National Football League/Division 1BDown 1-17, Fermanagh 1-13Shane King made an impressive winning debut for Down in yesterday's national league game in Ballykinlar, scoring seven points in the process.
Ironically, King had been on the fringes of the Fermanagh team prior to his transfer to Down at the end of last summer, and can hardly have hoped for a more spectacular vindication of his decision.
Also in excess of expectations were the performances of his young team-mates. Its been almost 12 months since Down won a competitive fixture, and with half a dozen established players side-lined through injury, nothing had suggested they were capable of improving on that record.
Fermanagh had clearly regained their composure following an en route traffic mishap which delayed the start of this game for half an hour, and, with the over eager Down backs being punished relentlessly by the immaculate Rory Gallagher, the visitors cruised to a 0-6 to 0-2 lead, and then saw off a spirited Down rally to lead 0-9 to 0-5 with half time approaching.
However, a tenacious Down, with wing-forwards Ronan Murtagh and Conor Daly outstanding, just wouldn't be shaken off. Points from King, Plunkett McConville, Ronan Murtagh and Shane Ward brought them level by half time, and with the wind behind them in the second half, they swarmed all over their opponents.
Delightfully crafted points from Benny Coulter, Shane King and Shane Ward, established their lead, and they had stretched that to 0-14 to 0-9 when Fermanagh were reduced to 14 men by Justin Gilheaney's dismissal.
Paul Brewster and Rory Gallagher battled resourcefully to pull Fermanagh back, but the door was slammed shut in the 66th minute when a Micheal McGill effort came back off the upright, and Shane King transferred the ball quickly across to give Shane Ward a tap into an empty net.
Rory Gallagher's monopoly on the Fermanagh scoring wasn't broken until the 71st minute when Stephen Maguire pointed and almost immediately Rory Gallagher cleverly created their only goal, stylishly dispatched by his cousin Raymond.
DOWN: P Travers, K McGrath, C Byrne, B Grant, F Caulfield, M McGill, J Clarke, G McCartan (0-1), P McConville (0-1), C Daly, B Coulter (0-1), R Murtagh (0-2), S Ward (1-2), A Oprey (0-3), S King (0-7). Subs: R Sexton for S Ward; N Sexton for B Grant; P Bradley for C Daly.
FERMANAGH: Ronan Gallagher, P McGuinness, K Gunne, N Cox, C Fitzpatrick, J Gilheaney, R Johnson, P Brewster, T Brewster, K Donnelly, Rory Gallagher (0-12), S McDermott, R McCabe, S Maguire (0-1), S McCabe. Subs: B Owens for C Fitzpatrick; R McCloskey for R Johnson; M Lilly for P McGuinness; Raymond Gallagher (1-0) for R McCabe; M McGrath for K Donnelly.
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
