Sport

Down promotion goal still in sight

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE Down 4-13 Limerick 1-15: DOWN KEPT their slim hopes of promotion alive with victory over Limerick…

Mon Apr 14 2008 - 01:00

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE Down 4-13 Limerick 1-15:DOWN KEPT their slim hopes of promotion alive with victory over Limerick at Páirc Esler, Newry, yesterday helped by three goals from the top drawer.

Limerick will have to overcome Leitrim in their remaining game next Sunday to retain their status for next year.

Limerick led 0-2 to 0-1 after four minutes with points from Stephen Kelly and Conal O'Crulai while Liam Doyle pointed a Down free. Down forged ahead with three unanswered points before Ian Ryan pointed to keep Limerick in touch.

The turning point came midway through the half. A quick Down move opened up the defence, Coulter was brought down as he raced in on goal and from the penalty Aidan Carr sent the ball to the net. Down added a second through Danny Hughes for a 2-8 to 0-5 half-time lead.

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Limerick restarted with a point from Kieran O'Callaghan inside a minute and four minutes later he flicked a lob from John Galvin goal wards. Down goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh, in his efforts to save, carried the ball over the goalline.

Down's reply was immediate with Ronan Sexton setting up John Clarke for a goal. They added three points to open an 11-point lead entering the final quarter.

Limerick hit six points to reduce the Down lead to four. But two minutes from time John Clarke raced in for Down's fourth goal to seal victory.

In the final 10 seconds Limerick midfielder Thomas Cahill received a straight red card while after the final whistle a scuffle broke out as several players became embroiled in exchanges.

DOWN:B McVeigh; L Howard, M Cole, C McGovern; A Carr (1-1, 1-0 pen), L Doyle (0-4, three frees), K McGuigan; P Turley (Saval), D Gordon (0-2); S Kearney, R Sexton (0-1), D Hughes (1-2, one free); J Clarke (2-1), K McKernan (0-1), B Coulter (0-1). Subs: J McGovern for D Hughes, A Rodgers for P Turley, C Gribben for S Kearney, J Lynch for K McKernan.

LIMERICK:M Jones; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; L O'Dwyer, S Lavin (0-1), P Browne; T Cahill, J Galvin (0-1); S Kelly (0-2), C O'Crulai (0-2), S Buckley (0-1); G Collins, K O'Callaghan (1-1), I Ryan (0-6, five frees). Subs: A lane for L O'Dwyer, J Ryan (0-1) for G. Collins.

Referee:C Reilly (Meath).