McKenna Cup woe for Down

25 January 2012 - by MATT FITZPATRICK

DOWN’S dream of starting the new season with a chance of a football title were shattered by Derry in this Power NI Dr McKenna Cup semi-final in the Morgan Athletic Grounds, Armagh, on Sunday.

A brilliant third quarter, in which they scored four unanswered points, saw Derry come from behind at half-time and hold on in an exciting finish for a final meeting with Tyrone in Armagh on Saturday night.

While Down manager James McCartan has in the competition given all the players on the panel a chance to stake a permanent place on the team, he must be disappointed with this display, especially after the impressive win over Monaghan.

However, in their final section game against St. Mary’s University, they struggled for a draw and that should have been a warning.

Against a big, strong and physical Derry side this lightweight Down outfit was found wanting in a game that, despite the close scoring, failed to really ignite.

Only one of the nine Down points came from play and that was late in the game by substitute Arthur McConville. That in itself shows the paucity of the Down attack.

The new-look Down defence played hard throughout, but found it hard to cope with the big Derry attackers led by Conleith Gilligan, Paddy Bradley, Mark Lynch and Gerard O’Kane. But Kevin Duffin, Dan Gordon, and Niall McParland worked overtime in their efforts to contain the Derry attack. Midfield saw Down doing well in the first half through the hard work of Conor Gough and Peter Turley, but when Derry brought on James Conway at half-time he along with Joe Diver took control.

Apart from Aidan Carr’s accuracy from frees the Down attack struggled with Benny Coulter (inset) getting few chances to show his football prowess and along with Kalum King were the only players to worry the strong Derry defence.

The opening quarter saw scores slow in coming. Two Aidan Carr pointed frees shot Down ahead, but Conleith Gilligan levelled from like awards.

Dan Gordon moved up field in a flowing Down attack and lobbed over to regain the lead. Five minutes from the interval Aidan Carr with a free shot Down two ahead, but again Conleith Gilligan pointed a Derry free to leave half-time Down 0-4 Derry 0-3.

It was all Derry in the third quarter as they controlled midfield and powered forward.

Unanswered points from the brilliant Gilligan with two, Mark Lynch and Cailean O’Boyle saw them ahead by 0-7 to 0-4 entering the final quarter. Down regrouped with substitutes Mark Poland, Danny Hughes and Arthur McConville giving the attack a better balance.

Two more pointed frees by Aidan Carr left just a point between the sides entering the final ten minutes. Derry moved up a gear and two points from Paddy Bradley frees and one by Gerard O’Kane gave them a four point lead.

Mark Poland pointed a free as did Arthur McConville, but with time almost up the accurate Gilligan restored Derry’s three-point advantage. Three minutes into added time Arthur McConville rose high to fist over a lob from Aidan Carr while Kalum King’s dismissal ended a miserable day for Down.

Down: M. McAllister, K. Quinn, D. Gordon (0-1), D. McCartan, N. McParland, N. Brannigan, K. Duffin, C. Gough, P. Turley, K. King, A. Carr (0-5 frees), K. Anderson, M. Miskelly, E. McCartan, B. Coulter. Subs: A. Brannigan for Brannigan (ht), D. Turley for Anderson (ht), M. Poland (0-1 free) for E. McCartan (ht), D. Hughes for Miskelly (50), A. McConville (0-2, 0-1 free) for P. Turley (65).

Derry: D. Devlin, B. McCallion, L. Morrow, R. Dillon, C. McCaigue, N. Forrester, SL McGoldrick, J. McCamley, J. Diver, B. McGoldrick, M. Lynch (0-1), G. O’Kane (0-1), P. Bradley (0-2 frees), C. O’Boyle (0-1), C. Gilligan (0-6, 0-4 frees). Subs: J. Conway for McCamley (ht), E. McGuckin for M. Lynch (64), K. O’Neill for Diver (66), A. McAlynn for O’Kane (70), P. J. McCloskey for Conway (70).

Derry 0-11

Down 0-9

NI POWER DR McKENNA CUP SEMI-FINAL

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder