Poland goals do the trick

Poland goals do the trick

12 February 2014

COMETH the hour, cometh the man. ‘Captain Fantastic’ Mark Poland was Down’s saviour at the Athletic Grounds as his goal at the death brought Down their first win at the venue since October 1985.

Loughinisland’s Brendan ‘Bundy’ Mason was the hero that day when he bagged two goals to secure Down the victory.

Twenty-nine years later it was the Longstone star who is taking all the plaudits as his match winners at the start of the second half and on the stroke of full time proved decisive.

Down looked like they were heading for yet another defeat in the Orchard County as they trailed by a point in injury time. However, the team’s collective doggedness and perseverance came to the fore as a series of fist passes finally found their way to Poland who finished with aplomb and celebrated accordingly.

Conditions were horrendous throughout with the rain and wind playing havoc with the quality of football on show. James McCartan made one change to the named line-out before the game.

Annaclone’s Brendan McArdle came in for Kilcoo’s Darragh O’Hanlon and took up position at full back with Peter Turley progressing further forward to partner Kevin McKernan and Ryan Mallon in the middle third.

Paul Grimley brought in Ciaran Rafferty for Rory Grugan with Stefan Campbell and Jamie Clarke instructed to play as a two man full forward line.

Clarke was expected to be a thorn in Down’s side, but he was superbly marked by Darren O’Hagan who hardly give him a sniff. Armagh went ahead through a Ciaran Rafferty effort after Tony Kernan played a 45’ short.

Jamie Clarke then won a free which Kernan slotted over before the Armagh men went on to spurn four chances which would have set them up well for the rest of the game.

Down finally opened their account after 13 minutes. Mark Poland drew the free which Donal O’Hare hit the target with. Armagh were winning most of the battles as this stage, but their inadequate use of possession was undoing all the good work that they were undertaking.

A classy piece of play from star man Ciaran McKeever provided Jamie Clarke with the opportunity to get his first score and he did just that.

McKeever was then in the thick of it minutes later as he started the move which led to Armagh’s first goal. The Cullyhanna powerhouse surged forward before laying the ball off to Stefan Campbell.

Kevin Dyas arrived on the overlap and took possession of the ball. A quick one-two with Robbie Tasker saw Dyas regain possession and he then directed the ball to Shane Harrison’s net.

Wides from both sides characterised the following passages of play before a sharp turn of contrasts seen Kevin McKernan and Donal O’Hare convert for Down to leave them trailing by a goal at half-time.

James McCartan would have been very happy with the half-time score as Down were playing against the wind in the first half. His happiness would have increased within a minute of the restart as Down drew level with Poland’s first goal.

The captain picked up a rebound after Jerome Johnston’s shot was initially blocked and coolly sent the ball goal wards. The goal enhanced Down’s confidence and Conor Maginn edged the away team one clear when he punched over a 45’ that ped short.

Armagh were soon back on terms with a Robbie Tasker point. Tasker probably should have found the net, but the ball flew over the bar with gusto.

Down continued to work hard and a sublime right wing effort from McKernan put them ahead once again. McCartan’s charges were definitely the better team at this stage.

They soon went two ahead when Saval’s Niall Madine banged over his first of the night. Jerome Johnston being the architect.

Then, against the run of play, Armagh took the lead. An innocuous looking long, high ball from the boot of Tony Kernan sailed into the Down goal mouth and deceived everyone including Harrison.

It ended up in the net after a touch from Stephen Harold and Paul Grimley’s team were now back in the driving seat.

Despite Robbie Tasker being sent off for striking Ryan Boyle, Armagh’s mini resurgence continued. Stefan Campbell put the homesters two up, but in all truthfulness he should have had himself a goal.

With the clock ticking down and the game cantering towards closure, it took a fisted point from substitute Eoin McCartan to keep the tension levels high.

Then in a flowing team move Poland had the final say in injury time with his second goal to send the Down followers home across the county border in fine fettle.

Final score: Armagh 2-5 Down 2-7.

Down: S. Harrison, D. McCartan, B. McArdle, D. O’Hagan, R. Boyle, A. Carr, C. Garvey, K. McKernan (0-2), R. Mallon, P. Turley, M. Poland (2-0), J. Johnston, D. O’Hare (0-2, 2f), N. Madine (0-1), C. Maginn (0-1). Subs: R. Johnston for Mallon (black card 49); D. O’Hanlon for D. McCartan (51); E. McCartan (0-1) for Boyle (67); B. Coulter for Madine (73).

Armagh: P. McEvoy, A. Mallon, C. Vernon, P. Hughes, M. Shields, C. McKeever, C. Rafferty (1-0), S. Harold (1-0), E. Rafferty, S. Campbell (0-1), K. Dyas (1-0), B. Mallon, J. Clarke (0-1), T. Kernan (0-1, 1f), R. Tasker (0-1). Subs: S. Forker for B. Mallon (51); R. Grugan for C. Rafferty (57); N. McConville for Clarke (71), A. Findon for Harold (73).