ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Down 2-11 Galway 1-9:A GOAL in the last play of the game by Down midfielder Peter Fitzpatrick ensured the Mournemen of victory after an exciting and hard-fought encounter at Páirc Esler, Newry yesterday.
The football throughout was of a high standard with each side enjoying periods in the ascendant.
Galway, with Paul Conroy and Eddie Hoare dominating at midfield, opened brightly and led by 0-5 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.
Gradually Down came into it, with Peter Fitzpatrick most prominent at midfield, assisted by Kalum King. Playing attractive, attacking football, Down moved the ball well, with Danny Hughes, Conor Maginn, Martin Clarke and Conor Laverty picking off vital scores.
Points from Seán Armstrong, a thorn in the Down defence, Matthew Clancy, Blane again, and Joe Bergin put Galway in control.
Down regrouped and with King and Fitzpatrick gaining better possession they produced some great attacking moves. Martin Clarke pointed a free and further scores from Laverty (two) and Danny Hughes had the sides level at 0-5 each with eight minutes of the half remaining.
Then, in a lightning Down attack Benny Coulter, Laverty and Fitzpatrick opened the Galway defence to put Maginn through for a goal.
Points from frees by Clarke and Mark Poland, with Clancy replying, left Down leading 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time.
Declan Rooney pointed for Down two minutes into the second period, but suddenly Galway found new strength and scores from Armstrong and Bergin had them right back in it.
The play by both sides became disjointed with scoring at a minimum until 10 minutes from time when Galway half back Gary O’Donnell finished a four-man move with a goal to reduce the Down lead to two points.
Each side missed some good chances, with Paul McComiskey from a free and Armstrong from a similar award, getting the only scores until Down substitutes James Colgan and Paul McComiskey set up Peter Fitzpatrick, who punched a perfect cross from McComiskey to the net with the last action of the game.
DOWN: B McVeigh; G McCartan, D Gordon, L Howard; A Brannigan, D Rooney (0-2), K McKernan; P Fitzpatrick (1-1), K King; D Hughes (0-1), M Poland (0-2, frees), C Maginn (1-0); C Laverty (0-2), B Coulter, M Clarke (0-2, frees). Subs: J Colgan for King; A Carr for Poland; P McComiskey (0-1) for Laverty.
GALWAY: P Lally; A Burke, F Hanley, K McGrath; G O'Donnell (1-0), C Forde, D Reilly; P Conroy, E Hoare; J Bergin (0-2), C Blane (0-2), G Sice; M Clancy (0-2, 0-1 free), C De Paor, S Armstrong (0-3, 0-1 free). Subs: F Breatanach for McGrath; D Blake for Hoare; C Kenny for Clancy; D Cummins for De Paor; K Brady for Breathanach.
Referee: E Kinsella(Laois).
