Sport

Down up to task despite wasted goal chances

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Down 0-12 Armagh 0-11: DOWN PRODUCED a sterling show at Páirc Esler, Newry, on Saturday…

Mon Feb 28 2011 - 00:00

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Down 0-12 Armagh 0-11:DOWN PRODUCED a sterling show at Páirc Esler, Newry, on Saturday night.

A crown of almost 11,000 saw excellent scores and at least four goal chances wasted by Down. The woodwork denied them twice and Armagh goalkeeper Philip McEvoy and corner back Finian Moriarty each blocked goal-bound shots by Danny Hughes and Peter Fitzpatrick.

Three times in the first half the sides were level and once again in the second half. Down held a slight edge at midfield through Peter Fitzpatrick. The Down attack led by Danny Hughes, Martin Clarke and Ronan Murtagh shone with Ciarán McKeever, Kevin Dyas and Finian Moriarty working hard.

Down also suffered a serious blow five minutes before half-time when goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh went off with a serious ankle injury. His deputy Cathal Murdock twice saved from Gareth Swift and Michael O’Rourke.

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The sides were level at 0-3 each after 10 minutes with Conor Laverty, Danny Hughes and Mark Poland from a free scoring for Down and McKeever, Charlie Vernon and Brian Mallon pointing for Armagh. Armagh went ahead with a pointed free by Stevie McDonald, but Down’s Clarke pointed twice and Hughes and Mark Poland slotted over points.

Armagh came back with points by Stevie McDonald and a Rory Grugan free, but Down led by 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

Armagh’s best spell came in the third quarter with points from Dyas, McDonald, and Grugan edging them a point in front.

It took Down 20 minutes into the half before Conor Maginn levelled. Two points from Murtagh and one from a Clarke free saw Down lead 0-12 to 0-9 with four minutes left. Armagh rallied and points from John Murtagh and Vernon ensured a nail-biting finish but Down held out.

DOWN: B McVeigh; G McCartan, D Gordon, L Howard; A Brannigan, K McKernan (0-1), D Rooney; P Fitzpatrick, K King; D Hughes (0-2), M Poland (0-2, one free), C Maginn (0-1); C Laverty (0-1), R Murtagh (0-2), M Clarke (0-3, two frees). Subs: C Murdock for B McVeigh (30 mins), J Colgan for K King (52 mins), P McComiskey for C Laverty (52 mins), C Garvey for A Brannigan (58 mins), R Sexton for M Poland (58 mins).

ARMAGH: P McEvoy; A Mallon, B Donaghy, F Moriarty; K Dyas (0-1), C McKeever (0-1), P Duffy; K. Toner, C Vernon (0-2); R Grugan (0-2, frees), M O'Rourke, B Mallon (0-1); BJ Padden, G Swift, S McDonald (0-3, two frees). Subs: JH Lavery for BJ Padden (54 mins), J Murtagh (0-1) for M O'Rourke (61 mins), C Watters for A Mallon (61 mins), C Clarke for R Grugan (69 mins).

Referee: Pat McEnaney(Monaghan).