Sport

Down power on in second half

Down 1-16 Leitrim 1-8: DOWN MANAGER James McCartan expressed himself pleased with his team’s second-half performance as they…

Mon Jul 11 2011 - 01:00

Down 1-16 Leitrim 1-8:DOWN MANAGER James McCartan expressed himself pleased with his team's second-half performance as they advanced to Round Three of the qualifiers at Newry on Saturday evening.

Speaking after his team had come from behind to win, the Down manager said his side had shown both character and a big improvement in the second half.

Leitrim had trailed 1-3 to 0-1 after Marty Clarke scored from a 15th-minute penalty following a foul on Conor Laverty. But if Down supporters thought that the floodgates would open, Leitrim had not read the script.

The visitors, who had opened the scoring with a point from the impressive Brian McDonald, responded with points in quick succession from Adrian Croal, Robert Lowe and Emlyn Mulligan.

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Down led 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval but within 90 seconds of the restart Croal had the ball in the net and Leitrim went in front 1-6 to 1-5.

This brought an immediate reaction from Down, on and off the pitch. Conor Maginn and Peter Fitzpatrick replaced Paul McComiskey and Kevin Duffin respectively and from there Down went on to score eight points without reply to take control.

Benny Coulter was called ashore with eight minutes remaining and with seven points from play it was no surprise that he got a standing ovation from the Down supporters.

DOWN: B McVeigh; A Branagan, D Gordon, B McArdle; C Garvey, K McKernan (0-1), K Duffin; K King, D Rooney; L Doyle (0-1), M Clarke (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1 45), B Coulter (0-7); C Laverty (0-2), P McComiskey, M Poland (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: C Maginn for McComiskey (42 mins), P Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Duffin (44 mins), C Money for Doyle (59 mins), A Carr for Coulter (63 mins), D Rafferty for Garvey (65 mins).

LEITRIM: C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeown, P Maguire; D Beck, G Reynolds, B Prior; D Lowe, D Sweeney; R Lowe (0-1), E Mulligan (0-3, all frees), C Clarke; B McDonald (0-1), J Glancy (0-1), A Croal (1-1). Subs: C Kelly (0-1) for McDonald (44 mins), C Sheridan for Lowe (52 mins), B McWeeny for G Reynolds (59 mins), F Clancy for Clarke (64 mins).

Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone).