Sport

Referee's four reds cut Down chances

Sligo - 0-11, Down - 0-10: Twelve-man Down came within a whisker of toppling Sligo at Markievicz Park yesterday

Mon Feb 18 2002 - 00:00

Sligo - 0-11, Down - 0-10: Twelve-man Down came within a whisker of toppling Sligo at Markievicz Park yesterday. Referee Michael Ryan sent off Down's Seán Ward, Gregory McCartan and Ronan Murtagh, and Sligo's Gerry McGowan; he also yellow carded three players.

Some of Ryan's decisions were strange and the red cards seriously dented Down's chances. Down boss Peter McGrath said the referee was "over zealous in holding and players' picking up of the ball, and he infuriated a lot of people".

Man of the match Eamonn O'Hara got the home side off to a lively start, with a point after 20 seconds, and they had stretched their lead to 0-6 to 0-4 by half-time. John McPartland and Paul Durcan had missed goal chances for the home side in the 20th and 28th minutes respectively.

Down were reduced to 14 players after 32 minutes when substitute Seán Ward, who had been on the field for only 10 minutes, was sent off.

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Tommy Brennan and John McPartland increased Sligo's lead with a couple of points at the start of the second half; but a beautiful score from an acute angle by Shane King in the 41st minute left three points between the sides.

Down midfielder Gregory McCartan and Sligo left corner forward Gerry McGowan were sent off in the 45th minute. McCartan's dismissal spurred Down on however; five unanswered points between the 48th and 55th minutes levelled the scores, and Down were on top in the closing stages. Poor shooting and a couple of missed frees and a 45 by King let Sligo off the hook, however.

Tommy Brennan steadied the Sligo ship with two late points from play. Down's Ronan Murtagh was sent off two minutes into stoppage time. A 74th minute point by substitute Padraig Bradley did not affect the result.

SLIGO: D Kearns; P Gallagher, N Carew, M Cosgrove; P Doohan, M Langan, B Phillips; P Durcan (0-1), K Quinn; T Brennan (0-3), E O'Hara (0-2), K O'Neill; D Sloyan (0-3), J McPartland (0-2), G McGowan. Subs: P Naughton for Gallagher (58 mins); D McGarty (56 mins); N Maguire for Philips (68 mins); R Brennan for Quinn (70 mins).

DOWN: P Travers; K McGrath, B Grant, N Sexton; B Kearney, M McGill, J Clarke; P McConville, G McCartan (0-1); C Daly (0-1), B Coulter (0-3), R Murtagh; Shane Ward, A O'Prey, S King (0-3). Subs: Sean Ward for McConville (57 mins); R Sexton (0-1) for Daly (50 mins); P Bradley (0-1) for O'Prey (60 mins).

Referee: M Ryan (Limerick)