last action of the game.

A feature of the game was the fact that all but one of Westmeath’s scores came from play

Down full forward Paul Braniff scored 13 of his side’s points, 11 of them from frees and one from a 65.

Braniff’s overall display brought loud applause from the 250 spectators, most of whom came from Westmeath.

This was Down’s best display in the competition and in a way it was fitting that it should come in the final section game, setting them up for the relegation battle and the opening Christy Ring Cup away to Mayo next month.

The Down defence battled hard throughout with the half backline of Fintan Conway, Conor Woods and Michael Ennis outstanding, while Eoin Clarke was the better of the midfielders.

Up front Paul Braniff was the star attacker on view, but got good assistance from Danny Toner, Caolan Bailie and Donal Hughes.

Clarke said afterwards: “We are disappointed at losing. I thought we did well but the couple of points and that goal at the end flattered Westmeath.

Westmeath had the better of the opening quarter and led by 0-10 to 0-5 lead with Andrew Dermody, John Shaw, Dan Carty and Brendan Murtagh slotting over points. Paul Braniff, Caolan Bailie and Eoin Clarke kept Down in touch.

Ten minutes from the interval Michael Ennis set up Danny Toner for a Down goal and this ignited the side as they scored four unanswered points to leave a half time score of Down 1-9 Westmeath 0-12.

Westmeath regained the lead within three minutes of the resumption with a goal from Carty after good work by John Shaw. For the rest of the half it was score for score with a goal from substitute Conor Mageean giving Down a one-point lead.

Westmeath rallied and substitute Niall O’Brien regained the lead with a goal, but again Down rallied and looked like salvaging a point.

Two brilliant saves by Westmeath substitute keeper Paddy Maloney from Conor Mageean and Danny Toner kept them in the game.

Then Westmeath struck for those two final scores which gave them victory and a place in the final against Carlow, while Down will have to rely on a play-off to retain their Division 2A status.

Down: S. Keith; M. Hughes, S. Ennis, J. Smyth; F. Conway (0-1), C. Woods, M. Ennis (0-1); E. Clarke (0-1), A. Savage ; P. Sheehan, D. Hughes (0-1), C. Bailie (0-2); D. Toner (1-0), P. Braniff (0-13, 0-11 frees, 0-1 65), P. Keith. Subs: C. Mageean (1-1) for Keith (45), A. O’Prey for Savage (60).

Westmeath: S. McGovern; P. Fennell, A. Price, C. Jordan; P. Gilsenan, J. Gilligan, P. Dowdall; E. Price (1-4), J. Clarke (0-1); B. Murtagh (0-5, 0-1 free), A. Clarke (0-1), D. McCormack (0-1); A. Dermody (0-2), D. Carty (1-4), J. Shaw (0-2). Subs: D. Fennell for A. Price (7), P. Maloney for McGovern (25), N. O’Brien (1-0) for Dowdall (48), R. Grenville (0-1) for Dermody (50), E. Clark for Fennell (63).

Down 2-20

Westmeath 3-21

NHL DIVISION 2A

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