Mourne’s new boys red hot in McKenna

11 January 2012 - by MATT FITZPATRICK

DOWN started the New Year with an emphatic victory over old rivals Armagh in their opening game in the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Section B at Pairc Esler, Newry, on Sunday.

With both managers fielding experimental sides, it gave the game a fresh atmosphere and certainly produced a thrilling encounter of fast, open and attacking football, especially by Down.

Down manager James McCartan fielded eight newcomers to senior county football and must certainly have been satisfied by their showing. Corner forward Marcus Miskelly gave a terrific display of attacking play, scored three points, all from play, using his pace to best advantage, while his link up with Kalum King

at full forward and Aidan

Carr played a vital part in this victory.

In the left corner of the attack, another debutant, Ryan Brady from Mayobridge, also impressed and his first half goal set Down on their way to success.

A cousin of former Fermanagh county star and county manager Malachy O’Rourke, he certainly impressed in an attacking sextet led by Dan Gordon in a new attacking role at left half forward.

The Down forwards always had the beating of the laboured Armagh defence in which Andy Mallon, Charlie Vernon, in the unusual position of full back, and Declan McKenna played hard throughout.

The new Down midfield pairing of Pete Turley and teenager Conor Gough certainly had great senior debuts. Gough brought off several feats of high fielding while Downpatrick’s Pete Turley was equally impressive.

At the back, the Down half back line of David McKibben, Liam Doyle and Keith Quinn certainly impressed with both wing halves, along with full back Daniel McCartan, always having the edge on their opponents.

Scores were slow in coming in the opening ten minutes. Danny Hughes took a pass from Marcus Miskelly to open Down’s account with a point after three minutes.

Armagh, assisted by the breeze, levelled through Aidan Forker and took the lead with appoint from Michael O’Rourke. With 12 minutes gone Aidan Carr took a pass from Dan Gordon to level the game.

Midway through the half Down struck gold. Kalum King, Aidan Carr, Marcus Miskelly and Dan Gordon combined to put Ryan Brady through for a goal, while in the following five minutes Miskelly, Brady, Carr and Gordon added points as Down led by 1-6 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.

Armagh regrouped and Padden and Mallon had points, but Miskelly finished another good Down move with a point to leave half-time Down 1-7 Armagh 0-5

Within three minutes of the restart Liam Doyle pointed a Down free. Armagh produced their best football in the following ten minutes scoring four unanswered points through substitute Ryan Rafferty and Padden and two pointed frees by O’Rourke, who also saw two other efforts come back off the upright.

Down settled again and in the final quarter they moved up a gear. Doyle pointed another free while Miskelly sent over the bar. Peter Turley blasted wide of an open goal after a great run through and Conor Laverty was denied when his shot came back of the crossbar.

Laverty made amends with a neat point and then produced a piece of magic as he outwitted the Armagh defence to shoot to he net.

Benny Coulter, who had come on as substitute, added a point with Armagh’s Mallon pointing a minute into added time to complete the scoring.

Down: B. McVeigh, N. Brannigan, D. McCartan, D. Turley, D. McKibben, L. Doyle (0-2 frees), K. Quinn, P. Turley, C. Gough, D. Hughes (0-1), A. Carr (0-2), D. Gordon (0-1), M. Miskelly (0-3), K. King, R. Brady (1-1). Subs: A. Branagan for McKibben (ht), C. Laverty (1-1) for Brady (50mins), K. Duffin for Doyle (50), A. McConville for Hughes (55), B. Coulter (0-1) for Gough (60).

Armagh: N. Geoghan, A. Conlon, C. Vernon, D. McKenna, D. Livery, A. Mallon, M. Shields, A. Duffy, E. McDonnell, A. Forker (0-1), B. Mallon (0-2), M. O’Rourke (0-3,0-2 frees), S. Campbell (0-1), B. J. Padden (0-2), E. McVerry. Subs: J. Kinghan for Conlon (20), C. McKeever for Shields (22), R. Rafferty for McDonnell (ht), P. Gribben for Forker (50), S. Moore for D. McKenna (60).

Referee: M. Sludden (Tyrone).

Down 2-12

Armagh 0-10

DR. McKENNA CUP

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