Road to Ulster ends

Road to Ulster ends

11 April 2012 - by BY MATT FITZPATRICK

DOWN failed in their effort to reach the Cadbury’s Ulster U-21 FC final when they were well beaten by a strong and well equipped Tyrone in the semi-final in Casement Park last Wednesday night.

It was only when the Mourne boys scored their goal ten minutes from time that they showed the football of which they are capable as they put Tyrone on the back foot, but were unable to get any more vital scores that could have turned the game their way.

Down’s problems began at midfield where Conor Gough and Niall McParland found the Tyrone pair of Richard Donnelly and Conor Clarke too strong for them. When Gough was replaced at half-time, Down reshuffled the team trying several combinations, but apart from the final stages the Tyrone pair were always in control.

The Down defence had a good half back line in Kevin McClorey, Gerard McGovern and David McKibben, but the attack suffered from possession. Donal O’Hare, Ross McGarry and Mattie Bagnall played hard while Danny Savage also showed up well and amazingly was replaced in the second half.

The Tyrone defence was mostly in command with Sean Warnock, Dean McNally and Niall Sludden very strong while in a sweet moving attack that played as a unit and took some excellent scores.

Darren McCurry, Caolan Daly and Conor McAliskey formed a potent full forward line. In fact, all but a point from a 45 by Conor McAliskey came from play,

Tyrone started strongly with points from Richard Donnelly, Conor Clarke and Conor McAliskey inside the opening four minutes. A minute later Danny Savage pointed a Down free and then he exchanged points with Richard Donnelly before Ross McGarry had a Down point after ten minutes to leave just one between the sides.

Tyrone then moved up a gear scoring five unanswered points to one for Down by Conor Gough to lead by 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time.

Tyrone increased their lead with points from Darren McCurry and Thomas Canavan within three minutes of the restart. Down replied with a point from Mattie Bagnall before Caolan Daly and Kevin McClorey and Thomas Canavan and Danny Savage exchanged points as Tyrone led by 0-13 to 0-7 midway through the half.

Down’s best move of the game came ten minutes from time when a brilliant lob from Danny Savage saw Donal O’Hare brilliantly outfield the Tyrone full back and send to the net and when Shay McArdle pointed two minutes later only two points separated the sides.

But that was Down’s last score. Tyrone weathered the mild Down storm and added three points in the final six minutes for a deserved victory and a place against Cavan in the Ulster final tonight in Enniskillen.

Down: Shane Harrison, Michael Clarke, Shane McNamee, Ryan McAleenan, Kevin McClorey (0-1), Gerard McGovern, David McKibben, Niall McParland, Conor Gough (0-1), James McClean, Chris Clarke, Mattie Bagnall (0-1), Danny Savage (0-3 frees), Ross McGarry (0-1), Donal O’Hare (1-0).

Subs: Keith Quinn for McClean (18), Shay McArdle (0-1) for Gough (ht); Niall Madine for McGarry (40), Jerome Johnston for Savage (54).

Tyrone: D. McAnenly, B. Tierney, D. McNally, H. P. McGeary, N. Sludden, S. Warnock, T. McCann, R. Donnelly (0-2), C. Clarke (0-1), S. Tierney, T. Canavan (0-2), H. Conlon, D. McCurry (0-4), C. McAliskey (0-3, 0-1 45), C. Daly (0-3). Subs: P. Mallon (0-1) for Tierney (40), P. McNulty for McCann (45), C. Grugan for Donnelly (53), J. Munroe for Warnock (58), S. McGuigan for Canavan (60).

Result: Tyrone 0-16 Down 1-8.