|
Down
Minors show great promise as they cut Orchard minors down
to size - 09/06/2003
Ulster Minor Football Championship:
Down 2-14 v Armagh 0-06 Sun 08/06/2003
 The
Down minor team opened proceeding at Casement Park on
Sunday with a great victory over Ulster Minor League champions
Armagh on a scoreline of 2-14 to 0-6. Ross Carr's
side who completely outplayed the reigning Ulster Minor
League champions, with a awesome display of attacking
football orchestrated by 'man of the match' Stephen Sands
from the Saval club who finished the game with a personal
tally of ten points.
Sands was a constant thorn in the Armagh
defence, and his ability to get scores at vital times
in the match proved inspirational to his colleagues. However,
it was far from a one-man show for the winners who were
very tight in defence where the half-back line of Lynch,
Colgan and team captain, Eoin Henry were superb. King
and the managers son, Aidan dominated the midfield sector
and laid on some quality ball to the forwards.
Down look like a side that could well
go the distance this summer and claim their first minor
title since the team of 99 which is starting to make an
impact at senior grade.
Armagh going into the game led by Ger
Houlihan had high expectations of doing well, especially
after their fine league campaign and the fact that they
defeated the Mourne side in the league competition by
seven points only a few months ago. However, they came
up against a Down side on 'top of their game', totally
focussed, and had many players in inspirational form.
 Sands
opened Down score in the opening few minutes and had put
Down four points in front with only ten minutes gone on
the clock. Armagh stayed in touch with Michael O'Rourke
scoring two frees. On the 22 minute the Mourne goal keeper
carried off a great save and Down responded by going down
the field and putting the ball in the back of the orchard
net. James Doran scoring the goal. Sands added another
point for Down before half time to leave the half time
scores 1-5 to 0-03.
In the second half wave after wave of
sharp and inventive attacks swamped the Orchard outfit.
Sands hit two points in the opeing two minutes, by the
40th minute Armagh had fallen 10 points behind - 1-10
to 0-03. At this stage it was how much would Down win
by and when they added another goal from Mark Poland the
game was over as a contest.
Down's next test is a semi-final clash
with Fermanagh who themselves had a good win in their
replay against Donegal in Ballybofey on Sunday also. Down
won't find the Erne county side as easy to roll over on
Sunday week. However, if they produce the same quality
of performance as they displayed in the Armagh game they
will be very hard to beat.
Armagh - N. Loney; K. Dyas, V. Martin, G. McCreesh; C.
McSherry, N. Reel, M. Curran; C. Vernon, G. Swift; P.
Toal 0-1, M. O'Rourke 0-3 two frees, J. McCormack; C.
Conlon 0-1, J. Quigley capt., S. Lyons.
Subs: P. McCreesh for Dyas; C. Tiffney for Lyons; C. O'Connor
0-1 for McCormack; B. McGowan for Swift; B. McKeown for
Toal.
Down - P. McManus; D. Neeson, S. Tonet, M. Rooney; R.
Lynch, J. Colgan, E. Henry capt.; C. King 0-1, A. Carr;
S. Doran, J. Doran 1-0, J. McGovern 0-1; S. Sands 0-10,
six frees, M. Poland 1-0, J. Browne 0-1.
Subs - K. McGovern 0-1 for S. Doran; J. Ireland for King;
J. Boyle for J. Doran.
Referee: A. McAlynn (Derry).
Site
was Created and Designed by Diarmuid Cahill
© DOWNGAA.NET
|