Survival now in doubt after defeat by Galway

Survival now in doubt after defeat by Galway

29 March 2017

DOWN’S hopes of survival in Division 2 are hanging by a thread after they were thumped by the rampant Tribesmen at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

In what transpired to be an open game of football, it was the more economical forward unit of Galway that came to the fore.

Down looked bright in patches but at times they were defensively suspect and again lacked a cutting edge in the attack.

All the notable action came in a littered filled second half. The Galway contingent swooped for a trio of goals that saw them over the line and a step closer to making a long awaited return to Division 1.

The teams were level at 0-8 each at the short whistle. Galway probably should have been ahead as they were on top in most sectors in the opening 35 minutes.

Barry McHugh and Shane Walsh got the visitors off to a flyer with a point apiece early on.

Walsh was particularly prominent in the first half when he scored three further minors from play.

Down had Caolan Mooney and Darragh O’Hanlon to thank for their contribution to the scoreboard.

Mooney popped up with a couple of fine efforts while O’Hanlon was unflappable from play and from frees.

Down were still in touch at the break but it always looked like Galway had it in them to push on and they exactly that in the third quarter of the game.

The first Galway goal arrived after Gary Sice was felled by Michael Cunningham in the Down goal.

The Castlewellan man saw black and was replaced by Bryansford’s Marc Reid.

However, the new custodian was powerless to resist Eamonn Brannigan’s penalty as Galway took charge.

Within a minute Galway had the ball in the net once again.

Sean Armstrong was the architect this time, providing the pass for Shane Walsh who made no mistake as the Connacht side went 2-8 to 0-8 ahead on 42 minutes.

Momentum then suddenly swung in favour for Down when Galway’s Declan Kyne saw red for a misdemeanour off the ball.

With a one-man advantage the Mourne men forced the issue and Clonduff’s Barry O’Hagan rose to the occasion with a fine goal.

Three points were all that now separated the sides, but Down missed a glorious chance to draw level when Ryan Johnston drove his shot straight at the Galway keeper, who easily saved the goalbound effort.

This effort took the steam out of the Down challenge and with a few minutes left Galway netted for a third time through Brannigan as they raced to the finishing post with Division 1 status firmly in their sight.

Down: M Cunningham; R McAleenan, B McArdle, D O’Hagan; D O’Hanlon (0-8, 5f), C McGovern, C Mooney (0-2); A Carr, P Turley; K McKernan, C Maginn, J Murphy; S Millar (0-1), B O’Hagan (1-0), R Johnston (0-2). Subs: M Reid for Cunningham (BC), C Magee for Carr, J Johnston for Murphy, P Devlin for Millar, J Flynn for Mooney (BC).

Galway: R Lavelle; D Wynne, D Kyne (0-1), C Sweeney; G O’Donnell (0-2), M Farragher (0-1), J Heaney; P Conroy (0-1f), F O Curraoin; T Flynn, S Walsh (1-3), E Brannigan (2-1, 1-0 pen); G Sice (0-3, 1f), B McHugh (0-3, 2f, 1 ‘45), S Armstrong.  Subs: L Silke for Wynne, M Lundy for Armstrong, D Cummins for Walsh, G Bradshaw for McHugh, R Steede for Brannigan.