DOWN produced a battling performance with only 14 players for almost an hour in this tense clash with Derry at Pairc Esler, Newry, on Sunday.
With less than 15 minutes gone corner forward Conor Mageean received a straight red card, but despite their deficit in numbers Down played their hearts out and with a little more luck they could have got at least a share of the points.
As it was, two brilliant saves by Derry keeper Oisin Doherty denied Portaferry star Paul Braniff a couple of goals.
The game produced an exhibition of accurate free taking by Derry’s Paddy Henry, who slotted over ten points from placed balls, while Braniff scored a goal and eight pointed frees.
Indeed, Braniff was the star player on view. Starved of possession at full forward he roamed to the midfield area to gain possession and along with Danny Toner was the only Down attacker to really trouble the Derry defence.
Eoin Clarke (inset) played well in midfield while Sean Ennis, Michael Ennis and Fintan Conway worked hard in defence.
Derry were mostly in control and led from the start with two points each by Oisin McCloskey and Paddy Henry. Paul Braniff and Eoin Clarke replied with Down points. Then points were twice exchanged before three Henry points and two from Ruairi Convery put Derry in control.
Braniff and Toner kept Down in touch, but Derry finished the half with a Liam Hinphey point to lead by 0-12 to 0-9 at the interval.
Derry restarted strongly, scoring a goal and four points in six minutes with the goal coming from Paddy Henry, who finished a lob from substitute Brendan Quigley to the net. Three Braniff points and a goal from a long range free kept Down in touch but Derry maintained their advantage and deserved their six-point winning margin.
Down: S. Keith; P. Smyth, S. Ennis, J. Smyth; F. Conway (0-1), C. Woods, M. Ennis; E. Clarke (0-2, 0-1 65), L. Morgan; A. O’Prey, K. McGarry, P. Sheehan; D. Toner (0-3), P. Braniff (1-8 frees), C. Mageean. Subs: A. Savage for Morgan (24), M. Cunningham for O’Prey (45), P. Keith for McGarry (45), D. Hughes for Sheehan (58), C. Teague for Conway (58).
Derry: O. Doherty; M. Warnock, C. Quinn, J. McCloskey; A. McCloskey, L. Hinphey (0-1), R. McCloskey; O. McCloskey (0-3), P. Kelly; P. Henry (1-10, 0-10 frees), P. McCloskey, A. Grant; C. Gilmore, R. Convery (0-3), S. Farren (0-2). Subs: K. Hinphey for Warnock (30), B. Quigley (0-1) for Gilmore (34), L. Craig for Kelly (60).
Referee: O. Elliott (Antrim).
Down 1-14
Derry 1-20
ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 2A